Indonesia or Philippines for Diving: Which is Better for Indian Backpackers?
If you want the world’s best marine biodiversity on the cheapest possible fun dives and don’t mind complicated domestic flights, go to Indonesia. If you want easy logistics, world-class muck and reef diving from one base, and visa-free entry for Indians, go to the Philippines. Both are great. The right pick depends on what kind of diver you are and how much flight-hopping you’ll tolerate. For related planning, see our guide on Scapia vs Onecard Forex Review.
Verified against traveller reports from June 2026 and cross-checked with PADI’s 2026 dive center directory and current Garuda and AirAsia fares. You may also find El Nido Coron Tours a B C D Which Worth Money useful for this trip.
Quick Answers
| What | Answer | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest fun dive (boat, 2 tanks) | Philippines: Apo Reef | ~₹2,400 (~$24.90) |
| Open Water course | Indonesia: Bali | ~₹18,500 (~$191.90) |
| Best macro life | Indonesia: Lembeh | ~₹3,500 (~$36.31) |
| Visa for Indians (30 days) | Indonesia: VOA ₹3,374 (~35 USD) | ~₹3,400 (~$35.27) |
| Visa for Indians (30 days) | Philippines: Visa-free | FREE |
Subodh’s Pro Tip: Always price dive packages in your home currency the day you book. The rupee moves enough week to week that a 4% swing is normal. See also: Koh Phangan vs Koh Tao Which Thai Island Is Better for You.
Quick Comparison Table
| Factor | Indonesia | Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budget (budget diver) | ~₹3,200 (~$33.19) | ~₹3,800 (~$39.42) |
| Daily budget (comfortable) | ~₹6,500 (~$67.42) | ~₹7,200 (~$74.69) |
| Visa for Indians | VOA on arrival, ₹3,374 (~35 USD) | Visa-free, 30 days |
| Best months | April to October (dry) | November to May (dry) |
| Veg food | Hard outside Bali | hard |
| Safety (solo) | Generally safe | Generally safe |
| English spoken | Moderate outside Bali | Widespread |
| Vibe | Multiple hubs, spread out, rawer | Compact, friendly, easier logistics |
| Best for | Macro lovers, pelagic seekers, repeat divers | First-timers, photographers, island combiners |
Subodh’s Pro Tip: The Philippines is roughly 10-20% cheaper than Indonesia for first-time divers, but Indonesia wins on marine variety once you know where to look.
Choose Indonesia If…
- You’ve already done Thailand or the Gili Islands and want something with more variety: muck diving in Lembeh, pelagics in Raja Ampat, drift dives in Komodo.
- You’re a photographer or repeat diver chasing specific critters: pygmy seahorses, mimic octopuses, wobbegong sharks.
- You’re comfortable booking 3-4 internal flights per trip and stitching together multi-island itineraries.
- You want the cheapest Open Water course in Southeast Asia (Bali, ~₹18,753 (~3,500,000 IDR or ~$194.53)).
- You’re okay with stricter visa rules and limited veg food outside tourist hubs.
Choose Philippines If…
- This is your first dive trip and you want one home base with 20+ dive sites within a 2-hour boat ride (Puerto Galera, Moalboal, Panglao).
- You want to combine island-hopping topside with diving without booking five flights (Malapascua, Coron, Apo Reef).
- You’re vegetarian and want reliable food: there are Indian restaurants in Manila, Cebu, and Bohol.
- You want visa-free entry for Indians (30 days, extendable).
- You want thresher sharks at Malapascua or sardine runs at Moalboal without a liveaboard.
Indonesia: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Marine biodiversity is the best on earth. Raja Ampat alone has 1,500+ fish species and 600+ coral species.
- Cheapest PADI Open Water course in the region: Bali runs ₹18,753 (~3,500,000 IDR or ~$194.53) to ₹29,469 (~5,500,000 IDR or ~$305.68).
- Variety of dive styles: muck (Lembeh), pelagic (Raja Ampat), drift (Komodo), wreck (Tulamben).
- Cheap liveaboards for Komodo and Raja Ampat (₹42,864-₹133,950 (~8,000,000-25,000,000 IDR or ~$444.63-$1,389.47) for 4-7 nights).
Cons:
- Logistics are heavy: domestic flights between hubs (Jakarta-Denpasar-Sorong-Maumere) eat time and money.
- Visa is ₹3,374 (~35 USD) on arrival, plus you’ll need to register if staying over 30 days (or pay the overstay fine).
- Reef health varies. Bali’s south coast has bleaching; north Bali and the islands are better.
- Inter-island ferries are slow and prone to cancellation in wet season.
Philippines: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Visa-free for Indians for 30 days, extendable once for another 29 days at any immigration office.
- Visa-on-arrival for Indians is now just a stamp and a return ticket.
- World-class diving within compact geography. Tubbataha, Apo Reef, Monad Shoal are all bucket-list sites.
- Local transport is cheap and ferries are frequent between tourist islands.
- English is widely spoken, including by dive staff and boat crews.
Cons:
- Daily budget runs slightly higher than Indonesia once you factor in ferries and food.
- Reef health outside marine parks is mixed. Apo Reef and Tubbataha are pristine; some Cebu sites are damaged.
- Liveaboards are more expensive than Indonesia’s (PHP 25,000-45,000/night vs IDR 2,500,000-3,500,000/night).
- Typhoon season (June to November) closes several sites and disrupts ferries.
Cost Comparison in ₹
Verified 2026-07-17 at 1 INR = 188.68 IDR (Indonesia) and 1 INR = 0.687 PHP (Philippines).
| Expense | Indonesia (₹) | Philippines (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| Dorm bed (avg/night) | ₹450 (~$4.67) | ₹600 (~$6.22) |
| Street food meal | ₹80 (~$0.83) | ₹120 (~$1.24) |
| Restaurant meal | ₹400 (~$4.15) | ₹500 (~$5.19) |
| Local transport (per day) | ₹350 (~$3.63) | ₹450 (~$4.67) |
| SIM card (tourist) | ₹250 (~$2.59) | ₹200 (~$2.07) |
| Visa fee | ₹3,400 (~$35.27) | FREE |
| Top activity (e.g. Day trip) | ₹1,200 (~$12.45) | ₹1,500 (~$15.56) |
| Beer | ₹200 (~$2.07) | ₹180 (~$1.87) |
| 7-day total (budget) | ₹35,000 (~$363.06) | ₹38,500 (~$399.36) |
| 7-day total (comfortable) | ₹62,000 (~$643.13) | ₹70,000 (~$726.11) |
Subodh’s Pro Tip: Add ~₹15,000-₹25,000 (~$155.60-$259.33) if you’re getting Open Water certified. Add ~₹45,000-₹90,000 (~$466.79-$933.57) for a 4-night Raja Ampat or Tubbataha liveaboard.
The Bananarchy Take
Indonesia wins for serious divers who know what they want. Raja Ampat for pelagics, Lembeh for macro, Komodo for currents. If you’re going to do one trip and want the best marine life on the planet, fly into Manado or Sorong and commit. The Philippines wins for first-timers, photographers, and anyone who wants to combine topside island-hopping with world-class reef and pelagic diving without booking four domestic flights. Pick Philippines if this is your first dive trip outside Thailand. Pick Indonesia if it isn’t. The Philippines has slightly better logistics and visa rules. Indonesia has slightly better prices and far more variety. There’s no wrong answer, only the wrong answer for you.
Getting Connected
Indonesia: buy a Telkomsel SIM at the airport (₹268-₹536 (~50,000-100,000 IDR or ~$2.78-$5.56) for 30 days, 30-50GB). Philippines: buy a Globe or Smart SIM at the airport (PHP 40-100 for 30 days, 20-50GB). Both countries have eSIM options if you’d rather skip the airport kiosk. Get Nomad eSIM covers both Indonesia and the Philippines on a single regional plan, useful if you’re combining both countries.
Can You Do Both?
Yes, and it’s a strong 14-7 or 10-10 split. The most efficient route is Philippines first (visa-free, easy entry via Manila or Cebu), then a flight to Indonesia (Manila to Denpasar or Manila to Manado, usually with a connection in Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, ~PHP 6,000-12,000 one-way / ₹10,716-₹21,432 (~2,000,000-4,000,000 IDR or ~$111.16-$222.32)). Total inter-country flight: ~₹18,000-₹25,000 (~$186.71-$259.33) one-way. Allow 17-21 days for a meaningful dive trip in both. The order matters less than it looks; Philippines first means you land visa-free, Indonesia second means you exit on a VOA and fly home. Compare tours on GetYourGuide for either side: diving tours.
For more on picking between specific Philippine islands, see Best Philippines Islands for Indian Travelers. For Bali versus Lombok as a base, see Bali vs Lombok.
FAQ
Is Indonesia better than Philippines for diving?
Depends on what you’re chasing. Indonesia has more variety (macro in Lembeh, pelagic in Raja Ampat, drift in Komodo) and the cheapest courses. Philippines has easier logistics and visa-free entry for Indians.
Which is cheaper for Indian backpackers, Indonesia or Philippines?
Indonesia is 10-20% cheaper for budget divers once you factor in courses and liveaboards. Philippines is cheaper on the visa (free) and slightly easier on inter-island ferries.
Can Indians get a visa on arrival in both countries?
Yes. Indonesia has VOA for ₹3,374 (~35 USD). Philippines is visa-free for 30 days for Indian passport holders.
Which has better marine biodiversity, Indonesia or Philippines?
Indonesia wins on raw biodiversity (Raja Ampat alone has 1,500+ fish species). Philippines has fewer species but excellent specific encounters: thresher sharks at Malapascua, sardine runs at Moalboal, tubbataha reefs.
When is the best time to dive Indonesia vs Philippines?
Indonesia: April to October (dry season, best visibility). Philippines: November to May (dry season, calmer seas). They are roughly inverse, so combining both in one trip is seasonally efficient.
Do I need a dive certification to dive in either country?
No. Both countries offer Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) intro dives for non-certified divers (~₹3,500-4,500). For multiple dives, get certified; Open Water takes 3-4 days.
Subodh’s Line
I’ve run dives in both. Indonesia gives you more pelagic action per minute underwater; the Philippines gives you less flight time and more time diving. For Indian backpackers doing their first dive trip, the Philippines is the easier first step. For your second, book Indonesia.
