Scuba Dive Trip Cost Calculator
Budget a scuba diving trip: boat dives, gear rental, certification courses, marine park fees and your true cost per dive. All costs in US dollars (USD).
Scuba Dive Trip Cost Calculator: Find Your True Cost Per Dive
Dive shops advertise a price per dive, but that is rarely what a dive trip really costs. You also pay for scuba gear rental, marine park fees, nitrox, crew tips, dive insurance, perhaps a PADI or SSI certification course, and the flights and hotel that get you there. Our free scuba dive trip cost calculator adds everything up and shows your total dive trip budget, the cost per diver and, most usefully, your all-in cost per dive.
Use it to plan a Caribbean dive holiday in Cozumel, Bonaire or the Cayman Islands, a trip to the Florida Keys, the Red Sea, Thailand, Indonesia or the Great Barrier Reef, or a UK dive weekend at Scapa Flow or the Farne Islands. All costs are shown in US dollars.
How to use the dive trip cost calculator
- Enter your trip: the number of divers, dive days, dives per day and nights.
- Enter dive prices: the price per dive, any dive package discount, night or special dives, nitrox and marine park fees, and crew tips.
- Choose your gear: bring your own, rent BCD and regulator only, or rent a full kit. Add a dive computer if you need one.
- Add a certification course if anyone is learning, such as Open Water, Advanced Open Water or Nitrox.
- Add travel and stay: flights, lodging, food, dive insurance and transfers.
How much does scuba diving cost per dive?
| Destination type | Boat dive price | Full gear rental per day |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast Asia (Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines) | $30–$60 | $10–$25 |
| Egypt / Red Sea | $35–$60 | $20–$35 |
| Mexico (Cozumel, Riviera Maya) | $50–$90 | $25–$40 |
| Caribbean (Bonaire, Cayman, Bahamas) | $60–$120 | $30–$50 |
| USA (Florida Keys, California, Hawaii) | $60–$140 | $30–$60 |
| Australia (Great Barrier Reef day trip) | $90–$150 | Often included |
| UK boat dive (e.g. south coast, Farne Islands) | $40–$90 | $30–$60 |
Shore diving is much cheaper – often $20–$50 per tank, or unlimited shore diving packages in places like Bonaire. Liveaboard dive trips usually cost $200–$500 per day including meals and 3–4 dives a day.
The cost per dive formula
Dives per diver = Dive days × Dives per day + Night/special dives
Diving costs = Dives + Nitrox + Park fees + Tips + Gear rental
Diving-only cost per dive = Diving costs ÷ Total dives
All-in cost per dive = Total trip cost ÷ Total dives
Example: a week of diving for two
Two certified divers spend 6 nights at a Caribbean resort and dive for 4 days, 2 dives a day, plus one night dive each. Dives cost $75 each with a 10% package discount, and night dives $90. They rent full gear ($40 a day) and a dive computer ($10 a day), pay a $5 daily marine park fee and tip $5 per dive.
- Dives: 16 × $75 × 0.9 = $1,080 · Night dives: $180 · Park fees: $40 · Tips: $90
- Gear rental: 2 × 4 × $50 = $400
- Flights: $1,200 · Lodging: $900 · Food: $560 · Insurance: $120 · Transfers: $50
- Total: $4,620, or $2,310 per diver
- Diving-only cost per dive: $99.44 · All-in cost per dive: $256.67
The all-in figure shows why more dives per trip lower your real cost per dive: the flights and hotel are spread across more tanks.
How much does scuba certification cost?
| Course | Typical price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Discover Scuba Diving / try dive | $100–$180 | One supervised dive, no certification |
| Open Water Diver (PADI, SSI, NAUI, BSAC Ocean Diver) | $400–$700 | Theory, pool sessions and 4 open-water dives; dive to 18 m / 60 ft |
| Advanced Open Water | $300–$500 | 5 adventure dives; dive to 30 m / 100 ft |
| Enriched Air Nitrox | $150–$250 | Longer no-decompression limits |
| Rescue Diver | $350–$550 | Rescue skills; usually needs first-aid training |
| Refresher / ReActivate | $100–$150 | Skills review after time out of the water |
Open Water courses are often cheaper in Southeast Asia and Egypt than in the US or UK. Many divers complete the eLearning at home, then do the pool and open-water dives on holiday to save time.
Should you buy or rent scuba gear?
A full set of scuba gear (BCD, regulator, computer, wetsuit, mask, fins) costs $1,500–$3,000. At $40–$50 a day for rental, buying pays off after 30–60 dive days. Many divers take a middle path: buy their own mask, fins and dive computer (for fit, comfort and safety), and rent the BCD and regulator. Remember that flying with gear may add an extra bag fee of $70–$150 return.
Safety tip: Leave at least 18 hours between your last dive and your flight home after multiple dives or multiple days of diving (24 hours is safer). Plan a non-diving day at the end of your trip.
Hidden costs of a dive trip
- Marine park fees – for example yearly nature fees in Bonaire, or daily reef taxes in parts of Mexico, Indonesia and Australia.
- Crew tips – $5–$10 per dive, or 10–15% of the dive cost, is common in the US and Caribbean.
- Nitrox surcharges – usually $5–$15 per tank.
- Dive insurance such as DAN – normal travel insurance often excludes diving.
- Fuel surcharges on longer boat trips.
- Underwater camera rental or photo packages.
How to save money on a scuba diving trip
- Book a dive package (10+ dives) for a 10–20% discount.
- Do more dives on the same trip to spread your travel costs.
- Choose shore diving destinations such as Bonaire.
- Buy your own mask, fins and computer to cut rental costs.
- Get certified at home or in lower-cost destinations.
- Travel outside peak season (Christmas, Easter, summer holidays).
- Consider a liveaboard – meals, lodging and 3–4 dives a day are included.
Want to try other water sports on your holiday? Compare costs with our surf trip budget planner and kayak trip cost calculator.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a scuba dive cost?
A single boat dive usually costs $30–$60 in Southeast Asia and Egypt, $50–$120 in Mexico and the Caribbean, and $60–$140 in the US. Shore dives are often $20–$50. Gear rental, park fees and tips are usually extra.
How do I calculate my cost per dive?
Divide your total cost by the number of dives. The calculator shows two figures: the diving-only cost per dive (dives, gear, fees and tips) and the all-in cost per dive, which also includes flights, lodging and food.
How much does PADI Open Water certification cost?
The PADI Open Water Diver course usually costs $400–$700 including eLearning, pool sessions and four open-water dives. It is often cheaper in Thailand, Indonesia and Egypt than in the US or UK.
How much does it cost to rent scuba gear?
A full scuba kit (BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask and fins) usually costs $25–$60 a day. A dive computer adds about $10–$20 a day. Many dive packages include tanks and weights.
How much should I tip on a dive boat?
In the US and Caribbean, $5–$10 per dive or 10–15% of the dive cost is common. On liveaboards, 10–15% of the trip price is typical. Tipping customs vary by country.
How long should I wait to fly after diving?
Divers Alert Network guidelines recommend at least 12 hours after a single no-decompression dive and at least 18 hours after multiple dives or multiple days of diving. Many divers wait 24 hours to be safe.
Is a liveaboard cheaper than a dive resort?
Often per dive, yes. Liveaboards cost about $200–$500 a day but include meals, lodging and 3–4 dives a day, so the all-in cost per dive can be lower than a resort with two dives a day.