Let's be honest. Planning a dive trip can feel like a second job. Booking flights, finding a hotel that's not miles from the dive shop, arranging daily boat trips, renting gear, figuring out meals... it's exhausting before you even get wet. That's where the magic of an all-inclusive diving resort in the Philippines comes in. You show up, check in, and your only job is to dive, eat, and relax. It's the ultimate hack for maximizing your time underwater in one of the world's most biodiverse marine environments.
What's Inside This Guide
What Does "All-Inclusive" Really Mean for Divers?
This is the most important part. "All-inclusive" isn't a standard formula. It's a spectrum. If you assume everything is covered and get hit with extra bills, the relaxation is gone. After visiting over a dozen of these places, I see three main models.
The True All-Inclusive (Rare but Glorious)
This is the unicorn. You pay one price, and literally everything is included: airport transfers, all meals and drinks (yes, even some cocktails), unlimited shore diving (conditions permitting), 2-3 scheduled boat dives per day, standard diving gear (BCD, regulator, weights), tanks, and often even nitrox. Resorts like this are usually higher-end and operate in remote locations where you're a captive audience anyway. The value is in the simplicity and the ability to do a night dive on a whim because it's already paid for.
The Dive-Focused Package (The Most Common)
This is what you'll find most often. Your package includes:
Accommodation, all meals (sometimes with a drinks credit), and a set number of boat dives per day (typically 2-3). It almost always includes tanks and weights. Here's the critical split: gear rental is often extra. So your BCD, regulator, computer, and wetsuit might add $15-30 per day to your bill. This model gives you structure but keeps base rates looking attractive.
The Boutique "Almost-All" Inclusive
Smaller, owner-operated resorts sometimes offer this. It includes lodging, breakfast, and a set number of dives. Lunch, dinner, and gear are a la carte. It's less comprehensive but offers more flexibility if you want to skip a dive day to explore locally. The per-night cost is lower, but your daily spending can vary.
Top Philippines All-Inclusive Dive Resorts Compared
Picking a resort isn't just about the package. It's about the dive site access, the vibe, and what level of diver it's built for. Here’s a look at some of the most established names, each catering to a different type of underwater enthusiast.
1. Atlantis Dive Resorts (Puerto Galera & Anilao)
The Vibe: Professional, efficient, and diver-first. These are institutions. Think of them as the well-oiled machines of the Philippine dive world. They're not the cheapest, but you're paying for reliability, great boats, and guides who know every nook of the house reef.
All-Inclusive Model: Dive-Focused Package. Their packages are crystal clear. You get air-conditioned accommodation, all meals, and 3 scheduled boat dives per day. Tanks and weights are included. Gear rental is extra. Their Puerto Galera resort is perfect for macro lovers (seahorses, frogfish) and has a fantastic house reef. The Anilao resort is arguably the birthplace of Philippine scuba and is a world-class muck and macro destination.
Who It's For: Serious divers who want to maximize bottom time. It's great for photographers and those pursuing certifications (their on-site training facilities are top-notch). Less ideal for non-diving companions seeking lavish pampering.
Address: Atlantis Puerto Galera, Sabang Beach, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro. Atlantis Dive Resort Anilao, Barangay Ligaya, Anilao, Batangas.
2. Dive & Trek (Puerto Galera)
The Vibe: Adventurous, social, and value-packed. Located in the quieter Big La Laguna beach area, it attracts a younger, international crowd. The energy is high, the bar is lively, and the dive schedules are flexible.
All-Inclusive Model: A strong Dive-Focused Package. Their popular packages include lodging (from fan rooms to AC cottages), three meals, unlimited tea/coffee, and unlimited shore diving—a huge perk. Boat dives are extra but packaged cheaply. This model is brilliant. You can do 5 dives a day without breaking the bank if you're happy with the excellent house reef.
Who It's For: Budget-conscious divers who live to be in the water. Backpackers, digital nomad divers, and anyone who values dive quantity and a great social scene. The food is hearty but basic—don't expect gourmet.
Address: Big La Laguna Beach, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro.
3. Club Paradise (Coron, Palawan)
The Vibe: Island paradise meets diving. This is for those who want the all-inclusive resort experience—white sand beach, pool, spa—with diving as a major activity, not the sole focus.
All-Inclusive Model: Leans towards True All-Inclusive. Their dive packages include villa accommodation, all meals and local beverages, and a set number of dives (often 2 per day) at the breathtaking Coron wrecks and reefs. Gear is typically extra. The big draw here is the location on its own private island. You're diving world-class WWII wreck sites, then returning to a pristine beach.
Who It's For: Divers with non-diving partners, couples, or groups who want a mix of luxury, relaxation, and iconic diving. The wrecks require at least advanced open water certification, so it's not for beginners.
Address: Dimakya Island, Coron, Palawan.
There are others, like Bongo Dive Resort in Moalboal for the sardine run, or Pag-asa Island Resort in Tubbataha for the ultimate liveaboard-alternative. The key is matching the resort's specialty to your dive goals.
How to Choose Your Perfect All-Inclusive Dive Resort
Don't just look at the price tag. Ask yourself these questions, then email the resorts directly. Their response time and detail will tell you a lot.
What's your primary dive goal? Macro/muck diving? Head to Anilao. Wrecks? Coron. Reefs and big fish? Consider southern destinations like Dauin or a Tubbataha trip. A resort in the wrong location can't change the marine life.
What's your skill level? Are you a new Open Water diver? Puerto Galera's calm, shallow reefs are ideal. An advanced diver seeking drifts or deep wrecks? Make sure the resort's daily dive plan caters to that and doesn't just herd all levels together.
Who is traveling with you? If you have a non-diver or kids, a resort like Club Paradise with a beach, pool, and other activities is crucial. A diver-only trip opens up more spartan, dive-intensive options.
Read between the lines of the package. "3 boat dives daily" sounds good. But do they run if only 2 people sign up? What's the guide-to-diver ratio? Is there a dedicated camera rinse tank? These small details define the experience.
A Sample 5-7 Day All-Inclusive Dive Trip Itinerary
Let's make this concrete. Imagine a 6-night, 7-day trip to Atlantis Puerto Galera, a classic choice.
Day 1: Arrival at Manila (MNL). Pre-arranged resort van meets you for the 3-hour drive to Batangas Port, followed by a 1-hour ferry to Puerto Galera. Check-in, gear setup, and a welcome briefing. Optional sunset shore dive on the house reef to check your buoyancy. Welcome dinner.
Day 2-5 (Dive Days): The rhythm sets in. Breakfast at 7 AM. Boat departs at 8:30 AM for two morning dives at sites like Sinandigan Wall or Sabang Point. Surface interval with snacks on the boat. Return to resort by 1 PM for lunch. Afternoon options: a third boat dive (often to a different site like West Escarceo for pelagics), a guided shore dive, or a fun dive from the beach. Evenings are for downloading photos, chatting with other divers, and maybe a night dive (extra schedule).
Day 6: Maybe you do a two-tank trip to the more distant Verde Island Passage (known as the "Center of the Center" of marine biodiversity), often an extra-charge trip but worth it. Or take a half-day off to explore Puerto Galera town. Final evening farewell dinner.
Day 7: One last early morning shore dive if your flight allows. Check-out and transfer back to Manila.
See how the structure eliminates decision fatigue? You just show up at the boat.
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