Eco-diving: Best destinations for sustainable scuba travel
As humans inspired by the underwater world, there is plenty of incentive to protect our coral reefs. Here at EcoOceanEscapes, we want to do our bit to save endangered marine species and keep our oceans free of trash.
One impactful action we can all take is to choose sustainable diving destinations. These are nations (or regions) that are playing a leading role in marine conservation. It might be through investment in coastal communities and marine life projects or an inspiring choice of eco-friendly dive resorts.
In this guide, we’ll highlight 7 of the world’s best eco-friendly dive destinations for a sustainable scuba vacation. By travelling to these countries on your next dive trip, you’ll be investing your hard-earned money into marine conservation and rewarding environmental stewardship. In response, it will hopefully inspire the dive industries in other destinations to follow suit.
Looking for dive resort recommendations? Check out this inspiring eco-friendly properties around the world.
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Fiji
Nicknamed the “Soft Coral Capital of the World”, Fiji is a world-class dive destination that’s renowned for its shark encounters.
The strong currents swirling around its outer reefs deliver nutrient-rich waters from across the ocean. This attracts everything from tiny macroorganisms to massive pelagic fish.
Fiji is also home to some outstanding eco-dive resorts that are taking important steps to preserve the marine environment.
Among the best is Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, a luxury property that’s named for the legendary explorer. Local, certified timber structures embrace traditional Fijian design while farm-to-table dining celebrates sustainably-caught seafood.
In addition to diving excursions, the on-site marine biologist leads reef protection and giant clam breeding programs.
On the shores of Kadavu Island is Matava Eco Adventure Resort, an award-winning Fiji eco-resort that has perfected sustainable stays. The traditional, thatched-roof bures exude rustic charm while seamlessly blending into the rainforest and volcanic landscapes.
The resort prides itself on having zero carbon emissions and boasts bountiful organic gardens to fuel your dive adventures.
Other eco-dive resorts in Fiji we love include Maqai Beach Eco Resort on beautiful Qamea Island and family-owned Oneta Resort on Ono Island.
For more information about planning a sustainable dive vacation in Fiji, check out our detailed guide here.
Indonesia
Comprising more than 17,000 islands scattered between the Pacific and Indian oceans, Indonesia is one of Southeast Asia’s top dive destinations.
From the mesmerising reefs of Raja Ampat to the muck diving of Lembeh Strait, the underwater adventures here are like nowhere else on Earth.
Indonesia is also home to some exceptional eco-dive resorts that are going above and beyond to support marine conservation.
At the award-winning Wakatobi Dive Resort in Sulawesi, world-class diving goes hand-in-hand with protecting marine ecosystems. PADI-certified instructors teach responsible diving practices while the resort sponsors ecology education and employs locals to discourage harmful fishing.
Through partnerships with organisations like PADI AWARE, Wakatobi is playing an active role in restoring the area’s vibrant reefs.
In North Sulawesi’s Bunaken National Marine Park is Siladen Resort & Spa, which has run a sea turtle conservation program for over 20 years.
Among other eco-friendly practices, this sustainable dive resort uses glass straws, energy-saving bulbs and products designed to reduce the resort’s carbon footprint.
Nearby, Bunaken Oasis Dive Resort & Spa built floating structures to minimise its environmental impact. Additionally, it used responsibly sourced hardwood in its construction.
With an onsite organic garden and daily ocean plastic removal, the resort balances luxury and ecological stewardship.
For a private island escape, Misool Eco Resort in Raja Ampat takes conservation to the next level. Their nonprofit Misool Foundation has implemented far-reaching biodiversity protection and community education projects, including creating a 120,000-hectare marine reserve.
Another sustainable dive resort in Raja Ampat is Papua Explorers, one of our favourite eco-dive resorts in Indonesia. It combines sustainable tourism with community-focused initiatives on the coast of Gam Island.
Also scattered throughout Raja Ampat are plenty of eco-friendly homestays set within paradisiacal surroundings.
Planning a dive trip to Indonesia? Discover all of the best places to dive and some of our favourite eco-dive resorts.
Mozambique
Hugging the southeast coast of Africa, Mozambique overlooks the marine life-filled waters of the Indian Ocean. The country is renowned for its megafauna sightings, including manta rays and humpback whales, which patrol the aptly named Whale Shark Alley.
In the northern Quirimbas Archipelago, you’ll find one of Africa’s largest marine protected areas. Here, coral reefs and mangrove forests nurture reef fish and sea turtles.
One of Mozambique’s best eco-friendly dive resorts is Liquid Dive Adventures, a scuba sanctuary on Tofo Beach. It features artfully constructed bungalows fashioned from locally-sourced, sustainable materials and specialises in awe-inspiring ocean safaris.
Liquid Dive Adventures focuses on conservation and responsible diving and is a certified 100% AWARE partner.
In northern Mozambique is Nuarro Lodge, an impressive eco-resort that’s making luxury sustainable. Renewable energy powers every stay while low-impact systems conserve precious resources.
The resort provides meaningful employment for nearby villages and works hand-in-hand with locals to safeguard the coral reefs. From volunteering with community initiatives to joining eco-conscious excursions, Nuarro Bay offers plenty of opportunities for guests to flex their green thumb.
For more information about planning a sustainable scuba vacation in Mozambique, check out our detailed article here.
Philippines
Boasting a prime location in the Coral Triangle, the Philippines is a scuba diver’s paradise. It encompasses more than 7,000 islands surrounded by pristine reefs that are bursting with life.
Not only is the Philippines home to world-class dive sites but also exceptional dive resorts with an eco-conscious approach.
One of our favourites is Evolution Dive Resort in Malapascua. It was awarded the 2023 Green Fins Award for its exemplary eco-friendly practices. Evolution was commended for their training programs that teach divers to be more environmentally aware underwater.
In addition, they have implemented resort-wide initiatives to reduce plastic waste and offer sustainable food options for guests.
At Sangat Island Dive Resort in Coron Bay, environmental stewardship is interwoven into the fabric of the resort. Surrounded by Sangat Island Marine Park, it minimises plastic usage and engages guests in green activities. The entire resort is powered by an onsite solar generator.
Beyond its boundaries, Sangat partners with local communities to spread awareness and education about conservation and sustainability practices through their Corporate Social Responsibility programs.
For more Philippines dive inspiration, check out our scuba guide or these eco-friendly dive resorts across the island nation.
Maldives
Fringed by idyllic beaches and thriving underwater ecosystems, the Maldives is a tropical gem in the Indian Ocean. It’s renowned for its thrilling pelagic encounters and vibrant reefs that provide habitat for fish, sea turtles and manta rays.
As a low-lying island nation, the Maldives understands the potentially devastating impacts of climate change. In response, many of its dive resorts doing their bit to counter environmental degradation.
The remote Laamu Atoll is home to Six Senses, an eco-friendly escape that offers an abundance of sustainable adventures. It partners with organisations like the Manta Trust, achieving their shared goal of marine research and conservation.
Since it was established, this eco-friendly Maldives resort has donated 25 water purification systems to villages as part of its commitment to give back to local communities.
On the tiny but picture-perfect island of Dhigurah is the Boutique Beach All-Inclusive Diving Hotel, an eco-friendly escape that makes sustainability a priority. Glass straws and ceramic toiletry bottles replace wasteful plastic while staff regularly organise regular beach cleanups.
All leftovers are composted on-site while non-compostable trash gets shipped to the capital, Male, for recycling.
For more Maldives dive inspiration, check out our scuba guide or these eco-friendly dive resorts across the island nation.
Seychelles
Nicknamed “the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean,” the Seychelles is a natural wonder. Nearly half of this island nation is protected as national parks, allowing its rare and endemic plants and animals to thrive.
With the Seychelles’ forward-thinking approach to conservation, you can discover species found nowhere else on Earth while enjoying a sustainable dive vacation.
One of the country’s top eco-friendly dive resorts is Alphonse Island, a remote Seychelles paradise and a nature lover’s dream. As part of all stays, guests pay a conservation levy to support the Island Conservation Society’s efforts to protect the fragile island ecosystem.
In between dives, you can engage in activities like giant tortoise feedings, beach cleanups and sea turtle patrols to protect nesting mothers.
Also of note is the luxurious Six Senses Zil Pasyon, which has played an important role in removing invasive species from the island of Félicité. It partners with local conservation organisations to preserve the surrounding reefs. Additionally, it produces many of its own fruits and vegetables in its organic garden.
Want to dive the warm waters of the Indian Ocean? Discover 5 of the best eco-friendly dive resorts in the Seychelles for an unforgettable stay.
Papua New Guinea
As part of the Coral Triangle, Papua New Guinea boasts stunning biodiversity above the water and world-class diving below.
Fringing reefs, coral walls and seagrass beds teem with marine life while spectacular wrecks from World War II add to the allure. PNG is also home to some wonderful eco-dive resorts that are helping to support the country’s natural wonders.
Adjacent to Walindi Plantation Resort is Mahonia Na Dari (MND) (“Guardian of the Sea). It has been working tirelessly to protect the marine environment of Kimbe Bay.
Through their Marine Environment Education Program (MEEP), they aim to foster an appreciation for the incredible biodiversity found in the bay among the local community.
All of Walindi’s structures are built using locally sourced materials and mangrove trees have been planted to provide a nursery for juvenile fish.
Another Papua New Guinea eco-dive hotel is Lissenung Island Resort, a tranquil hideaway with an admirable mission. For years, it has supported a turtle conservation project to protect endangered sea turtles in the region.
Through monitoring, relocation and research efforts, the project has recorded over 10,000 turtle eggs and witnessed over 90% of hatchlings scuttling into the sea.
For more Papua New Guinea dive inspiration, check out our detailed scuba guide here.
Planning an eco-friendly dive vacation
As scuba divers inspired by the underwater world, we have a responsibility to protect the marine ecosystems that captivate us so deeply. With the alarming decline of coral reefs and the plight of endangered marine species, there is a pressing urgency for divers to take meaningful action.
One of the most impactful ways we can support ocean conservation is by selecting eco-friendly dive destinations that are spearheading marine protection initiatives. By consciously directing our travel dollars, we send a powerful message that environmental stewardship is a top priority for the diving community.
Want to learn more about Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and what sets them apart? Check out our detailed explainer here.
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About the authors
We are a team of passionate divers and surfers with decades of combined experience in the water and travelling to all corners of the globe. After years of chasing waves and descending into the deep blue, we’ve created this resource to highlight sustainably run surf camps, eco-friendly dive resorts and conservation-focused ocean trips to help inspire your next adventure.
Eco Ocean Escapes was born out of a love of the ocean, an obsession with travel and a concern about the impacts of our adventures on the environments we explore. Despite the benefits that surf and dive tourism can bring to local communities, we recognised that ocean-based adventures are not always managed in a sustainable manner.
Through our articles, we hope to inspire those seeking a responsible surf or dive trip that is all about supporting local communities, preserving our coastal environments and the incredible marine species that inhabit our oceans.
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We are a team of passionate divers and surfers with decades of combined experience in the water and travelling to all corners of the globe.
After years of chasing waves and descending into the deep blue, we’ve created this resource to highlight sustainable surf camps, eco-dive resorts and conservation-focused ocean trips to help inspire your next adventure.
Eco Ocean Escapes was born out of a love of the ocean, an obsession with travel and a concern about the impacts of our adventures on the environments we explore.
