Eco-Diving: Best Destinations for Sustainable Scuba Travel
As humans who are inspired by the underwater world, there is plenty of incentive to protect our oceans and coral reefs. After all, we want to be able to experience these incredible environments (in a healthy state) for many years to come.
Here at EcoOceanEscapes, we are striving to do our bit by encouraging others to get onboard – to protect endangered species, campaign for marine protections and keep our oceans free of trash.
One impactful action we can all take is to support dive destinations that have already shown themselves to be leaders in the field. These are nations (or regions) that are being proactive about marine conservation and have results to show for it.
It might be through investment in coastal communities and the expansion of marine reserves or the establishment of eco-conscious resorts.
By selecting to dive in these destinations (and stay at a sustainably run resort), you’ll not only be supporting ocean conservation but gain a better understanding of what’s at stake if we don’t act.
In this guide, we’ll highlight 7 of the world’s best eco-friendly dive destinations and some of their leading eco-resorts to help inspire your next sustainable scuba vacation.
By travelling to one of these countries and diving at an eco-resort, 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 these inspiring eco-friendly properties around the world.
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Fiji
Nicknamed the “Soft Coral Capital of the World”, Fiji is an incredible dive destination that we’ve been lucky enough to explore.
The strong currents swirling around its outer reefs deliver nutrient-rich waters from across the ocean, attracting everything from tiny macroorganisms to massive pelagic fish. The shark encounters here are next level!
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 after 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, this eco-friendly Fiji resort runs reef protection and giant clam breeding programs led by resident marine biologists. A dive vacation here is an educational experience!
Also of note is Matava Eco Adventure Resort, an award-winning Fiji eco-resort on the shores of Kadavu Island. Its traditional, thatched-roof bures exude rustic charm and are surrounded by volcanic forests.
The resort prides itself on having zero carbon emissions and also 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. Honestly, we could dive solely in Indo for decades and not get bored!
Over the last few years, we’ve stayed at several Indonesian 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. Through partnerships with organisations like PADI AWARE, Wakatobi is teaching responsible diving practices and sponsoring ecology education projects.
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 has built floating structures to minimise its environmental impact and used responsibly sourced hardwood in its construction. Much of the fresh produce is sourced from an onsite organic garden and ocean plastic cleanups happen on a regular basis.
For a private island escape, Misool Eco Resort in Raja Ampat takes conservation to the next level. The nonprofit Misool Foundation has implemented far-reaching biodiversity protection and community education projects, including the creation of 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. Aside from low-impact accommodations, it regularly hosts marine researchers at the Raja Ampat SEA Centre.
Also scattered throughout Raja Ampat are plenty of eco-friendly homestays set within paradisiacal surroundings. Conditions are a little more basic than at dive specialist resorts, but you still have a front-row seat for exploring Raja’s reefs.
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 abundant 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 mangroves nurture reef fish and sea turtles, having wide-reaching impacts on the surrounding ocean health.
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 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 brings together luxury and sustainable stays. Renewable energy powers the property 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 enthusiast’s paradise and one we’ve been lucky enough to dive. It encompasses more than 7,000 islands surrounded by healthy 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, which was awarded the 2023 Green Fins Award for its eco-friendly practices. It was specifically commended for its training programs that teach divers to be more environmentally aware underwater.
In addition, Evolution has implemented resort-wide initiatives to reduce plastic waste and offers sustainable food options for guests.
At Sangat Island Dive Resort in Coron Bay, environmental stewardship is also interwoven into the fabric of the resort. Not only is it powered by a solar generator and minimising plastic usage, but it engages guests in green activities.
Surrounded by a marine park, Sangat also partners with local communities to spread awareness and education about conservation and sustainability practices.
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 healthy underwater ecosystems, the Maldives is a tropical gem in the Indian Ocean. For scuba divers, it’s synonymous with thrilling pelagic encounters, but also hosts vibrant reefs that provide habitat for fish, sea turtles and rays.
As a low-lying island nation, the Maldives understands better than most 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’s also incredibly luxurious – just take a look at the photos if you want to drool!
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. It also partners with organisations like the Manta Trust to achieve shared goals around marine research and conservation.
On the tiny but picture-perfect island of Dhigurah is the Boutique Beach All-Inclusive Diving Hotel, an eco-friendly escape that has made sustainability a priority. Glass straws and ceramic toiletry bottles replace wasteful plastic while staff regularly organise 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 one of those places that should be on everyone’s bucket list. Granted, it’s not cheap. But for a once-in-a-lifetime trip, we think it’s worth saving up for.
With the Seychelles’ forward-thinking approach to conservation, you can discover species found nowhere else on Earth. Nearly half of this island nation is protected as national parks, allowing its rare and endemic species to thrive.
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 and 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
Forming part of the Coral Triangle, Papua New Guinea is a lesser-known dive destination in Melanesia. But we’d encourage you to look a little closer as it boasts stunning biodiversity above the water and world-class diving below.
PNG’s fringing reefs, coral walls and seagrass beds teem with marine life, while spectacular wrecks from World War II add to the allure. This island nation is also home to some wonderful eco-dive resorts that are helping to support the country’s natural wonders.
One of the best is Walindi Plantation Resort on the edge of Kimbe Bay in West New Britain Province. It partners with Mahonia Na Dari (MND) (“Guardian of the Sea), an organisation based next door, which works tirelessly to protect Kimbe’s marine environment.
Through their Marine Environment Education Program (MEEP), they aim to foster an appreciation for the bay’s incredible biodiversity 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. From our perspective, it’s one of those places where regenerative tourism is thriving!
Another PNG dive operation to check out is Lissenung Island Resort, a peaceful 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
With the alarming decline of coral reefs and the plight of endangered marine species around the globe, there is a pressing urgency to take meaningful action. As divers, we’re connected to the ocean environment more than most…and benefit from its natural wonders more than most!
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 your travel dollars, you’ll be sending a powerful message that environmental stewardship is a top priority for the diving community.
For more inspiration, check out these destinations actively protecting coral reefs and discover how you can support them.
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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.
