The Philippines is a vast nation home to more than 1200 species of marine life, including weird and wonderful macro critters, elusive thresher sharks and massive, awe-inspiring whale sharks. You can see a lot of amazing things taking day trips from a dive resort, but some of the best dive sites in the Philippines are only accessible by liveaboard – including the UNESCO World Heritage site Tubbataha. For that reason, you’ll want to check out the best liveaboards in the Philippines, which are:
- S/Y Philippine Siren – Best Luxury Liveaboard
- Infiniti – Best Mid-Range Liveaboard
- Seadoors – Best Budget Liveaboard
- Philippines Aggressor – Best Liveaboard for Non-Divers
- NAVIS 1 – Most Spacious Liveaboard
If you’re new to diving in the Philippines, a liveaboard trip is a great way to explore a few destinations in one go. Depending on the time of year, boats will either visit Malapascua Island and Leyte, the Visayas, Apo and Bohol or Tubbataha Marine Park.
If you get seasick easily and haven’t tried liveaboard diving yet, the Visayas are a calm, beautiful destination for your first liveaboard experience. Read more about liveaboard vs. land-based diving in the Philippines.
The skill level necessary for each destination varies. Tubbataha Reef should only be attempted by experienced Advanced Open Water Divers or above, whereas Apo Island and most diving in the Visayas is suitable for beginners. Review our Philippines Diving Calendar: A Month-by-Month Diving Guide to find out what you can expect to see. Alternatively, plan your trip around the best time to see whale sharks.
Liveaboards in the Philippines leave from various ports, but the majority depart from Puerto Princesa on Palawan Island or Cebu City on Cebu Island. Most liveaboard trips in this country are six nights/seven days, but some operators offer shorter, four-day trips and longer, 10-day itineraries.
1. Best Luxury Liveaboard: S/Y Philippine Siren
The S/Y Philippine Siren is one of the most luxurious liveaboard dive boats in the world. At 40 meters (131 feet) long and eight meters (26 feet) wide, the vessel is large compared to other liveaboards sailing the Philippine waters. What’s even more noteworthy is that this sizable boat only accepts a maximum of 16 guests — compared to 24 guests in other boats of a similar size.
Guests can enjoy up to four dives per day (including one night dive). During downtime, the air-conditioned salon, sundeck, covered outdoor dining area and air-conditioned, ensuite cabins provide plenty of choice for stretching out and relaxing. Beyond those already mentioned, the S/Y Philippine Siren‘s other amenities include:
- Two high-powered tenders
- A spacious dive deck
- Kayaks
- An onboard masseuse
- A laundry service
So if you’re partial to total luxury on dive vacations, the Philippine Siren could be the right choice. We’re confident you won’t be disappointed with a stay on one of the best liveaboards in the Philippines.
2. Best Mid-Range Liveaboard: Infiniti
At 39 meters (128 feet) in length, the Infiniti is another impressive liveaboard in the Philippines. This moderately priced vessel can accommodate a maximum of 22 divers across its 11 cabins. Each cabin has an ensuite bathroom, a window and air conditioning. The boat also features a dedicated room for underwater photographers with camera stations, a big screen TV and comfortable sofas for post-dive relaxation.
For comfortable diving, the Infiniti has two RIB tenders for easier land and dive site access. The experienced dive guides are also knowledgeable, helpful and particularly capable critter finders.
Throughout the year, Infiniti visits some of the best places to dive in the Philippines. Available destinations include:
- Apo and Bohol
- Central Visayas including Cebu, Malapascua and Gato Island
- Southern Leyte
- Tubbataha.
If you’re looking for a mid-range boat which delivers just the right combination of style, comfort and value, the Infiniti may be the right choice.
3. Best Budget Liveaboard: Seadoors
Boasting the most diving for the money, Seadoors is a no-frills way to explore the Philippines. Even though it’s slightly smaller than some of its pricier counterparts, this purpose-built boat still offers impressive comfort for up to 16 guests across its eight air-conditioned cabins.
Twelve crew members are on hand to ensure guests enjoy a memorable experience, as well as delicious meals, which are served buffet-style. Water, tea, coffee, juice and between-meal snacks are included. The boat also boasts several communal areas, including a living area, a partially-covered sun deck and an open-air diving area. Plus, the boat has a dedicated area for underwater camera maintenance. Rebreather diving is also supported.
If you want to visit the Philippines and enjoy the liveaboard experience on a budget, Seadoors is a great choice.
4. Best Liveaboard for Non-Divers: Philippines Aggressor
The Philippines Aggressor is one of the most popular liveaboard vessels in the Philippines with both divers and non-divers alike. The spacious boat, which joined the Aggressor fleet in 2020, has space for up 24 guests in its 12 fully equipped cabins.
Spread over two decks, all the cabins on the Philippines Aggressor have been designed with style and comfort in mind. Each one boasts an en-suite bathroom, AC and a TV monitor for ideal downtime enjoyment. Communal space on board includes multiple open decks with chairs, a wet bar and an indoor salon with sofas, a bar and a flat-screen TV. Perhaps best of all, the vessel features a hot tub to allow you to soothe any aches after a long day of diving. Additionally, there’s a partially-covered sun deck and a camera facility.
The Philippines Aggressor offers itineraries to the Visayas and Cebu region, as well as to Tubbataha. In addition, if the Philippines Aggressor sounds appealing, it’s worth checking out her sister ship, the Philippines Aggressor II, which joined the Aggressor fleet in 2024.
5. Most Spacious Liveaboard: NAVIS 1
Built in 2023, the NAVIS 1 is one of the newest additions to the liveaboards sailing the Philippine seas. The 23-meter (75-foot) boat offers up to 18 guests just the right balance between adventure and luxury, as well as impressive everyday stability thanks to its twin-hull design.
The NAVIS 1’s unique design style gives the boat a more spacious feel, with ample space for pre-dive preparation and plenty of room to relax during your time out of the water. Other notable features of this liveaboard include:
- A purpose-built camera room
- Free Starlink High-Speed Internet
- Ensuite bathrooms
- An open-air dining area
- A spacious sun deck
Additionally, the NAVIS 1 offers a range of different itineraries and durations (three to seven nights). Available dive destinations close to Palawan include Linapacan, Coron, Busuanga, and El Nido.
Ready to Book the Liveaboard Vacation of Your Dreams?
The liveaboards included on our list were hand picked by our scuba diving experts, but there are more boats available. Click below to explore the complete range of liveaboards in the Philippines. You can search by availability and read customer reviews for each vessel. Alternatively, get in touch with the experts at PADI Travel for help finding the right boat for you.
