Scuba diving cost in Bunaken, Indonesia (2026)
Bunaken's vertical walls are some of Indonesia's best — and one of its best-value reefs. Here's the honest all-in cost, including the marine park fee.
Bunaken, just off Manado in North Sulawesi, is a wall diver's dream: sheer drop-offs plunging hundreds of metres, festooned with hard and soft corals, sponges and sea fans, with turtles drifting along the edge in the current. It's part of a protected national marine park, and that — plus Indonesia's generally low diving prices — shapes the cost. Here's the honest, all-in picture for 2026.
The marine park entry fee
Bunaken National Marine Park charges an entry fee that funds reef protection. It's typically a small tag valid for the duration of your stay, paid on top of your diving. Almost no headline dive price includes it, so budget it separately. It's modest, but it's the classic Bunaken extra that surprises first-time visitors.
The marine park tag is extra
The Bunaken park entry fee is mandatory and separate from your dive package. It's a small one-off tag for your stay, but operators quote dive prices without it — add it to your budget so it isn't a surprise.
How dive packages work
Most divers stay at a Bunaken island resort or a Manado-based operator and dive on multi-dive day packages: typically three boat dives a day across the walls. Buying a multi-day block brings the per-dive price down. Indonesia is one of the better-value dive regions in the world, so even all-in, Bunaken is gentle on the wallet compared with the Caribbean or Pacific.
Typical costs
| Marine park entry feevalid for your stay | ~$5–$15 |
| Two-tank boat dive | $60–$90 |
| Three-dive day | $80–$120 |
| Open Water Diver courseroughly $380–$520 | Rp6.0M–Rp8.0M |
| Equipment rental (per day) | $15–$30 |
| Plan for a week of wall diving | $400–$700 |
Currency reality check
Bunaken prices may be quoted in Indonesian rupiah (Rp) or US dollars. Always confirm the currency and check the live verified rate before you book — rupiah figures look large but convert to friendly numbers.
Is Bunaken right for you
Great value if...
You love wall diving and want excellent reefs at a fair price. The drop-offs are world-class, the marine life is dense, and the all-in cost stays reasonable even with the park fee and several dives a day.
Less value if...
You specifically want muck and macro diving — for that, the Lembeh Strait nearby is the legend, and many divers combine the two. Bunaken is about big walls and clear blue, not critter hunting.
Hidden costs to budget for
- The mandatory marine park entry fee.
- Transfers from Manado airport to the island or resort.
- Nitrox surcharge if you want enriched air.
- Equipment rental if you're not bringing your own gear.
- A side trip to Lembeh for muck diving, if you add it on.
Comparing Indonesian options? See our Bali cost guide and check verified prices on the Tulamben, Bali destination page.
New to dive budgeting? Start with the hidden costs of diving, and to understand bundled rates, read what's in an all-inclusive dive price. Always check live verified prices on DiveCost before booking.
Bottom line: Bunaken is some of the best-value wall diving anywhere — just remember the marine park fee, confirm the currency, and compare the true all-in number for a week, not a single headline dive price.