Komodo National Park vs Tubbataha Reef — Dive Destination Comparison

Komodo National Park (Indonesia) scores 78.4/100 vs Tubbataha Reef's 76.0/100 in OkToDive's 12-category rating. Choose Komodo National Park for drift diving with 930m visibility. Choose Tubbataha Reef for wall diving at ~$200/dive.

Last updated: 2026-07-22

Side-by-side comparison

MetricKomodo National ParkTubbataha Reef
OkToDive Score78.4/10076.0/100
CountryIndonesiaPhilippines
Visibility9--30m24--46m
Water temp22--29 C26--29 C
Max depth40m40m
Currentstrongmoderate
Cost per 2-tank dive$100$200
Budget tiermid rangeluxury
Best monthsApril, May, JuneMarch, April, May
Dive typesdrift, reef, wall, muck, pelagicwall, reef, drift, pelagic
Min certificationAdvanced Open WaterAdvanced Open Water
Key speciesmanta ray, whitetip reef shark, giant trevallyhammerhead shark, whale shark, manta ray
Google rating4.7 (4200 reviews)4.9 (1890 reviews)

Which should you choose?

Choose Komodo National Park when...

  • + Marine life enthusiasts seeking manta ray encounters
  • + Experienced drift divers comfortable in current
  • + Groups seeking 50+ named dive sites in one area

Skip if

  • - You're uncomfortable in strong currents
  • - You don't have Advanced certification

Choose Tubbataha Reef when...

  • + Marine life enthusiasts seeking hammerhead shark encounters
  • + Experienced drift divers comfortable in current
  • + Wide-angle photographers wanting crystal visibility
  • + Dedicated divers willing to commit to a liveaboard trip

Skip if

  • - You don't have Advanced certification
  • - You're on a tight budget — avg $200/dive
  • - You get seasick or prefer shore-based diving

Bottom line

Komodo National Park wins on overall score (78.4 vs 76.0), but the right choice depends on your priorities. Komodo National Park is more affordable ($100 vs $200/dive). Tubbataha Reef has better peak visibility (46m vs 30m).