Want to get the most bottom time for your buck? It's not always about scouting for the lowest price packages – though that's certainly one part of the process. If your goal is to get the most quality time in the water for your vacation budget, you also need to consider how many divers per day are on the roster and the quality of the diving itself. Other things to factor in are the price of accommodations, meals, and airfare. With that in mind, here are five suggested destinations that deliver great dive vacation values.

Clear north-flowing waters wash over reefs and wrecks off Cozumel's western coast.

Cozumel, Mexico

Generations of divers have made Cozumel their go-to getaway. They come for a combination of cost-effective flights, reasonably-priced resorts, and healthy reefs washed by consistently clear waters. Divers often find the best values in mid-island oceanfront properties such as the Cozumel Hotel & Resort and Casa Del Mar, which offer both boat and shore diving to add more bottom time to the vacation. Divers who spend a bit more can get into one of the island's mid-range all-inclusive properties, such as Allegro Cozumel, Fiesta Americana, and Sunscape Sabor. These properties are a great way to mix diving with a beach vacation, especially for anyone traveling with non-diving friends or family members.

Turquoise Bay Resort is one of Roatan's best values for inclusive dive packages.

Roatan, Honduras

Accessibility, affordability, and marine biodiversity make Roatan a top choice for cost-effective dive vacations. The past decade has seen a steady increase in the number of direct flights from North America, while the island retains it's laid-back vibe and mid-market appeal. Two resorts in particular deliver an excellent combination of bottom time and value. Both Anthony's Key Resort and Turquoise Bay offer inclusive room, meal and three-dives-a-day packages at attractive prices, along with seasonal specials that further increase the appeal. Divers with a bit more in the budget can add the Maya Princess Beach & Dive resort to the list, as this south-shore property combines similar diving packages with the added activities of an upper-end all-inclusive resort.

Bonaire has more than 60 dive sites that can be accessed from the beach.

Bonaire

Divers have three ways to max out their dive logs in Bonaire. Resorts on the island's sheltered western shores face house reefs that are available day and night. Regular boat trips open up dozens more dive sites, while the big news is the 60-plus sites that can be accessed from beachfront parking areas, with short swims to the reef. Resorts such as Buddy Dive and Captain Don's Habitat provide capitalize on these 24/7 shore diving opportunities by offering attractively-priced drive-and-dive packages with unlimited tank swaps.

The Philippines gives divers a mix of colorful corals, walls, macro life, and muck diving.

Philippines

The Indo-Pacific region is chock full of world-class dive sites, most reached by longer and more costly flight plans. The Philippines are an exception, with favorable pricing on direct flights from the US West Coast to Manila, and numerous options for intra-island travel. Once there, resort and diving costs can be equally attractive and plentiful, with many resorts offering up to five boat dives daily and unlimited shore diving. And the icing on the cake is the quality of the underwater experience. The Philippines are a global hotspot for marine bio-diversity, offering an unrivaled mix of muck, macro and reef diving, with most sites sitting close to shore and just minute from dive shop docks. Anilao's Buceo Anilao Beach & Dive Resort is a prime example of Philippines dive value, as are the resorts of Magic Oceans and Magic Island.