Where to dive in December

Caribbean26 at their peak

1. 

   Ambergris Caye (San Pedro)

   Belize

   Dry season December–May with the least rain in February–March; wet-season storms, peaking September–October, can suspend diving for two or three days. Thimble jellyfish spawn in May.

   Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 121 mm · 4.8 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

2. Antigua — English Harbour & Falmouth

   Antigua and Barbuda

   December to April brings the best visibility; May to November has calmer seas, and July to October is hurricane season.

   Water 26–31°C · 79–88°FVis 30 m · 100 ft

3. 

   Bay of Pigs

   Cuba

   Nov–Apr is Cuba's dry season and the settled half of the year; May–Oct is the rainy season and sits inside the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June to November.

   Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 36 mm · 1.4 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

4. 

   Cayman Brac

   Cayman Islands

   Seas are calmest Nov–May; Aug–Oct is hurricane season, when sites often move to whichever shore is in the lee.

   Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 52 mm · 2.0 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

5. 

   Dominica

   Dominica

   Diving is favourable all year; December to May is the driest and calmest stretch, and occasional summer rain does little to dive quality.

   Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 84 mm · 3.3 in

6. 

   Grand Cayman

   Cayman Islands

   December to April is drier and calm enough for the exposed south side; August to October is hurricane season, and the rain peaks in October.

   Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 50 mm · 2.0 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

7. 

   Grenada

   Grenada

   December to April is the dry season, with calm, clear water; July to November is hurricane season, worst in September and October.

   Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 110 mm · 4.3 in

8. 

   Guadeloupe — Cousteau Reserve

   Guadeloupe

   Dec–May is the dry season with the calmest water; Aug–Oct brings hurricane risk and the heaviest rain.

   Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 69 mm · 2.7 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

9. Isla de la Juventud & Punta Francés

   Cuba

   November to April is the dry season, with the calmest and warmest water; rates across Cuba can be lower in the off-season from mid-April to December.

   Water 23–29°C · 73–84°FVis 40 m · 130 ft

10. 

    Jardines de la Reina

    Cuba

    Best conditions run November–May; summer stays diveable but hot, and September–October carries the peak hurricane risk.

    Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 48 mm · 1.9 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

11. 

    Little Cayman

    Cayman Islands

    Calmest conditions and best visibility run December through April; September–October bring the greatest hurricane risk.

    Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 52 mm · 2.0 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

12. María la Gorda

    Cuba

    Nov–Apr is the dry season with the calmest, clearest water; Aug–Oct carries hurricane risk on this exposed western tip.

    Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 39 mm · 1.5 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

13. 

    Nassau & New Providence

    Bahamas

    Diving is year-round; Nov–May is calmest and clearest, and Aug–Oct hurricane season brings the most cancelled days.

    Sea 26°C · 79°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 50 mm · 2.0 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

14. Negril & Bloody Bay

    Jamaica

    December to April is the dry peak season; July to October brings rain and hurricanes, and the rain can cut visibility.

    Water 26–30°C · 79–86°F

15. 

    Ocho Rios

    Jamaica

    December to April is the dry season and Jamaica's peak; July to October is the rainy and hurricane season, when rain can cut visibility.

    Water 26–30°C · 79–86°F

16. 

    Providencia & San Andrés

    Colombia

    Dec–Apr is driest with the calmest water; Sep–Nov brings the heaviest rain and the region's hurricane risk.

    Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 85 mm · 3.3 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

17. 

    RMS Rhone & Salt Island

    British Virgin Islands

    Nov–Jun is calmest and clearest; Aug–Oct hurricane season brings swell that can close the exposed Rhone site entirely.

    Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 37 mm · 1.5 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

18. 

    Saint Barthélemy — Gustavia & Les Anses

    Saint Barthélemy

    November to May is the dry peak season; July to October is hurricane season, with a risk of storms and heavy rain.

    Water 26–29°C · 79–84°FVis 30 m · 100 ft

19. 

    Sint Maarten

    Sint Maarten

    Conditions vary little through the year; Jun–Nov is hurricane season and Dec–Apr plus Jul–Aug are the crowded months.

    Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 33 mm · 1.3 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

20. 

    St. Croix

    U.S. Virgin Islands

    Nov–Jun is calmest and clearest; Aug–Oct is hurricane season, though the pier and shore walls stay divable in most weather.

    Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 45 mm · 1.8 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

21. 

    St. Eustatius

    Caribbean Netherlands

    December to April is the drier stretch; August and September carry the hurricane peak, and diving may pause in September.

    Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 34 mm · 1.3 in

22. St. Kitts

    Saint Kitts and Nevis

    December to May is the dry, busy season; June to November is hurricane season, wettest around September.

    Water 26–29°C · 79–84°FVis 30 m · 100 ft

23. 

    St. Lucia

    St. Lucia

    December–April is the dry season with the calmest seas; September–October carry the highest hurricane risk.

    Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 55 mm · 2.2 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

24. 

    Tobago — Speyside & the Sisters Rocks

    Trinidad and Tobago

    Hammerheads school at the Sisters from October to May; July to November are the wettest months.

    Water 24–28°C · 75–82°F

25. 

    Union Island & the Tobago Cays

    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

    December to April is the dry high season; rain falls from May to November, and hurricanes threaten from July to October.

    Water 27–30°C · 81–86°F

26. 

    Virgin Gorda & the Dog Islands

    British Virgin Islands

    High season runs from mid-December through April, when winter seas are rougher but clearer; hurricane risk peaks from late August through September.

    Water 26–29°C · 79–84°F

Also good in December: Andros, Anguilla, Aruba, Bayahibe, Bequia — Admiralty Bay & the Stratmann Wreck, Bimini, Bocas del Toro, Bonaire, Cozumel, Culebra, Eleuthera — Cape Eleuthera & Rock Sound, Eleuthera — Harbour Island & Spanish Wells, Exuma Cays, Isla Mujeres, La Parguera & Guánica, Long Island, Bahamas, Los Roques, Mahahual (Costa Maya), Martinique — Saint-Pierre Wrecks & Rocher du Diamant, Nevis, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya Cenotes, Saba, San Salvador, South Abaco Blue Holes, St. John, St. Thomas, St. Vincent — Young Island & Anchor Reef, Tiger Beach, Tobago — Crown Point & Mount Irvine, Turks & Caicos, Utila, Vieques

Coral Triangle17 at their peak

1. 

   Anda — Bohol

   Philippines

   Nov–Jun is the main season; the south-west monsoon and typhoons make Jul–Oct unreliable on this exposed coast.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 223 mm · 8.8 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

2. 

   Anilao

   Philippines

   Main season mid-November to May; July to September is typhoon season, with choppy seas and poor visibility.

   Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 206 mm · 8.1 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

3. 

   Apo Reef

   Philippines

   Nov–Jun is the season with Mar–May best; the south-west monsoon and typhoons close the reef entirely from July to September.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 163 mm · 6.4 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

4. 

   Balicasag

   Philippines

   Nov–Jun gives the calmest crossings; the south-west monsoon and typhoons make Jul–Oct unreliable and can close the exposed sides.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 204 mm · 8.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

5. 

   Cabilao

   Philippines

   Dived year-round; Nov–Jun is the main season and the low season runs roughly May–Oct, when the south-west monsoon works the exposed sides.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 210 mm · 8.3 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

6. 

   Camiguin

   Philippines

   Nov–Apr is the dry, settled run; May–Oct rain is heavy but short and rarely stops diving, and the small typhoon risk falls in Sep–Oct.

   Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 306 mm · 12.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

7. 

   Coron

   Philippines

   Dry December to April brings glassy seas and the best visibility; in the wet months bad weather sometimes stops diving.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 118 mm · 4.6 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

8. Davao Gulf & Samal Island

   Philippines

   November to May is the best window for diving around Samal Island.

   Water 27–31°C · 81–88°F

9. 

   Komodo

   Indonesia

   Liveaboards run all year: April is often rated the best month, July to September is the big-fish peak, and the rainy months bring the best visibility and the mantas.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 286 mm · 11.3 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

10. 

    Pamilacan

    Philippines

    Nov–Jun is the workable season; the crossing is exposed and trips are called off on the wind, so Jul–Oct is unreliable.

    Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 204 mm · 8.0 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

11. 

    Panglao

    Philippines

    Nov–Jun is the main season; the south-west monsoon and typhoons disrupt Jul–Oct, though the sheltered south coast keeps working through much of it.

    Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 204 mm · 8.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

12. 

    Raja Ampat

    Indonesia

    October to April is the drier stretch and November to April the manta season at Manta Ridge; July to mid-September can bring strong winds and rough seas.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 198 mm · 7.8 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

13. 

    Romblon

    Philippines

    Nov–Jun is the settled season; typhoons and the south-west monsoon make Jul–Oct unreliable for the boat crossing.

    Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 360 mm · 14.2 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

14. 

    Siquijor

    Philippines

    November to May is the main season; from June to October the south-west monsoon moves the diving from the western walls to the sheltered north-east coast.

    Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 225 mm · 8.9 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

15. 

    Southern Leyte — Sogod Bay

    Philippines

    Whale sharks are off Pintuyan roughly Oct–Apr; the bay is sheltered but Jul–Oct brings typhoon risk and rougher water.

    Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 424 mm · 16.7 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

16. Subic Bay

    Philippines

    November–May dry season is clearest, best February–May; the July–September monsoon cuts inner-bay visibility and cancels rough days.

    Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 78 mm · 3.1 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

17. 

    Triton Bay

    Indonesia

    Liveaboards run Oct–Apr, with Nov–Feb the core season; the rest of the year is too rough on this exposed south-facing coast.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 270 mm · 10.6 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

Also good in December: Ambon, Bunaken, Cenderawasih Bay, Donsol & Ticao Pass, El Nido & Bacuit Bay, Gili Islands, Gizo, Halmahera — Kusu & Sali Islands, Iron Bottom Sound, Kimbe Bay, Lembeh Strait, Mabul & Kapalai, Madang & the North Coast, Marovo Lagoon, Maumere Bay, Menjangan & West Bali, Misool, Nusa Penida, Puerto Galera, Sumbawa — Moyo, Satonda & Saleh Bay, Tufi, Tulamben, Wakatobi

Indian Ocean15 at their peak

1. 

   Andaman Islands

   India

   SW monsoon (Jun-Sep) brings rough seas and heavy rain that close most operators; the Dec-Apr dry season gives the best visibility and calmest boat rides.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 96 mm · 3.8 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

2. 

   Ari & Rasdhoo Atolls

   Maldives

   The seas are calmest from December to May, but manta numbers peak from August to November.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 166 mm · 6.5 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

3. 

   Christmas Island

   Australia

   October to December brings the clearest water; August and September bring upwellings and lower visibility; from November to April swell can roughen the north side.

   Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 152 mm · 6.0 inVis 60 m · 197 ft

4. 

   Fuvahmulah

   Maldives

   Tiger sharks are resident year-round; the dry NE monsoon (Dec-Apr) gives the calmest seas, while the Oct-Nov transition brings choppier open-water conditions.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 160 mm · 6.3 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

5. Hikkaduwa

   Sri Lanka

   The west-coast season runs from October to April; from May to September the main centres dive from Trincomalee instead.

   Water 26–31°C · 79–88°F

6. 

   Lakshadweep

   India

   The season runs Oct–May; the south-west monsoon from June to September shuts the islands to visitors entirely.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 54 mm · 2.1 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

7. 

   Lhaviyani Atoll

   Maldives

   Iruvai, the dry northeast monsoon (Dec–Apr), is calm and clear; the wet Hulhangu monsoon (Jun–Nov) can chop the surface but brings mantas to Fushifaru Thila, peaking Oct–Nov.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 142 mm · 5.6 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

8. 

   Meemu Atoll

   Maldives

   Calmest seas and clearest water on the north-east monsoon, Nov–Apr. Sources disagree on manta timing at Mantas and More (Dec–May versus May–Dec), so do not plan a trip around it.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 195 mm · 7.7 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

9. 

   Musandam

   Oman

   Oct–May is the comfortable window; midsummer brings 32°C water, plankton blooms and punishing surface heat.

   Sea 26°C · 79°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 26 mm · 1.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

10. 

    Netrani Island & Murudeshwar

    India

    Diving runs October to May and is best December to February; the south-west monsoon roughens the sea from June to October.

    Water 27–30°C · 81–86°FVis 25 m · 82 ft

11. 

    North Malé Atoll

    Maldives

    December to April is dry with gentle breezes; late May to July is the weakest stretch, when most liveaboards leave the atoll.

    Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 171 mm · 6.7 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

12. 

    Raa Atoll

    Maldives

    Dry December to May brings glassy seas and the clearest water; June can be too choppy for boats, and the windier months that follow bring plankton and mantas.

    Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 129 mm · 5.1 in

13. 

    South Malé Atoll

    Maldives

    The dry northeast monsoon, late December to May, is the main season; mantas clean May to August and whale sharks are reported in August on the outer reef.

    Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 172 mm · 6.8 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

14. 

    Vaavu Atoll

    Maldives

    November to April brings the strongest channel flow and the clearest water; mantas pass through on plankton-rich currents from May to September, peaking May to July.

    Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 179 mm · 7.0 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

15. 

    Weligama & Mirissa

    Sri Lanka

    The Mirissa season runs from 1 November to 10 April; outside it the dive centre moves to the east coast.

    Water 27–31°C · 81–88°F

Also good in December: Addu Atoll, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Daymaniyat Islands, Goa & the Grande Island, Haa Alif & Haa Dhaalu Atolls, Ifaty & Mangily, Kish Island, Laamu Atoll, Mauritius, Nosy Be, Outer Seychelles — Alphonse, Praslin & La Digue, Qeshm & Hengam Island, Seychelles — Inner Islands, Socotra, Trincomalee & Kalpitiya, Unawatuna & Jungle Beach

Southeast Asia14 at their peak

1. 

   Hin Daeng & Hin Muang

   Thailand

   Only reliably diveable November-April; southwest monsoon swell makes the exposed pinnacles too rough May-October.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 115 mm · 4.5 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

2. 

   Khao Lak

   Thailand

   Wreck day trips run 15 October to 15 May; the dry northeast monsoon from November to April gives the best conditions.

   Water 26–30°C · 79–86°FVis 15 m · 50 ft

3. Koh Chang & Koh Rang

   Thailand

   Diving runs year-round; November to May brings calm seas and the clearest water, and the June to October monsoon brings wind, waves and lower visibility.

   Water 28–30°C · 82–86°FVis 15 m · 50 ft

4. 

   Koh Kood & Koh Mak

   Thailand

   Mid-October to May brings calm seas and the clearest water; July to September turns choppy, with visibility down to 5 m.

   Water 28–30°C · 82–86°FVis 30 m · 100 ft

5. Koh Lanta & Koh Haa

   Thailand

   November to April is the dry season and the best diving; most dive shops close from the end of April to the end of October.

   Water 27–30°C · 81–86°FVis 40 m · 130 ft

6. 

   Koh Rong & Koh Tang

   Cambodia

   Oct–Jun is the season with Nov–Apr calmest; the south-west monsoon makes the offshore crossing impractical Jul–Sep.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 56 mm · 2.2 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

7. 

   Mergui Archipelago

   Myanmar

   Myanmar's Andaman coast is only accessible by liveaboard November-April; cyclone risk and rough seas close the region the rest of the year.

   Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 74 mm · 2.9 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

8. 

   Phi Phi & the King Cruiser

   Thailand

   Nov–Apr is the dry season with the calmest, clearest water; the south-west monsoon from May to October brings swell and rain.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 165 mm · 6.5 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

9. 

   Phú Quốc

   Vietnam

   October to May is the dive season, best from November to April; June to September is the rainy season, when seas turn rough and several centres close.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 72 mm · 2.8 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

10. 

    Phuket — Racha Islands & Local Reefs

    Thailand

    Calm, dry conditions mid-Oct to May; the May–Oct monsoon cuts clarity but Phuket's sites stay open, unlike the Similans (closed 16 May–15 Oct).

    Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 162 mm · 6.4 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

11. 

    Pulau Weh

    Indonesia

    Oct–Apr is the settled season with the clearest water; June to September brings wind and swell that close the exposed pinnacles.

    Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 247 mm · 9.7 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

12. 

    Similan Islands

    Thailand

    The park is closed by law from mid-May to mid-October; December to April is the calm high season.

    Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 157 mm · 6.2 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

13. 

    Surin Islands

    Thailand

    The national park closes mid-May to mid-October for the south-west monsoon; Feb–Apr is the peak of the open season.

    Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 152 mm · 6.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

14. Trang Islands — Kradan, Mook & Ngai

    Thailand

    Diving runs November to April, the dry season; Ko Hai Divers on Koh Ngai is shut from May to October.

    Water 28–30°C · 82–86°F

Also good in December: Koh Lipe & Tarutao, Koh Samui & Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Kota Kinabalu & Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Pulau Hantu & Singapore's Southern Islands, Richelieu Rock

Cold Water13 at their peak

1. 

   Antarctic Peninsula

   Antarctica

   Expedition ships operate only during the austral summer; the peninsula is inaccessible to tourism the rest of the year.

   Water -1–2°C · 30–36°FHigh -1°C · 30°FRain 127 mm · 5.0 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

2. 

   Attersee

   Austria

   Diving runs year-round; visibility peaks near 30 m in winter, while July and August bring more bathers, boat traffic and sometimes murkier water.

   Water 3.5–21.1°C · 38–70°FHigh 11°C · 52°FRain 88 mm · 3.5 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

3. Comox Valley & Hornby Island

   Canada

   Sea lions and great visibility come November to February; sixgill sharks appear May to September, and the March herring spawn can cloud the water to nothing.

   Water 8–10°C · 46–50°FVis 30 m · 100 ft

4. 

   Discovery Passage & Campbell River

   Canada

   Winter brings the clearest water, at times beyond 30 m; August visibility can turn murky, and September trades calmer seas for clearer water.

   Water 7–15°C · 45–59°FVis 30 m · 100 ft

5. Gothenburg Archipelago

   Sweden

   At Trubaduren wolffish are near certain from December to midsummer, and June adds spiny dogfish; March has the coldest water.

   Water 3–19°C · 37–66°F

6. Horseshoe Bay & Howe Sound

   Canada

   Dived year-round; the water is clearest in late fall and winter, while spring and summer plankton blooms can cut visibility.

   Water 7–11°C · 45–52°F

7. Lago Nahuel Huapi & Bariloche

   Argentina

   November to April is the best season; the seasonal schools close after Easter while the centre on Lago Moreno dives all year, and the winter lake is 2 to 4 °C.

   Water 2–14°C · 36–57°FVis 20 m · 66 ft

8. 

   Nanaimo & Gabriola Island

   Canada

   Clearest water runs September to March; spring and summer blooms cloud the surface layer.

   Water 6–13°C · 43–55°F

9. 

   Oslofjord — Nesodden & Fornebu

   Norway

   Autumn and winter are usually the high season; September to March has the clearest water, April to October the warmest.

   Water 3–18°C · 37–64°FVis 25 m · 82 ft

10. 

    Puget Sound

    United States

    Diving runs all year; visibility is often best in fall and winter, while summer brings 16 hours of daylight.

    Sea 9°C · 48°FHigh 12°C · 54°FRain 191 mm · 7.5 in

11. 

    Skjervøy — Orca Migration

    Norway

    Timing follows the herring's overwintering migration; orca and whale presence is reliable only within this window and drops off once herring disperse in late winter.

    Sea 6°C · 43°FHigh 3°C · 37°FRain 88 mm · 3.5 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

12. Stockholm Archipelago & Dalarö

    Sweden

    Autumn, winter and spring are the best time for the Dalarö wrecks; a drysuit is needed in every season.

    Water 1–19°C · 34–66°F

13. 

    Stoney Cove

    United Kingdom

    Open 362 days a year. Clearest from late October through winter, coldest in February-March, and a June-August algal bloom cuts visibility even at the warmest surface temperatures.

    Water 4–18°C · 39–64°FHigh 12°C · 54°FRain 81 mm · 3.2 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

Also good in December: Baltimore & Cape Clear Island, Barkley Sound, Gotland & Fårö, Gulen & the Sognefjord, Halifax & St Margaret's Bay, Hel Peninsula, Isle of Skye, Koster Islands & Kosterhavet, Kristiansund & the Atlantic Ocean Road, Lake Baikal — Listvyanka & Olkhon, Lake Constance, Lake Shikotsu, Lillebælt & Middelfart, Loch Fyne & Loch Long, Lofoten Islands, Öland & the Kalmar Strait, Øresund & Isefjord, Pembrokeshire & Skomer, Plymouth Sound & HMS Scylla, Reykjanes Peninsula — Garður & Flekkuvík, San Juan Islands, Shakotan Peninsula, Skarnsundet & the Trondheim Fjord, Sochi & Lazarevskoye, White Sea — Chupa Bay & Nilmoguba, Zeeland — Oosterschelde & Grevelingen

South America12 at their peak

1. 

   Abrolhos Archipelago

   Brazil

   Aug–Oct pairs peak humpback whale season with fair diving; visibility is clearest and warmest Dec–Mar, while Apr–Jul river runoff lowers it to around 10 m.

   Sea 26°C · 79°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 156 mm · 6.1 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

2. 

   Arvoredo Marine Reserve

   Brazil

   Dec–Mar brings the warmest, clearest water and the calmest crossings; winter southerlies frequently cancel boats and drop the temperature to 16°C.

   Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 125 mm · 4.9 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

3. 

   Florianópolis & Ilha do Xavier

   Brazil

   November to April is the best season; diving carries on all year, but a colder, nutrient-rich current can darken the water in the other months.

   Water 19–26°C · 66–79°F

4. Guarapari

   Brazil

   Diving runs all year; November to May is the best time at Ilha Escalvada and the Ilhas Rasas, and December to April at Três Ilhas.

   Water 23–26°C · 73–79°F

5. 

   Ilha Grande & Angra dos Reis

   Brazil

   October to April brings warmer water and the best visibility; the mainland-facing north coast is diveable all year.

   Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 32°C · 90°FRain 176 mm · 6.9 in

6. 

   Las Grutas

   Argentina

   Diving runs all year; December to March is summer and the high season, with the water averaging about 19 °C in February against 10 to 11 °C in August.

   Water 10–19°C · 50–66°F

7. Maceió & Praia do Francês

   Brazil

   October to April is the season; June to August brings rain and strong wind. December to February books up weeks ahead.

   Water 26–29°C · 79–84°F

8. 

   Morro de São Paulo

   Brazil

   November to March is the best season for diving here.

   Water 25–29°C · 77–84°F

9. 

   Palomino Islands

   Peru

   Dec–Apr is the austral summer with the warmest water and calmest seas; winter brings 14°C water, grey skies and more cancelled trips.

   Sea 18°C · 64°FHigh 22°C · 72°FRain 4 mm · 0.2 inVis 12 m · 40 ft

10. 

    Porto de Galinhas

    Brazil

    October to March is the best period for diving here.

    Water 26–29°C · 79–84°F

11. Porto Seguro & Santa Cruz Cabrália

    Brazil

    November to April brings the clearest water and the least wind; December to February is the busy summer season, when dives are best booked 15 to 30 days ahead.

    Water 24–28°C · 75–82°FVis 10 m · 33 ft

12. 

    Recife Wrecks

    Brazil

    Sep–Mar is the dry season with the calmest seas and best visibility; Apr–Jul rain and runoff can drop it below 8 m.

    Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 32°C · 90°FRain 44 mm · 1.7 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

Also good in December: Alcatrazes Archipelago, Fernando de Noronha, Mar del Plata, Paraty, Pucusana, Puerto Madryn & Península Valdés, Salvador & Baía de Todos os Santos

Africa11 at their peak

1. Diani Beach

   Kenya

   Late November to mid-March is the best time to travel, with whale sharks from November to February; April to June is the main rainy season.

   Water 25–31°C · 77–88°F

2. 

   Gordon's Bay & Rooi-Els

   South Africa

   Diving runs mostly in summer, when the weather permits, with some good days in other seasons and an occasional winter dive.

   Water 10–22°C · 50–72°F

3. 

   Jangamo & Guinjata Bay

   Mozambique

   Whale sharks peak November to May; humpback whales pass from June until November.

   Water 24–28°C · 75–82°F

4. Kizimkazi & Menai Bay

   Tanzania

   December to March is calm and dry with the warmest water; April-May and November bring the rains.

   Water 25–30°C · 77–86°F

5. 

   Mafia Island

   Tanzania

   Whale shark season peaks October-March; the March-May long rains bring rougher seas and reduced visibility.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 104 mm · 4.1 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

6. 

   Mnemba Atoll — Zanzibar

   Tanzania

   Jul–Mar is divable, with Dec–Feb calmest and clearest; the long rains in April and May bring poor visibility and rough crossings.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 110 mm · 4.3 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

7. Mombasa, Nyali & Bamburi

   Kenya

   November to March brings the calmest seas and the best visibility; the southeast monsoon from May to October adds wind and current.

   Water 25–31°C · 77–88°FVis 30 m · 100 ft

8. 

   Mossel Bay

   South Africa

   Diving peaks in the mid-summer months, when game fish arrive and soft corals bloom; whales pass from June to mid-November.

   Water 17–21°C · 63–70°F

9. 

   Pemba Island

   Tanzania

   Oct–Mar is the main season with the calmest sea; the long rains in April and May close most operations on the island.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 74 mm · 2.9 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

10. 

    Wasini Island & Kisite-Mpunguti

    Kenya

    November to March has the calmest seas; April to June is the rainy season, with a strong current and rough water in May and June.

    Water 24–30°C · 75–86°F

11. 

    Watamu & Malindi

    Kenya

    Oct–Mar is the season, with whale sharks Nov–Feb; the kusi monsoon and long rains shut most centres from April to June.

    Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 32°C · 90°FRain 87 mm · 3.4 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

Also good in December: Algoa Bay, Aliwal Shoal, Bazaruto Archipelago, Cape Peninsula Kelp Forests, Gansbaai, Hermanus, Ponta do Ouro, São Tomé & Príncipe, Sodwana Bay, Tofo

Australia & New Zealand10 at their peak

1. 

   Albany — King George Sound

   Australia

   Charters run year-round; December to March is the dry, warm half of the year, June to August the wet half with July the wettest month, and the whales are in the Sound July to October.

   Sea 19°C · 66°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 25 mm · 1.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

2. 

   Bay of Islands

   New Zealand

   Jan–May is warmest and clearest as the East Auckland Current pushes south; winter is cold, green and frequently blown out.

   Sea 19°C · 66°FHigh 22°C · 72°FRain 82 mm · 3.2 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

3. 

   Eaglehawk Neck

   Australia

   Summer (Dec–Mar) brings the calmest seas and best boat access to exposed sites; winter swell restricts trips to Hippolyte Rocks and Cathedral Cave.

   Sea 15°C · 59°FHigh 23°C · 73°FRain 71 mm · 2.8 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

4. 

   Fiordland

   New Zealand

   Summer (Dec–Feb) brings the most stable weather windows; Fiordland's high year-round rainfall can disrupt trips in any month.

   Sea 15°C · 59°FHigh 20°C · 68°FRain 188 mm · 7.4 inVis 15 m · 50 ft

5. 

   Goat Island — Leigh

   New Zealand

   Jan–Apr is warmest and clearest as the East Auckland Current pushes south; winter is cold, green and often blown out.

   Sea 19°C · 66°FHigh 24°C · 75°FRain 73 mm · 2.9 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

6. 

   Julian Rocks — Byron Bay

   Australia

   Leopard sharks arrive Dec–Apr and grey nurse Jun–Nov, so the site has a marquee species almost year-round.

   Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 119 mm · 4.7 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

7. 

   Kaikōura

   New Zealand

   Nov–Mar is warmest and calmest; sperm whales and seals are present year-round, and dusky dolphin pods are largest in winter.

   Sea 15°C · 59°FHigh 24°C · 75°FRain 70 mm · 2.8 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

8. 

   Lord Howe Island

   Australia

   The warm East Australian Current peaks Dec–Apr for the calmest, clearest diving; winter (Jul–Aug) is cooler with more boat-canceling swell.

   Sea 23°C · 73°FHigh 24°C · 75°FRain 73 mm · 2.9 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

9. 

   Rapid Bay

   Australia

   Seadragons are resident year-round; summer (Dec–Mar) brings the calmest seas and best visibility, while winter swell and cold make access harder.

   Sea 19°C · 66°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 14 mm · 0.6 inVis 10 m · 33 ft

10. 

    Stewart Island

    New Zealand

    The cage season runs roughly Dec–Jun under permit; winter weather in the Foveaux Strait shuts the crossing entirely.

    Sea 14°C · 57°FHigh 19°C · 66°FRain 94 mm · 3.7 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

Also good in December: Exmouth Navy Pier, Jervis Bay, Lady Elliot Island, Montague Island, Mount Gambier — Limestone Coast, Nelson Bay — Fly Point, Neptune Islands, North Stradbroke Island — Point Lookout, NSW Central Coast, Osprey Reef, Poor Knights Islands, Port Phillip — Portsea & Blairgowrie, South West Rocks — Fish Rock, SS Yongala

Pacific Islands9 at their peak

1. 

   Chuuk Lagoon

   Micronesia

   December to April is the dry season, driest from January to March; June to September brings the heaviest rain.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 240 mm · 9.4 inVis 18 m · 60 ft

2. Isle of Pines

   New Caledonia

   Boats run all year; the water stays above 24 °C (76 °F) from November to May and is coolest in August.

   Water 22–27°C · 72–81°F

3. 

   Kona

   United States

   Manta rays and reef diving are consistent year-round; Dec-Apr adds migrating humpback whales, while winter swell can occasionally limit access to exposed sites.

   Sea 26°C · 79°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 94 mm · 3.7 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

4. 

   Lifou

   New Caledonia

   The warmest water runs from December to May; February and March bring the heaviest rain, and September is the driest month.

   Water 23–28°C · 73–82°F

5. 

   Palau

   Palau

   Boats run every month; November to April has the best conditions, and June to December is typhoon season.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 275 mm · 10.8 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

6. 

   Rangiroa

   French Polynesia

   December–March is great hammerhead season in Tiputa Pass; dolphins and grey reef sharks are reliable year-round.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 184 mm · 7.2 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

7. 

   Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

   Chile

   Austral summer (Dec-Mar) brings the calmest seas and warmest water; austral winter (Jun-Aug) can bring swell that limits boat access to exposed sites.

   Sea 23°C · 73°FHigh 23°C · 73°FRain 25 mm · 1.0 inVis 55 m · 180 ft

8. 

   Saipan & Tinian

   Northern Mariana Islands

   Dec–Jun is calmest and clearest; Jul–Nov is typhoon season, when swell regularly closes the Grotto entirely.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 46 mm · 1.8 inVis 50 m · 164 ft

9. 

   Yap

   Micronesia

   Mantas are present year-round, but the Dec-Mar dry season brings calmer seas and clearer water for photographing the cleaning stations.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 188 mm · 7.4 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

Also good in December: Fakarava, Guam, Kauaʻi — Poipu & the South Shore, Kosrae, Majuro & Mili, Maui, Molokini & Lānaʻi, Maupiti, New Caledonia, Nuku Hiva, Oʻahu, Pohnpei, Raiatea & Taha'a, Rota, Savusavu & Natewa Bay, Tahiti & Teahupo'o, Tikehau, Wallis Island (Uvea), Yasawa Islands

East Asia6 at their peak

1. Iriomote & the Yonara Channel

   Japan

   Manta odds are highest from November to May; mid-June to October is the sunniest stretch, but it overlaps the June to September typhoon season.

   Water 20–31°C · 68–88°F

2. Katsuura & Namegawa

   Japan

   Diving runs all year; winter opens Umanose and brings lumpfish onto the sand, in the coldest water of the year.

   Water 17–26°C · 63–79°F

3. Kume Island

   Japan

   Mantas run almost all year; winter adds hammerheads, summer adds barracuda, and the rainy season falls from mid-May to mid-June.

   Water 19–31°C · 66–88°F

4. Miura Peninsula — Jogashima, Hayama & Zushi

   Japan

   Boats run all year; winter is the peak for nudibranchs and lumpsuckers, summer for colourful seasonal visitors.

   Water 14–26°C · 57–79°F

5. Sanya & Wuzhizhou Island

   China

   November to April is the dry season and the best stretch for diving; May to October brings the rains.

   Water 20–30°C · 68–86°FVis 25 m · 82 ft

6. 

   Yonaguni

   Japan

   Hammerhead season peaks December to March; summer brings typhoon risk and rougher currents.

   Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 25°C · 77°FRain 74 mm · 2.9 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

Also good in December: Gangneung, Hachijojima, Hong Kong — Sai Kung & Hoi Ha Wan, Izu Ōshima, Izu Peninsula — Osezaki & IOP, Miyakejima, Nanki-Shirahama & Tanabe, Okinawa — Cape Maeda & Sunabe, Sokcho & Goseong, Tateyama — Hazama, Nishikawana & Ito, Tokunoshima, Xiaoliuqiu

Eastern Pacific3 at their peak

1. 

   Galápagos — Central & South Islands

   Ecuador

   December to May brings warmer, calmer and clearer water; June to November is choppier and colder but better for ocean sunfish.

   Water 18–26°C · 64–79°FVis 12 m · 40 ft

2. Islas Catalinas

   Costa Rica

   Manta trips run November to April, with mantas reported into May; the rest of the year the islands dive for sharks, rays and fish schools.

   Water 18–28°C · 64–82°FVis 30 m · 100 ft

3. 

   Malpelo

   Colombia

   Jan-Apr is cooler and drier with a shallow, cold thermocline; May-Dec runs warmer with better visibility and the strongest shark and pelagic activity.

   Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 127 mm · 5.0 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

Also good in December: Cocos Island, Coiba, Galápagos — Darwin & Wolf, Galápagos West (Isabela & Fernandina), Gulf of Chiriquí, Isla del Caño, Nuquí & the Gulf of Tribugá, Quepos & Manuel Antonio

North America3 at their peak

1. 

   Crystal River

   United States

   Manatees crowd the springs Nov–Mar when the Gulf drops below 20°C; in summer they disperse and only the spring dives remain.

   Water 22–23°C · 72–73°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 62 mm · 2.4 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

2. 

   Los Cabos

   Mexico

   Diving runs all year. August to February brings the best conditions and clearest autumn water; mobula rays pass from May to July.

   Water 20–29°C · 68–84°FVis 30 m · 100 ft

3. 

   Sea of Cortez — La Paz

   Mexico

   Calm, clear conditions run October to May; summer brings occasional wind and choppier seas, and Los Islotes closes from June to August.

   Sea 24°C · 75°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 13 mm · 0.5 in

Also good in December: Blue Heron Bridge, Clearwater, Dunedin & Tarpon Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Huatulco, Key West, La Jolla Cove & Canyon, Lake Havasu, Magdalena Bay, North Florida Springs, Palm Beach & Jupiter, Redondo, Palos Verdes & San Pedro, Revillagigedo (Socorro), San Diego — Wreck Alley, Point Loma & Coronado Islands

Red Sea & Gulf of Aden3 at their peak

1. 

   Dahlak Archipelago

   Eritrea

   October-April offers bearable heat and settled seas; in summer air tops 40°C, water can pass 32°C, and no boats run.

   Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 33°C · 91°FRain 17 mm · 0.7 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

2. 

   Djibouti — Gulf of Tadjoura

   Djibouti

   Whale sharks aggregate reliably November–February when plankton blooms in the gulf; sightings are sparse the rest of the year.

   Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 33°C · 91°FRain 17 mm · 0.7 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

3. 

   Marsa Alam & Port Ghalib

   Egypt

   Diving runs all year; early autumn has the warmest sea without the August crowds.

   Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 1 mm · 0.0 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

Also good in December: Brothers & Daedalus, Dahab, Eilat, Farasan Banks & Al Lith, Jeddah, Nuweiba, Yanbu & the Seven Reefs

Atlantic2 at their peak

1. 

   Ascension Island

   United Kingdom

   Divable year-round in 22–28°C water; green turtles nest Dec–May, and Atlantic rollers occasionally close the landing sites.

   Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 26°C · 79°FRain 6 mm · 0.2 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

2. 

   St Helena

   United Kingdom

   Whale sharks aggregate Dec–Mar and are snorkel-only; reef and wreck diving runs year-round in 20–26°C water.

   Sea 22°C · 72°FHigh 23°C · 73°FRain 3 mm · 0.1 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

Also good in December: Azores — Terceira, Cabo Verde — Sal, Cascais & Cabo Raso, Costa da Morte — Fisterra & Malpica, Dakar & Ngor, El Cabrón — Gran Canaria, El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Gijón & Cabo Peñas, Gran Canaria — Las Palmas & the North Coast, La Graciosa & the Chinijo Archipelago, La Palma, Lanzarote & Museo Atlántico, Sálvora, Ons & Ría de Arousa, San Sebastián & Getaria, Santo Antão, São Vicente & Mindelo, Tarifa & the Strait of Gibraltar, Tenerife

Mediterranean1 at its peak

1. Byblos, Amchit & Batroun

   Lebanon

   Visibility peaks from September to December as the sea settles; January to March bring the most weather cancellations.

   Water 18–29°C · 64–84°F

Also good in December: Akamas Peninsula & Latchi, Çeşme & Ildır, Ceuta, Dubrovnik & the Elafiti Islands, Filicudi & Salina, Ios & Folegandros, Ischia & Procida, Kuşadası, Kyrenia (Girne), Limassol & the Three Stars Wreck, Marseille & the Calanques, Paphos & Coral Bay, Porto Cesareo & the Nardò Coast, Santa Maria di Leuca, Santorini & the Caldera, Taranto & the Gulf of Taranto, Vlora, Karaburun & Sazan

Water temperature in December

The measured sea surface in December (2011–2025 average) at every destination at its peak or in good shape, grouped by the suit our wetsuit guide recommends. Deeper water can run colder.at its peak