When to dive

Where to dive in January

167 dive destinations are at their peak in January, with another 192 in good shape. The strongest regions are Caribbean, Coral Triangle, Indian Ocean; water runs from -1 °C to 31 °C (30–88 °F).

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At their peakGoodOther destinations

Warmest water: Antigua — English Harbour & Falmouth26–31 °C (79–88 °F)
Clearest water: Rapa Nui (Easter Island)55 m (180 ft) visibility
Cold-water pick: Antarctic Peninsula-1–2 °C (30–36 °F)

Caribbean37 at their peak

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 102 mm · 4.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
Anguilla
Anguilla
January to April is the high season; July to November brings the risk of tropical storms and hurricanes.
Water 25–30°C · 77–86°F
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
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 26°C · 79°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 24 mm · 0.9 inVis 40 m · 130 ft
Bayahibe
Dominican Republic
January to April is the driest stretch and October the wettest; Atlantic hurricane season runs June to November and peaks from late August into September.
Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 45 mm · 1.8 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
Bimini
Bahamas
Great hammerheads are most consistent December–March; September–October bring peak hurricane risk to the northern Bahamas.
Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 26°C · 79°FRain 48 mm · 1.9 inVis 35 m · 115 ft
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 27°C · 81°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 35 mm · 1.4 inVis 35 m · 115 ft
Cozumel
Mexico
January–April is prime with December close behind; lighter trades keep the leeward side calm, though winter nortes can shut the port for a day. Peak hurricane risk falls in September and October.
Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 94 mm · 3.7 inVis 35 m · 115 ft
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 27°C · 81°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 53 mm · 2.1 in
Exuma Cays
Bahamas
December–April brings the calmest, driest conditions; September–October is peak Atlantic hurricane season.
Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 26°C · 79°FRain 33 mm · 1.3 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
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 27°C · 81°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 30 mm · 1.2 inVis 35 m · 115 ft
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 27°C · 81°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 62 mm · 2.4 in
Guadeloupe — Cousteau Reserve
Guadeloupe
Dec–May is the dry season with the calmest water; Aug–Oct brings hurricane risk and the heaviest rain.
Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 42 mm · 1.7 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
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
Jardines de la Reina
Cuba
Best conditions run November–May; summer stays diveable but hot, and September–October carries the peak hurricane risk.
Sea 26°C · 79°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 28 mm · 1.1 inVis 35 m · 115 ft
Little Cayman
Cayman Islands
Calmest conditions and best visibility run December through April; September–October bring the greatest hurricane risk.
Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 35 mm · 1.4 inVis 35 m · 115 ft
Los Roques
Venezuela
Jan–Apr is the dry season with the calmest water and best visibility; Oct–Nov brings the most rain and the murkiest lagoon.
Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 31 mm · 1.2 inVis 35 m · 115 ft
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 28°C · 82°FRain 62 mm · 2.4 inVis 40 m · 130 ft
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 25°C · 77°FHigh 26°C · 79°FRain 41 mm · 1.6 inVis 35 m · 115 ft
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
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
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 28°C · 82°FRain 39 mm · 1.5 inVis 40 m · 130 ft
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 27°C · 81°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 21 mm · 0.8 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
Saba
Caribbean Netherlands
December–April offers the calmest seas for pinnacle access; September–October bring the highest hurricane risk.
Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 23 mm · 0.9 inVis 35 m · 115 ft
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
Silver Bank
Dominican Republic
Whales are present roughly December to mid-April, but permitted trips run only late January through early April; no vessel may cross onto the bank outside that window.
Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 44 mm · 1.7 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
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 27°C · 81°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 18 mm · 0.7 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
South Abaco Blue Holes
Bahamas
Cave water holds a constant 24°C year-round; the rating tracks Atlantic hurricane exposure, not temperature — Great Abaco took a direct Category 5 hit from Hurricane Dorian in September 2019.
Water 24–24°C · 75–75°FHigh 26°C · 79°FRain 47 mm · 1.9 inVis 40 m · 130 ft
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 27°C · 81°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 28 mm · 1.1 inVis 35 m · 115 ft
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 27°C · 81°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 23 mm · 0.9 in
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
St. Lucia
St. Lucia
December–April is the dry season with the calmest seas; September–October carry the highest hurricane risk.
Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 41 mm · 1.6 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
Tiger Beach
Bahamas
Great hammerheads are most reliable December–March in cooler water; September–October carry the highest hurricane and small-craft risk.
Sea 23°C · 73°FHigh 25°C · 77°FRain 64 mm · 2.5 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
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
Turks & Caicos
Turks & Caicos Islands
January–April brings calm seas and the humpback whale migration through the Turks Island Passage; September–October is peak hurricane season.
Sea 26°C · 79°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 28 mm · 1.1 inVis 40 m · 130 ft
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
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 January: Andros, Aruba, Barbados, Bequia — Admiralty Bay & the Stratmann Wreck, Bocas del Toro, Bonaire, Culebra, Eleuthera — Cape Eleuthera & Rock Sound, Eleuthera — Harbour Island & Spanish Wells, Isla Mujeres, La Parguera & Guánica, Long Island, Bahamas, Mahahual (Costa Maya), Martinique — Saint-Pierre Wrecks & Rocher du Diamant, Nevis, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya Cenotes, Roatán, San Salvador, St. John, St. Thomas, St. Vincent — Young Island & Anchor Reef, Tobago — Crown Point & Mount Irvine, Vieques

Coral Triangle17 at their peak

Anda — Bohol
Philippines
Nov–Jun is the main season; the south-west monsoon and typhoons make Jul–Oct unreliable on this exposed coast.
Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 211 mm · 8.3 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
Anilao
Philippines
Main season mid-November to May; July to September is typhoon season, with choppy seas and poor visibility.
Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 72 mm · 2.8 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
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 28°C · 82°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 56 mm · 2.2 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
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 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 177 mm · 7.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
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 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 186 mm · 7.3 inVis 35 m · 115 ft
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 349 mm · 13.7 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
Coron
Philippines
Dry December to April brings glassy seas and the best visibility; in the wet months bad weather sometimes stops diving.
Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 38 mm · 1.5 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
Davao Gulf & Samal Island
Philippines
November to May is the best window for diving around Samal Island.
Water 27–31°C · 81–88°F
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 307 mm · 12.1 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
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 177 mm · 7.0 inVis 35 m · 115 ft
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 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 177 mm · 7.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
Puerto Galera
Philippines
November–May dry season is calmest; June–October southwest monsoon brings rain and swell.
Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 146 mm · 5.7 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
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 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 207 mm · 8.1 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
Romblon
Philippines
Nov–Jun is the settled season; typhoons and the south-west monsoon make Jul–Oct unreliable for the boat crossing.
Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 229 mm · 9.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
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 28°C · 82°FRain 177 mm · 7.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
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 29°C · 84°FRain 490 mm · 19.3 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
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 25 mm · 1.0 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

Also good in January: Ambon, Bunaken, Cenderawasih Bay, Donsol & Ticao Pass, El Nido & Bacuit Bay, Gili Islands, Gizo, Halmahera — Kusu & Sali Islands, Kimbe Bay, Kota Belud — Usukan Bay & Mayne Rock, Lembeh Strait, Mabul & Kapalai, Mactan & Olango, Madang & the North Coast, Mantanani Islands, Menjangan & West Bali, Misool, Nusa Penida, Tulamben

Indian Ocean17 at their peak

Addu Atoll
Maldives
Addu's resident dive centre rates January to April driest and busiest and July to September best for visibility; May-June and October-December are wetter. Full and new moon run the strongest currents.
Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 106 mm · 4.2 inVis 35 m · 115 ft
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 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 34 mm · 1.3 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
Ari & Rasdhoo Atolls
Maldives
The seas are calmest from December to May, but manta numbers peak from August to November.
Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 63 mm · 2.5 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
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 106 mm · 4.2 inVis 35 m · 115 ft
Haa Alif & Haa Dhaalu Atolls
Maldives
January to April is calm and clear with visibility to 30 m; the far north is dived most of the year, with June and July the roughest months of the southwest monsoon.
Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 50 mm · 2.0 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
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
Laamu Atoll
Maldives
Pattern is Maldives-wide: calm seas and the clearest water Jan–Apr; the southwest monsoon brings rain and rougher seas Jun–Nov. Mantas are recorded at Hithadhoo Corner in every month.
Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 77 mm · 3.0 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
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 15 mm · 0.6 inVis 40 m · 130 ft
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 28°C · 82°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 61 mm · 2.4 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
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 74 mm · 2.9 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
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
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 28°C · 82°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 67 mm · 2.6 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
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 28°C · 82°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 58 mm · 2.3 in
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 28°C · 82°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 69 mm · 2.7 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
Unawatuna & Jungle Beach
Sri Lanka
The south-coast season runs from October to April, and whale sharks occasionally pass from January to March.
Water 28–30°C · 82–86°FVis 30 m · 100 ft
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 28°C · 82°FRain 72 mm · 2.8 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
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 January: Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Daymaniyat Islands, Goa & the Grande Island, Kish Island, Musandam, Outer Seychelles — Alphonse, Praslin & La Digue, Qeshm & Hengam Island, Seychelles — Inner Islands, Socotra, Trincomalee & Kalpitiya

Southeast Asia15 at their peak

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 78 mm · 3.1 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
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
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
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
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
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 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 33 mm · 1.3 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
Koh Samui & Koh Phangan
Thailand
January to April has the calmest seas and best visibility; November, when the north-east monsoon can make conditions difficult, is the month to avoid.
Water 28–30°C · 82–86°F
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 47 mm · 1.9 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
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 103 mm · 4.1 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
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 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 26 mm · 1.0 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
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 92 mm · 3.6 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
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 189 mm · 7.4 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
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 73 mm · 2.9 inVis 40 m · 130 ft
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 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 80 mm · 3.1 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
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 January: Koh Lipe & Tarutao, Koh Tao, Nha Trang, Pattaya & the Sattahip Wrecks, Pulau Hantu & Singapore's Southern Islands, Richelieu Rock, Sail Rock — Hin Bai

Cold Water14 at their peak

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 0°C · 32°FRain 130 mm · 5.1 inVis 35 m · 115 ft
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 9°C · 48°FRain 98 mm · 3.9 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
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
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
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
Gulen & the Sognefjord
Norway
Diving runs all year: winter brings the clearest water and the helmet jellyfish, spring and summer the best conditions.
Water 6–22°C · 43–72°FVis 35 m · 115 ft
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
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
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
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
Puget Sound
United States
Diving runs all year; visibility is often best in fall and winter, while summer brings 16 hours of daylight.
Sea 8°C · 46°FHigh 12°C · 54°FRain 170 mm · 6.7 in
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 5°C · 41°FHigh 3°C · 37°FRain 80 mm · 3.1 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
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
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 64 mm · 2.5 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

Also good in January: Barkley Sound, Bohuslän & Gullmarsfjord, Gotland & Fårö, Halifax & St Margaret's Bay, 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, Øresund & Isefjord, Pembrokeshire & Skomer, Plymouth Sound & HMS Scylla, Reykjanes Peninsula — Garður & Flekkuvík, San Juan Islands, Shakotan Peninsula, Shiretoko Drift Ice, Skarnsundet & the Trondheim Fjord, Sochi & Lazarevskoye, White Sea — Chupa Bay & Nilmoguba, Zeeland — Oosterschelde & Grevelingen

South America13 at their peak

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 91 mm · 3.6 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
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 26°C · 79°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 180 mm · 7.1 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
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
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
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 27°C · 81°FHigh 32°C · 90°FRain 223 mm · 8.8 in
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
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
Morro de São Paulo
Brazil
November to March is the best season for diving here.
Water 25–29°C · 77–84°F
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 20°C · 68°FHigh 23°C · 73°FRain 5 mm · 0.2 inVis 12 m · 40 ft
Porto de Galinhas
Brazil
October to March is the best period for diving here.
Water 26–29°C · 79–84°F
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
Pucusana
Peru
January to March has the mildest sea of the year, and December to February is the sunny Lima summer; from April the sea turns cool.
Water 15–20°C · 59–68°F
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 76 mm · 3.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

Also good in January: Alcatrazes Archipelago, Fernando de Noronha, Ilhabela, Mar del Plata, Puerto Madryn & Península Valdés, Robinson Crusoe Island (Juan Fernández), Salvador & Baía de Todos os Santos

Africa12 at their peak

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
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
Jangamo & Guinjata Bay
Mozambique
Whale sharks peak November to May; humpback whales pass from June until November.
Water 24–28°C · 75–82°F
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
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 29°C · 84°FRain 136 mm · 5.4 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
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 28°C · 82°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 88 mm · 3.5 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
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
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
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 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 34 mm · 1.3 inVis 40 m · 130 ft
Sodwana Bay
South Africa
Conditions are good all year; ragged-tooth sharks peak in January and February, and the clearest water runs from April to September.
Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 35°C · 95°FRain 142 mm · 5.6 in
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
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 27°C · 81°FHigh 32°C · 90°FRain 20 mm · 0.8 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

Also good in January: Algoa Bay, Aliwal Shoal, Bazaruto Archipelago, Cape Peninsula Kelp Forests, Durban, Gansbaai, Hermanus, Paje & Jambiani, Ponta do Ouro, Protea Banks, São Tomé & Príncipe, Tofo

Australia & New Zealand11 at their peak

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 20°C · 68°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 23 mm · 0.9 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
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 20°C · 68°FHigh 24°C · 75°FRain 88 mm · 3.5 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
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 17°C · 63°FHigh 25°C · 77°FRain 68 mm · 2.7 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
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 16°C · 61°FHigh 20°C · 68°FRain 197 mm · 7.8 inVis 15 m · 50 ft
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 21°C · 70°FHigh 25°C · 77°FRain 82 mm · 3.2 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
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 26°C · 79°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 165 mm · 6.5 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
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 17°C · 63°FHigh 25°C · 77°FRain 50 mm · 2.0 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
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 24°C · 75°FHigh 25°C · 77°FRain 79 mm · 3.1 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
Poor Knights Islands
New Zealand
The East Auckland Current brings the warmest water and best visibility Jan–Apr; winter (Jul–Sep) is colder with more swell.
Sea 20°C · 68°FHigh 23°C · 73°FRain 87 mm · 3.4 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
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 21°C · 70°FHigh 32°C · 90°FRain 19 mm · 0.7 inVis 10 m · 33 ft
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 99 mm · 3.9 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

Also good in January: 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, Port Phillip — Portsea & Blairgowrie, South West Rocks — Fish Rock, SS Yongala

Pacific Islands10 at their peak

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 29°C · 84°FRain 183 mm · 7.2 inVis 18 m · 60 ft
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
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 25°C · 77°FHigh 26°C · 79°FRain 71 mm · 2.8 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
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
Nuku Hiva
French Polynesia
Boats run all year in 27–28 °C water; January and February bring melon-headed whales, July and August the rain.
Water 27–28°C · 81–82°F
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 29°C · 84°FRain 222 mm · 8.7 inVis 40 m · 130 ft
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 29°C · 84°FRain 163 mm · 6.4 inVis 40 m · 130 ft
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 24°C · 75°FHigh 25°C · 77°FRain 40 mm · 1.6 inVis 55 m · 180 ft
Saipan & Tinian
Northern Mariana Islands
Dec–Jun is calmest and clearest; Jul–Nov is typhoon season, when swell regularly closes the Grotto entirely.
Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 72 mm · 2.8 inVis 50 m · 164 ft
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 29°C · 84°FRain 166 mm · 6.5 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

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

East Asia6 at their peak

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
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
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
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
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
Yonaguni
Japan
Hammerhead season peaks December to March; summer brings typhoon risk and rougher currents.
Sea 24°C · 75°FHigh 24°C · 75°FRain 61 mm · 2.4 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

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

North America6 at their peak

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 26°C · 79°FRain 69 mm · 2.7 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
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
Palm Beach & Jupiter
United States
Lemon sharks aggregate Jan–Mar and goliath grouper spawn Aug–Sep; the Gulf Stream keeps visibility high year-round.
Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 71 mm · 2.8 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
Redondo, Palos Verdes & San Pedro
United States
The squid run at Veteran's Park, mid-December to early March, falls in the coldest water of the year; August is the warmest month at about 19 °C.
Water 14–19°C · 57–66°FVis 15 m · 50 ft
Revillagigedo (Socorro)
Mexico
Liveaboards run November to mid-June; humpbacks pass late January to early April, and no boats sail in the late June to October hurricane season.
Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 25°C · 77°FRain 34 mm · 1.3 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
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 21°C · 70°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 6 mm · 0.2 in

Also good in January: Blue Heron Bridge, Clearwater, Dunedin & Tarpon Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Huatulco, Key West, La Jolla Cove & Canyon, North Florida Springs, San Diego — Wreck Alley, Point Loma & Coronado Islands

Eastern Pacific5 at their peak

Coiba
Panama
Jan-Mar's dry season brings the clearest water alongside whale sharks; humpback whales pass through Jun-Oct during the wetter season, with a quieter gap in Nov.
Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 45 mm · 1.8 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
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
Galápagos West (Isabela & Fernandina)
Ecuador
Dec-Apr's warmer, calmer water is the easiest diving; the colder, current-driven upwelling of Jun-Nov cuts visibility and deepens the thermocline but is when mola mola and penguins are most active.
Sea 24°C · 75°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 42 mm · 1.7 inVis 15 m · 50 ft
Isla del Caño
Costa Rica
Dec–Apr is the dry season with the clearest water; Sep–Nov rain cuts visibility but overlaps the southern humpback migration.
Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 69 mm · 2.7 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
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

Also good in January: Bahía Solano, Cocos Island, Galápagos — Darwin & Wolf, Gorgona Island, Gulf of Chiriquí, Isla de la Plata, Malpelo, Nuquí & the Gulf of Tribugá, Quepos & Manuel Antonio

Atlantic2 at their peak

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 26°C · 79°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 1 mm · 0.0 inVis 40 m · 130 ft
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 24°C · 75°FHigh 24°C · 75°FRain 2 mm · 0.1 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

Also good in January: Azores — Terceira, Cascais & Cabo Raso, Costa da Morte — Fisterra & Malpica, El Cabrón — Gran Canaria, El Hierro, Fuerteventura, 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

Red Sea & Gulf of Aden2 at their peak

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 27°C · 81°FHigh 32°C · 90°FRain 17 mm · 0.7 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
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 27°C · 81°FHigh 33°C · 91°FRain 10 mm · 0.4 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

Also good in January: Dahab, Eilat, Farasan Banks & Al Lith, Jeddah, Marsa Alam & Port Ghalib, Nuweiba, Yanbu & the Seven Reefs

Water temperature in January

The measured sea surface in January (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