Where to dive in March

Caribbean46 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 32°C · 90°FRain 43 mm · 1.7 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

2. 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

3. 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

4. 

   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 30°C · 86°FRain 29 mm · 1.1 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

5. 

   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 32°C · 90°FRain 75 mm · 3.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

6. 

   Belize Barrier Reef

   Belize

   March to May is the dry season, when visibility at Turneffe can pass 30 m (100 ft); rain and northerly winds take the shine off the other months.

   Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 57 mm · 2.2 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

7. 

   Bimini

   Bahamas

   Great hammerheads are most consistent December–March; September–October bring peak hurricane risk to the northern Bahamas.

   Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 38 mm · 1.5 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

8. 

   Bocas del Toro

   Panama

   Dry, calmer spells run February-April and September-October, when visibility improves and swell drops enough for Tiger Rock; the rest of the year is wetter and windier.

   Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 89 mm · 3.5 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

9. 

   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 29 mm · 1.1 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

10. 

    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 29°C · 84°FRain 50 mm · 2.0 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

11. 

    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 28°C · 82°FRain 46 mm · 1.8 in

12. 

    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 28 mm · 1.1 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

13. 

    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 16 mm · 0.6 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

14. 

    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 48 mm · 1.9 in

15. 

    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 34 mm · 1.3 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

16. 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

17. 

    Isla Mujeres

    Mexico

    Whale sharks aggregate Jun–Sep, peaking in July and August; sailfish work baitballs Jan–Mar. Both are snorkel-only. Reef diving runs all year.

    Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 36 mm · 1.4 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

18. 

    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 29°C · 84°FRain 56 mm · 2.2 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

19. 

    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 29 mm · 1.1 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

20. 

    Long Island, Bahamas

    Bahamas

    Atlantic hurricane season runs June–November, peaking late Aug–Sep; Dec–Apr is calmer for the boat-based reef and wall dives. Dean's Blue Hole itself is sheltered and diveable year-round.

    Sea 26°C · 79°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 21 mm · 0.8 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

21. 

    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 26°C · 79°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 10 mm · 0.4 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

22. 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 30°C · 86°FRain 34 mm · 1.3 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

23. 

    Martinique — Saint-Pierre Wrecks & Rocher du Diamant

    Martinique

    February to April is the best window; the wet season runs June to November, with cyclone risk in September and October.

    Water 26–31°C · 79–88°F

24. 

    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 27°C · 81°FRain 36 mm · 1.4 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

25. 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

26. 

    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

27. 

    Playa del Carmen

    Mexico

    Dry season (Dec–Apr) brings the calmest seas; June–November is Atlantic hurricane season, wettest and roughest around September–October.

    Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 50 mm · 2.0 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

28. 

    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 27°C · 81°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 8 mm · 0.3 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

29. 

    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 26°C · 79°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 19 mm · 0.7 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

30. 

    Roatán

    Honduras

    March to August is dry with the calmest seas; October to February is the rainy season, wettest in November and December.

    Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 85 mm · 3.3 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

31. 

    Saba

    Caribbean Netherlands

    December–April offers the calmest seas for pinnacle access; September–October bring the highest hurricane risk.

    Sea 26°C · 79°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 20 mm · 0.8 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

32. 

    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

33. 

    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 26°C · 79°FHigh 26°C · 79°FRain 33 mm · 1.3 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

34. 

    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 26°C · 79°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 14 mm · 0.6 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

35. 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 27°C · 81°FRain 39 mm · 1.5 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

36. 

    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 26°C · 79°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 30 mm · 1.2 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

37. 

    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 20 mm · 0.8 in

38. St. John

    U.S. Virgin Islands

    Diving is good any time of year; tarpon school at Carval Rock in spring and early summer, and May to November is the rainy season.

    Water 25–30°C · 77–86°FVis 30 m · 100 ft

39. 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

40. 

    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 33 mm · 1.3 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

41. 

    Tiger Beach

    Bahamas

    Great hammerheads are most reliable December–March in cooler water; September–October carry the highest hurricane and small-craft risk.

    Sea 24°C · 75°FHigh 26°C · 79°FRain 47 mm · 1.9 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

42. 

    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

43. 

    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 22 mm · 0.9 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

44. 

    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

45. 

    Utila

    Honduras

    March to May is dry, clearest and best for whale sharks; October and November bring the heaviest rain and some runoff.

    Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 111 mm · 4.4 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

46. 

    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 March: Andros, Aruba, Barbados, Bequia — Admiralty Bay & the Stratmann Wreck, Bonaire, Cat Island, Culebra, Curaçao, Eleuthera — Cape Eleuthera & Rock Sound, Eleuthera — Harbour Island & Spanish Wells, La Parguera & Guánica, Mahahual (Costa Maya), Montserrat, Nevis, Port Antonio, Portobelo, Riviera Maya Cenotes, St. Thomas, St. Vincent — Young Island & Anchor Reef, Tobago — Crown Point & Mount Irvine, Vieques

Coral Triangle27 at their peak

1. 

   Ambon

   Indonesia

   Oct–Apr is the main season; June to August brings wind and rain that make the outer sites rough, though the bay stays divable.

   Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 183 mm · 7.2 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

2. 

   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 98 mm · 3.9 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

3. 

   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 31°C · 88°FRain 52 mm · 2.0 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

4. 

   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 31°C · 88°FRain 36 mm · 1.4 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

5. 

   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 30°C · 86°FRain 91 mm · 3.6 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

6. 

   Batanes

   Philippines

   March to May brings calm seas and the warmest, clearest water; typhoon season from June to November often cancels flights and dives.

   Water 24–28°C · 75–82°FVis 30 m · 100 ft

7. 

   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 31°C · 88°FRain 100 mm · 3.9 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

8. 

   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 159 mm · 6.3 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

9. 

   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 32°C · 90°FRain 22 mm · 0.9 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

10. Davao Gulf & Samal Island

    Philippines

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

    Water 27–31°C · 81–88°F

11. 

    Donsol & Ticao Pass

    Philippines

    Whale sharks are in Donsol Nov–Jun, peaking Feb–May; manta activity at the Bowl follows a similar window before typhoon season.

    Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 207 mm · 8.1 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

12. Kota Belud — Usukan Bay & Mayne Rock

    Malaysia

    Boats run all year when the weather allows; February to July is the best stretch, and from October to December rough seas can cancel trips.

    Water 27–30°C · 81–86°F

13. 

    Mabul & Kapalai

    Malaysia

    Diveable year-round with little seasonal variation; muck subjects are present in all months.

    Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 191 mm · 7.5 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

14. 

    Mactan & Olango

    Philippines

    Mar–May, the hot dry season, is the usual window; the Jun–Nov rains cut visibility on the house reefs, and typhoon risk runs highest around Nov–Dec, as Typhoon Rai showed in December 2021.

    Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 101 mm · 4.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

15. 

    Malapascua

    Philippines

    Threshers visit Kimud Shoal all year. March to May is calmest and clearest; October to January brings rough seas, green water and the most cancelled crossings.

    Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 157 mm · 6.2 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

16. 

    Mantanani Islands

    Malaysia

    February to July is the best season; rough seas from October to December can cancel the crossing.

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

17. 

    Misool

    Indonesia

    Rough seas July–early September; visibility peaks in November and February–March, baitfish and mobulas arrive September–October, and May–June south winds bring more sharks.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 255 mm · 10.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

18. 

    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 27°C · 81°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 91 mm · 3.6 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

19. 

    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 30°C · 86°FRain 91 mm · 3.6 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

20. 

    Puerto Galera

    Philippines

    November–May dry season is calmest; June–October southwest monsoon brings rain and swell.

    Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 92 mm · 3.6 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

21. 

    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 238 mm · 9.4 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

22. 

    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 109 mm · 4.3 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

23. Siargao

    Philippines

    March to May brings the calmest seas and clearest water; from November to February bay diving continues but the Pacific sites, Blue Cathedral included, are less predictable.

    Water 26–30°C · 79–86°FVis 25 m · 82 ft

24. 

    Sipadan

    Malaysia

    Diving runs all year; March to May brings the calmest seas and clearest water, while wind and rain can cloud it from December to February and in August.

    Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 198 mm · 7.8 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

25. 

    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 27°C · 81°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 88 mm · 3.5 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

26. 

    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 246 mm · 9.7 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

27. 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 34°C · 93°FRain 29 mm · 1.1 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

Also good in March: Apo Island, Banda Islands, Bangka Island, Belongas Bay & South Lombok, Bunaken, Cenderawasih Bay, Dauin, Derawan & Sangalaki, El Nido & Bacuit Bay, Gili Islands, Gizo, Halmahera — Kusu & Sali Islands, Iron Bottom Sound, Kimbe Bay, Komodo, Krakatau & Sangiang Island, Labuan & Brunei Wrecks, Lembeh Strait, Madang & the North Coast, Marovo Lagoon, Menjangan & West Bali, Moalboal, Morotai, Nusa Penida, Pulau Aur & Pulau Dayang, Sangihe — Banua Wuhu, Sibu & Tinggi Islands, Togian Islands, Triton Bay, Tufi, Tulamben, Wakatobi

Indian Ocean22 at their peak

1. 

   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 30°C · 86°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 77 mm · 3.0 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

2. 

   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 32°C · 90°FRain 26 mm · 1.0 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

3. 

   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 49 mm · 1.9 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

4. 

   Daymaniyat Islands

   Oman

   Sep–May is the main season; whale sharks are most reliable Aug–Nov, and the islands close to landing May–Oct for turtle nesting.

   Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 22 mm · 0.9 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

5. 

   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 30°C · 86°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 77 mm · 3.0 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

6. 

   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 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 32 mm · 1.3 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

7. 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

8. 

   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 30°C · 86°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 71 mm · 2.8 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

9. 

   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 13 mm · 0.5 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

10. 

    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 51 mm · 2.0 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

11. 

    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 30°C · 86°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 68 mm · 2.7 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

12. 

    Musandam

    Oman

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

    Sea 23°C · 73°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 24 mm · 0.9 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

13. 

    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 57 mm · 2.2 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

14. 

    Outer Seychelles — Alphonse

    Seychelles

    Oct–May is the season with Mar–Apr and Oct–Nov calmest between the monsoons; the lodge closes for part of the year.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 148 mm · 5.8 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

15. 

    Praslin & La Digue

    Seychelles

    The southeast monsoon runs from May to September; the water is windiest and the visibility thinnest in July and August, while March, April and November log the clearest water.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 101 mm · 4.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

16. 

    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 53 mm · 2.1 in

17. Seychelles — Inner Islands

    Seychelles

    Inter-monsoon periods (Mar-May, Oct-Nov) are calmest with the best visibility; whale sharks pass through the inner-island channels August through October.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 101 mm · 4.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

18. 

    Socotra

    Yemen

    The June-September southwest monsoon closes the sea entirely; October-November and March-May are the calm, diveable windows.

    Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 32°C · 90°FRain 5 mm · 0.2 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

19. 

    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 59 mm · 2.3 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

20. 

    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

21. 

    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 30°C · 86°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 64 mm · 2.5 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

22. 

    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 March: Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Goa & the Grande Island, Ifaty & Mangily, Kish Island, Mauritius, Netrani Island & Murudeshwar, Qeshm & Hengam Island, Réunion, Rodrigues, Trincomalee & Kalpitiya

Southeast Asia21 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 30°C · 86°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 88 mm · 3.5 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 Lipe & Tarutao

   Thailand

   November-April is the dry-season diving window and February-April the best of it; from mid-June to mid-October only the Pak Bara speedboat runs and visibility falls toward 10 m.

   Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 108 mm · 4.3 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

7. 

   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 30°C · 86°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 53 mm · 2.1 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

8. 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

9. 

   Koh Tao

   Thailand

   No official closure; whale shark sightings peak March-May and September-October, while October-November bring more rain and surface chop.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 87 mm · 3.4 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

10. 

    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 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 43 mm · 1.7 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

11. 

    Nha Trang

    Vietnam

    Feb–Sep is the season, with Mar–May clearest; the north-east monsoon from November to January brings rough seas and closes most operators.

    Sea 26°C · 79°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 38 mm · 1.5 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

12. 

    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 30°C · 86°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 86 mm · 3.4 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

13. 

    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 31°C · 88°FRain 40 mm · 1.6 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

14. 

    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 30°C · 86°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 91 mm · 3.6 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

15. 

    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 30°C · 86°FRain 146 mm · 5.7 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

16. Quy Nhơn & Hòn Khô

    Vietnam

    March to September is the best window; October to February is the central coast's rainy season, when the sea can be rough and visibility poorer.

    Water 22–31°C · 72–88°F

17. 

    Richelieu Rock

    Thailand

    Surin park closes mid-May to mid-October; whale sharks are most reliable February-April when plankton blooms peak.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 91 mm · 3.6 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

18. 

    Sail Rock — Hin Bai

    Thailand

    The Gulf runs opposite to the Andaman coast: Mar–Sep is best, and the north-east monsoon closes it from November into January.

    Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 87 mm · 3.4 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

19. 

    Similan Islands

    Thailand

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

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 87 mm · 3.4 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

20. 

    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 30°C · 86°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 91 mm · 3.6 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

21. 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 March: Pattaya & the Sattahip Wrecks, Pulau Hantu & Singapore's Southern Islands, Redang & Perhentian Islands, Tenggol Island, Tioman, Whale Island & Van Phong Bay

South America14 at their peak

1. 

   Alcatrazes Archipelago

   Brazil

   October to April is the better half of the year; February to April brings calmer sea and weaker currents, and September the coldest water.

   Water 18–24°C · 64–75°FVis 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 26°C · 79°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 27°C · 81°FHigh 31°C · 88°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. 

   Mar del Plata

   Argentina

   The best months are September to November and March to May. Water falls to 8–16 °C from May to September, though club boats still go out in July.

   Water 8–23°C · 46–73°FVis 10 m · 33 ft

9. 

   Morro de São Paulo

   Brazil

   November to March is the best season for diving here.

   Water 25–29°C · 77–84°F

10. 

    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 24°C · 75°FRain 13 mm · 0.5 inVis 12 m · 40 ft

11. 

    Porto de Galinhas

    Brazil

    October to March is the best period for diving here.

    Water 26–29°C · 79–84°F

12. 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

13. 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

14. 

    Puerto Madryn & Península Valdés

    Argentina

    Sea lion dives run best Sep–Mar when the colony is busiest; right whales are present Jun–Dec, and winter water drops to about 9°C.

    Sea 17°C · 63°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 41 mm · 1.6 inVis 15 m · 50 ft

Also good in March: Abrolhos Archipelago, Arraial do Cabo, Bonito, Ilhabela, Laje de Santos, Paraty, Recife Wrecks, Robinson Crusoe Island (Juan Fernández), Salvador & Baía de Todos os Santos, Ubatuba

Cold Water12 at their peak

1. 

   Bohuslän & Gullmarsfjord

   Sweden

   Late winter gives the clearest water once the plankton dies back; Jul–Sep is warmest and easiest for shore entries.

   Water 2–18°C · 36–64°FHigh 9°C · 48°FRain 55 mm · 2.2 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

2. 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

3. Kinsale & Old Head

   Ireland

   Spring and summer bring the migrants, the egg-guarding lumpsuckers and the hydroid bloom; the sea is coldest in January.

   Water 9–18°C · 48–64°F

4. 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

5. 

   Lake Baikal — Listvyanka & Olkhon

   Russia

   Diving runs all year; February and March bring the Olkhon ice and nerpa pups, while July to early September has the poorest visibility.

   Water 1–16°C · 34–61°FVis 30 m · 100 ft

6. 

   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

7. Øresund & Isefjord

   Denmark

   Spring brings the best visibility on the Anemone Wreck, and September and October decent visibility and weather on Vapper; the Munkholm Bridge is dived through autumn and winter.

   Water 2–18°C · 36–64°F

8. 

   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

9. Sochi & Lazarevskoye

   Russia

   Diving runs all year, broken only by strong storms; shore water is clearest in late autumn and early spring.

   Water 7–29°C · 45–84°FVis 10 m · 33 ft

10. 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

11. White Sea — Chupa Bay & Nilmoguba

    Russia

    Ice diving runs February to April while the sea ice holds; summer diving is by speedboat, with the water warmest in July.

    Water -1–14°C · 30–57°F

12. Whittier & Prince William Sound

    United States

    March to June is the best stretch; from late May to early September stream runoff makes Smitty's Cove very hard to dive.

    Water 2–13°C · 36–55°FVis 24 m · 80 ft

Also good in March: Antarctic Peninsula, Aran Islands, Attersee, Barkley Sound, Capernwray & the Lake District, Discovery Passage & Campbell River, Donegal Coast — Downings, Tory & Arranmore, Feldberger Seenlandschaft, Gotland & Fårö, Gulen & the Sognefjord, Halifax & St Margaret's Bay, Isle of Skye, Kinlochbervie & the North-West Highlands, Klaipėda & Curonian Spit, Koster Islands & Kosterhavet, Kristiansund & the Atlantic Ocean Road, Lake Constance, Lake Shikotsu, Lake Vättern, Lillebælt & Middelfart, Loch Fyne & Loch Long, Lofoten Islands, Narvik, Pembrokeshire & Skomer, Plymouth Sound & HMS Scylla, Puget Sound, Reykjanes Peninsula — Garður & Flekkuvík, San Juan Islands, Shakotan Peninsula, Shiretoko Drift Ice, Silfra, Strýtan, Ushuaia & the Beagle Channel, Zeeland — Oosterschelde & Grevelingen

Pacific Islands11 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 29°C · 84°FRain 227 mm · 8.9 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 25°C · 77°FHigh 26°C · 79°FRain 133 mm · 5.2 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

4. Kosrae

   Micronesia

   Divable year-round in a wet equatorial climate; Feb–Apr is generally driest and calmest, with little seasonal variation.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 301 mm · 11.9 inVis 45 m · 148 ft

5. Majuro & Mili

   Marshall Islands

   Divable year-round; Mar–May is generally driest and calmest, and the wetter months bring more wind than swell.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 190 mm · 7.5 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

6. 

   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 181 mm · 7.1 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

7. 

   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 106 mm · 4.2 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

8. 

   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 25°C · 77°FHigh 26°C · 79°FRain 47 mm · 1.9 inVis 55 m · 180 ft

9. Rota

   Northern Mariana Islands

   Rota Hole is at its best from March to September for the light beams; the Shoun Maru is dived year-round.

   Water 28–30°C · 82–86°F

10. 

    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 28°C · 82°FRain 38 mm · 1.5 inVis 50 m · 164 ft

11. 

    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 128 mm · 5.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

Also good in March: Bligh Water & Vatu-i-Ra, Fakarava, Guam, Kadavu & the Great Astrolabe Reef, Kauaʻi — Poipu & the South Shore, Maui, Molokini & Lānaʻi, Maupiti, New Caledonia, Nuku Hiva, Oʻahu, Pohnpei, Raiatea & Taha'a, Rarotonga & Aitutaki, Savai'i & Upolu, Savusavu & Natewa Bay, Tahiti & Teahupo'o, Tikehau, Wallis Island (Uvea), Yasawa Islands

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 21°C · 70°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 35 mm · 1.4 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 21°C · 70°FHigh 23°C · 73°FRain 87 mm · 3.4 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 18°C · 64°FHigh 23°C · 73°FRain 58 mm · 2.3 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

4. 

   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 24°C · 75°FRain 70 mm · 2.8 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

5. 

   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 198 mm · 7.8 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

6. 

   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 16°C · 61°FHigh 23°C · 73°FRain 73 mm · 2.9 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

7. 

   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 94 mm · 3.7 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

8. 

   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 21°C · 70°FHigh 23°C · 73°FRain 88 mm · 3.5 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 21°C · 70°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 25 mm · 1.0 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 15°C · 59°FHigh 19°C · 66°FRain 90 mm · 3.5 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

Also good in March: Exmouth Navy Pier, Fiordland, Great Barrier Reef — Cairns & Ribbons, Jervis Bay, Lady Elliot Island, Montague Island, Mount Gambier — Limestone Coast, Nelson Bay — Fly Point, Neptune Islands, Ningaloo Reef, North Stradbroke Island — Point Lookout, NSW Central Coast, Port Phillip — Portsea & Blairgowrie, South West Rocks — Fish Rock, SS Yongala, Whitsundays

Eastern Pacific8 at their peak

1. 

   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 32°C · 90°FRain 28 mm · 1.1 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

2. 

   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

3. 

   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 26°C · 79°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 59 mm · 2.3 inVis 15 m · 50 ft

4. 

   Gorgona Island

   Colombia

   Jul–Oct is humpback season and the main reason to visit; Feb–Apr generally brings the clearest water in a very wet climate.

   Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 248 mm · 9.8 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

5. 

   Gulf of Chiriquí

   Panama

   Dec–Apr is the dry season with the calmest crossings; Sep–Oct is rainier but overlaps the southern humpback migration.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 35°C · 95°FRain 23 mm · 0.9 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

6. 

   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 30°C · 86°FHigh 32°C · 90°FRain 74 mm · 2.9 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

7. 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

8. Nuquí & the Gulf of Tribugá

   Colombia

   Boats run all year; March to August is the best stretch, taking in the sardine run around May and the start of whale watching in July.

   Water 25–30°C · 77–86°F

Also good in March: Bahía Solano, Cocos Island, Galápagos — Darwin & Wolf, Isla de la Plata, Malpelo, Quepos & Manuel Antonio

Africa6 at their peak

1. 

   Durban

   South Africa

   March to July is best: low rainfall and south-westerlies bring clear water. Spring rain (September to December) clouds the water near the harbour and Umlaas canal mouths.

   Water 21–26°C · 70–79°F

2. 

   Jangamo & Guinjata Bay

   Mozambique

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

   Water 24–28°C · 75–82°F

3. 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

4. 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

5. 

   Protea Banks

   South Africa

   Scalloped hammerheads school October-March, with great hammerheads most likely around March-April; bull (Zambezi) sharks aggregate June-September; ragged-tooth sharks pass through in winter.

   Sea 26°C · 79°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 115 mm · 4.5 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

6. 

   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

Also good in March: Algoa Bay, Aliwal Shoal, Bazaruto Archipelago, Cape Peninsula Kelp Forests, Comoros — Mohéli, Diani Beach, Gansbaai, Hermanus, Mnemba Atoll — Zanzibar, Mossel Bay, Pemba Island, Ponta do Ouro, Robberg & Plettenberg Bay, São Tomé & Príncipe, Sodwana Bay, Tofo, Watamu & Malindi

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. 

   Izu Peninsula — Osezaki & IOP

   Japan

   Autumn brings the widest range of critters as tropical strays arrive on the Kuroshio; winter is coldest at 14°C but clearest.

   Sea 16°C · 61°FHigh 19°C · 66°FRain 157 mm · 6.2 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

3. 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

4. Okinawa — Cape Maeda & Sunabe

   Japan

   Divable year-round; Mar–Jun and Oct–Nov are calmest, while Jul–Sep is typhoon season and winter northerlies close the west coast.

   Sea 22°C · 72°FHigh 23°C · 73°FRain 87 mm · 3.4 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

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 24°C · 75°FHigh 25°C · 77°FRain 84 mm · 3.3 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

Also good in March: Amami Ōshima, Gangneung, Hachijojima, Hong Kong — Sai Kung & Hoi Ha Wan, Ishigaki, Izu Ōshima, Kenting, Kerama Islands, Kume Island, Miura Peninsula — Jogashima, Hayama & Zushi, Miyakejima, Miyako-jima, Muroto, Kannoura & Shishikui, Nanki-Shirahama & Tanabe, Ogasawara Islands, Oki Islands, Penghu Islands, Sokcho & Goseong, Tateyama — Hazama, Nishikawana & Ito, Tokunoshima, Xiaoliuqiu

North America4 at their peak

1. 

   Lake Havasu

   United States

   March to September are the prime months on the lake; the water is coldest in January at about 13 °C and warmest in August at about 19 °C, and the lake is still dived on New Year's Day.

   Water 13–19°C · 55–66°F

2. 

   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 29°C · 84°FRain 55 mm · 2.2 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

3. 

   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 24°C · 75°FRain 5 mm · 0.2 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

4. 

   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 33°C · 91°FRain 2 mm · 0.1 in

Also good in March: Blue Heron Bridge, Clearwater, Dunedin & Tarpon Springs, Crystal River, Florida Keys — Key Largo & Islamorada, Fort Lauderdale, Huatulco, Key West, Monterey Bay, North Florida Springs, Redondo, Palos Verdes & San Pedro, Veracruz Reef System

Red Sea & Gulf of Aden3 at their peak

1. 

   Eilat

   Israel

   Divable all year; Mar–May and Sep–Nov are most comfortable, while July and August are extremely hot on the surface.

   Sea 22°C · 72°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 8 mm · 0.3 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

2. Farasan Banks & Al Lith

   Saudi Arabia

   Whale sharks aggregate at Shib Habil Mar–May; midsummer surface temperatures above 40°C make the region impractical.

   Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 6 mm · 0.2 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

3. 

   Jeddah

   Saudi Arabia

   Diveable in any month: winter water near 22C wants a 5 mm suit and hood, and July-September pairs the warmest sea with severe heat ashore.

   Sea 26°C · 79°FHigh 37°C · 99°FRain 4 mm · 0.2 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

Also good in March: Abu Nuhas & Gubal Strait, Aqaba, Brothers & Daedalus, Dahab, Dahlak Archipelago, Djibouti — Gulf of Tadjoura, El Quseir, Hamata & Wadi Lahami, Hurghada & El Gouna, Marsa Alam & Port Ghalib, Nuweiba, Safaga, Sharm El Sheikh — Ras Mohammed, St John's Reefs, Sudanese Red Sea, 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 28°C · 82°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 11 mm · 0.4 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 25°C · 77°FHigh 26°C · 79°FRain 4 mm · 0.2 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

Also good in March: Boa Vista, Cabo Verde — Sal, Cascais & Cabo Raso, Costa da Morte — Fisterra & Malpica, El Cabrón — Gran Canaria, El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria — Las Palmas & the North Coast, Île d'Oléron & the Pertuis d'Antioche, 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

Water temperature in March

The measured sea surface in March (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