Where to dive in May

Coral Triangle48 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 31°C · 88°FRain 113 mm · 4.4 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

2. 

   Apo Island

   Philippines

   Dived year-round; April and May give the calmest crossings, and the December–February trade winds can chop up the open crossing and the exposed points.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 154 mm · 6.1 inVis 25 m · 82 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 30°C · 86°FHigh 32°C · 90°FRain 168 mm · 6.6 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

4. 

   Ataúro Island

   Timor-Leste

   May–November dry season gives calmer crossings from Dili; December–April monsoon roughens seas.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 55 mm · 2.2 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 29°C · 84°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 117 mm · 4.6 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

6. 

   Bangka Island

   Indonesia

   Mar–Nov is the settled season with the calmest channels; the north-west monsoon from December to February brings wind and swell.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 164 mm · 6.5 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

7. 

   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

8. Belitung

   Indonesia

   May to September brings calm seas and excellent visibility; October to March is the rainy season.

   Water 27–29°C · 81–84°FVis 18 m · 60 ft

9. Biak & Padaido Islands

   Indonesia

   The dry season, May to September, brings calm seas for the crossings to the Padaido Islands; the wetter months are less certain.

   Water 29–30°C · 84–86°F

10. 

    Bunaken

    Indonesia

    May–October dry season gives the clearest water; some rain and runoff November–April.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 191 mm · 7.5 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

11. 

    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 30°C · 86°FHigh 33°C · 91°FRain 118 mm · 4.6 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

12. 

    Dauin

    Philippines

    Diveable year-round on the sheltered coast; December–February trade winds can raise chop on the shallow sand slopes.

    Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 154 mm · 6.1 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

13. Davao Gulf & Samal Island

    Philippines

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

    Water 27–31°C · 81–88°F

14. 

    Derawan & Sangalaki

    Indonesia

    April–October dry season gives the clearest water and most reliable manta encounters at Sangalaki.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 233 mm · 9.2 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

15. 

    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 29°C · 84°FHigh 34°C · 93°FRain 152 mm · 6.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

16. 

    El Nido & Bacuit Bay

    Philippines

    May and November shoulder months bring the best visibility, often past 30 m; June–September typhoons can cancel boat days.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 32°C · 90°FRain 135 mm · 5.3 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

17. 

    Gili Islands

    Indonesia

    Divable year-round; Apr–Nov brings the calmest crossings, and mola mola occasionally appear Aug–Oct on the deeper sites.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 71 mm · 2.8 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

18. 

    Iron Bottom Sound

    Solomon Islands

    Apr–Jun and Oct–Dec are calmest; the Jan–Mar wet season brings runoff that cuts visibility on the shore wrecks.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 241 mm · 9.5 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

19. 

    Kepulauan Seribu (Thousand Islands)

    Indonesia

    Diving runs year-round; the April to October dry season is calmest and clearest, while November to March brings rain, stronger currents and lower visibility.

    Water 28–30°C · 82–86°F

20. 

    Kimbe Bay

    Papua New Guinea

    Diveable year-round; May–October dry season typically gives clearer water and calmer seas.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 154 mm · 6.1 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

21. 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

22. Labuan & Brunei Wrecks

    Brunei

    Calm seas and better visibility run March to October, with April to July the best stretch; the wet season from November to February is rougher and murkier.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 266 mm · 10.5 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

23. 

    Mabul & Kapalai

    Malaysia

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

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 224 mm · 8.8 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

24. 

    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 30°C · 86°FHigh 33°C · 91°FRain 127 mm · 5.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

25. 

    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 30°C · 86°FHigh 33°C · 91°FRain 137 mm · 5.4 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

26. 

    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

27. 

    Marovo Lagoon

    Solomon Islands

    Apr–Jun and Oct–Dec are calmest and clearest; Jan–Mar is the cyclone and wet season with rougher crossings.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 216 mm · 8.5 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

28. 

    Maumere Bay

    Indonesia

    April to October is the calmest and clearest window; January to March brings rougher crossings, though the sheltered inner bay still dives.

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

29. 

    Menjangan & West Bali

    Indonesia

    Divable all year thanks to the lee of Java; Apr–Nov is driest, and the wet season only affects surface conditions.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 137 mm · 5.4 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

30. 

    Milne Bay

    Papua New Guinea

    May–November dry season gives calmer seas for liveaboard crossings; wetter December–April.

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

31. 

    Moalboal

    Philippines

    Diveable year-round; the sardine school is present nearly every day regardless of season.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 33°C · 91°FRain 163 mm · 6.4 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

32. 

    Morotai

    Indonesia

    Calm dry-season water from March to November; rain from November to March, when mobulas also visit GaloGalo from February.

    Water 28–30°C · 82–86°F

33. 

    New Ireland & Kavieng

    Papua New Guinea

    The New Hanover trips run from May to October; rain from late December to March and North Pacific swell from November to April mark the rest of the year.

    Water 29–32°C · 84–90°F

34. 

    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 29°C · 84°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 117 mm · 4.6 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

35. 

    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 31°C · 88°FRain 117 mm · 4.6 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

36. 

    Rabaul & Simpson Harbour

    Papua New Guinea

    May to October is the best stretch; December to March is the wettest, though only marginally wetter than the rest of the year.

    Water 29–30°C · 84–86°F

37. 

    Sangihe — Banua Wuhu

    Indonesia

    Mar–Sep is the settled window for the crossing north from Manado; the north-west monsoon closes the chain from December to February.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 146 mm · 5.7 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

38. 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

39. 

    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 30°C · 86°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 211 mm · 8.3 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

40. 

    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 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 141 mm · 5.6 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

41. 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 30°C · 86°FHigh 35°C · 95°FRain 159 mm · 6.3 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

42. 

    Sumbawa — Moyo, Satonda & Saleh Bay

    Indonesia

    Diving runs all year; April to November has the best conditions, and January to March can bring inclement weather.

    Water 24–28°C · 75–82°F

43. 

    Takabonerate & Selayar

    Indonesia

    Apr–Nov is the season; the north-west monsoon makes the crossing from Makassar impractical from December to February.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 116 mm · 4.6 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

44. 

    Togian Islands

    Indonesia

    Mar–Sep is driest and calmest; the wet season from November to February brings rain and rougher inter-island crossings.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 177 mm · 7.0 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

45. 

    Tubbataha Reefs

    Philippines

    Park diving is permitted only mid-March through mid-June; closed the rest of the year for monsoon safety and reef recovery.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 128 mm · 5.0 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

46. 

    Tufi

    Papua New Guinea

    Apr–Jun and Oct–Dec are calmest for the offshore reefs; the fjords stay divable year-round whatever the weather does.

    Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 177 mm · 7.0 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

47. 

    Tulamben

    Indonesia

    Diveable all year. April to July and October to November give the calmest, clearest water; December to March is the rainy season, with more run-off and fewer divers.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 77 mm · 3.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

48. 

    Wakatobi

    Indonesia

    Diveable all year; April–May and September–November are the peak months, and January and February the wettest.

    Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 184 mm · 7.2 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

Also good in May: Alor, Amed, Anilao, Banda Islands, Belongas Bay & South Lombok, Camiguin, Cenderawasih Bay, Dili, Florida & Russell Islands, Gizo, Halmahera — Kusu & Sali Islands, Komodo, Krakatau & Sangiang Island, Lembeh Strait, Misool, Nusa Penida, Padangbai & Candidasa, Puerto Galera, Pulau Aur & Pulau Dayang, Raja Ampat, Romblon, Rote Island, Sangeang & Bima Bay, Semporna Islands — Pom Pom, Mataking & Tun Sakaran, Sibu & Tinggi Islands, Solomon Islands — Munda, Southern Leyte — Sogod Bay

Cold Water16 at their peak

1. 

   Cornwall — Padstow & the Manacles

   United Kingdom

   Wrecks and reefs are dived all year when the weather allows; mid-May to September brings the sharks.

   Water 8–19°C · 46–66°F

2. Dover & Folkestone Wrecks

   United Kingdom

   The dive season runs May to October; some charters sail all year, but the sea feels very cold in March.

   Water 8–18°C · 46–64°F

3. 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

4. 

   Isles of Scilly

   United Kingdom

   Weather keeps the season short: most charters run from May to September, and a summer storm can still interrupt a trip.

   Water 9–19°C · 48–66°F

5. 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

6. 

   Kreidesee Hemmoor

   Germany

   Diveable year-round in a drysuit; semidry season runs April to November. Deep water stays near 5°C year-round; clarity depends more on weather and diver traffic than on the calendar.

   Water 5–18°C · 41–64°FHigh 25°C · 77°FRain 61 mm · 2.4 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

7. 

   Lake Constance

   Germany

   Diving runs all year; guided dives run from April to October, while December and January bring char and eels to the Parkhaus Post overhang.

   Water 4–22°C · 39–72°F

8. 

   Lillebælt & Middelfart

   Denmark

   Shore sites are dived all year; May to September is the best season for the Old Lillebælt Bridge, and winter, with water near 3 °C (38 °F), brings nudibranchs to Søbadet.

   Water 3–18°C · 37–64°F

9. 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

10. 

    Saltstraumen

    Norway

    The current itself runs year-round on the tide, but winter brings harsher weather and fewer daylight slack-water windows, so ratings favor the more reliable months.

    Sea 7°C · 45°FHigh 12°C · 54°FRain 111 mm · 4.4 inVis 15 m · 50 ft

11. Silfra

    Iceland

    Water temperature and clarity stay constant year-round since Silfra is fed by filtered glacial groundwater; ratings track daylight hours and road access to Þingvellir, not underwater conditions.

    Water 2–4°C · 36–39°FHigh 13°C · 55°FRain 102 mm · 4.0 inVis 80 m · 262 ft

12. Sinyavino Lake & Yantarny

    Russia

    May to September is the busy season; the bases stay open all year, with a dry suit needed in the cold months.

    Water 2–19°C · 36–66°F

13. 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

14. Strýtan

    Iceland

    The vent's flow is constant year-round; ratings mainly reflect daylight hours, fjord sea state, and overlap with Eyjafjörður's summer whale season.

    Water 3–10°C · 37–50°FHigh 9°C · 48°FRain 79 mm · 3.1 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

15. 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

16. 

    Zeeland — Oosterschelde & Grevelingen

    Netherlands

    Cuttlefish season runs Apr–Jun and is the year's highlight; winter is coldest at 4°C but gives the clearest water.

    Sea 14°C · 57°FHigh 23°C · 73°FRain 55 mm · 2.2 inVis 12 m · 40 ft

Also good in May: Åland Islands, Anglesey, Aran Islands, Attersee, Baltimore & Cape Clear Island, Barkley Sound, Belgian North Sea — Nieuwpoort, Bohuslän & Gullmarsfjord, Bornholm, British Columbia — Browning Pass, Cape Ann & Stellwagen Bank, Capernwray & the Lake District, Comox Valley & Hornby Island, Discovery Passage & Campbell River, Donegal Coast — Downings, Tory & Arranmore, Dublin Bay, Farne Islands, Faroe Islands, Fehmarn, Feldberger Seenlandschaft, Gdańsk Bay & Gdynia, Gotland & Fårö, Gulen & the Sognefjord, Gulf of Finland, Halifax & St Margaret's Bay, Hel Peninsula, Isle of Skye, Isles of Shoals, Kilkee & the Clare Coast, Kinlochbervie & the North-West Highlands, Klaipėda & Curonian Spit, Kristiansund & the Atlantic Ocean Road, Lago Nahuel Huapi & Bariloche, Lake Baikal — Listvyanka & Olkhon, Lake Shikotsu, Lake Vättern, Loch Fyne & Loch Long, Lofoten Islands, Lundy Island, Malin Head, Narvik, Öland & the Kalmar Strait, Pembrokeshire & Skomer, Plymouth Sound & HMS Scylla, Puget Sound, Reykjanes Peninsula — Garður & Flekkuvík, Sakhalin & Moneron Island, San Juan Islands, Scapa Flow, Shakotan Peninsula, Sochi & Lazarevskoye, Sound of Mull, South Funen Archipelago, St Abbs & Eyemouth, Stoney Cove, Ushuaia & the Beagle Channel, Väderöarna, Vladivostok & Peter the Great Bay, Weymouth & Portland

Pacific Islands15 at their peak

1. Bligh Water & Vatu-i-Ra

   Fiji

   Apr–Oct is the dry season with the best visibility; Nov–Mar is warmer but brings cyclone risk and rougher crossings.

   Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 144 mm · 5.7 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

2. 

   Bora Bora

   French Polynesia

   The dry May to October months are the high season, though the trade winds sometimes blow strongly; November to April is the wet season.

   Water 26–31°C · 79–88°F

3. 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

4. Kadavu & the Great Astrolabe Reef

   Fiji

   Apr–Oct is the dry season with the best visibility; Nov–Mar brings cyclone risk and rain, though the water is warmest then.

   Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 136 mm · 5.4 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

5. Kauaʻi — Poipu & the South Shore

   United States

   May to September brings the calmest seas and warmest water, though south-shore visibility tends to run a little better in winter.

   Water 22–28°C · 72–82°FVis 30 m · 100 ft

6. 

   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

7. 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 220 mm · 8.7 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

8. 

   Maui, Molokini & Lānaʻi

   United States

   April to October is the calm dry season; winter swells hit the north coast while south-facing sites stay open.

   Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 26°C · 79°FRain 64 mm · 2.5 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

9. 

   Oʻahu

   United States

   South-shore boat diving runs all year; the North Shore reefs at Pupukea are only calm from about May to October and are dangerous in winter.

   Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 51 mm · 2.0 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

10. 

    Rarotonga & Aitutaki

    Cook Islands

    Apr–Nov is the dry season with the clearest water and humpbacks Jul–Oct; Dec–Mar brings rain and cyclone risk.

    Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 164 mm · 6.5 inVis 50 m · 164 ft

11. 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

12. 

    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 30°C · 86°FRain 42 mm · 1.7 inVis 50 m · 164 ft

13. 

    Savai'i & Upolu

    Samoa

    May–Oct is the dry season with the calmest water and humpbacks Jul–Oct; Nov–Apr brings rain and cyclone risk.

    Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 146 mm · 5.7 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

14. 

    Tikehau

    French Polynesia

    Apr–Oct is drier with the calmest passes; the wet season from November to March brings rain and more wind but warm water.

    Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 66 mm · 2.6 inVis 45 m · 148 ft

15. 

    Yasawa Islands

    Fiji

    Mantas run from May to October, and June to August has the clearest and coolest water; the resort boats dive every day of the year.

    Water 23–30°C · 73–86°FVis 40 m · 130 ft

Also good in May: Beqa Lagoon, Bikini Atoll, Chuuk Lagoon, Espiritu Santo — SS Coolidge, Fakarava, Guam, Hilo, Kona, Kosrae, Maupiti, Moorea, New Caledonia, Niue, Nuku Hiva, Palau, Poindimié & Hienghène, Port Vila & Efate, Raiatea & Taha'a, Rainbow Reef & Namena, Rangiroa, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Savusavu & Natewa Bay, Tahiti & Teahupo'o, Tanna & Lenakel, Vava'u, Wallis Island (Uvea), Yap

Caribbean14 at their peak

1. 

   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 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 95 mm · 3.7 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

2. 

   Cat Island

   Bahamas

   The oceanic whitetip season runs Apr–Jun; outside it the sharks disperse and operators do not run blue-water trips.

   Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 93 mm · 3.7 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

3. 

   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 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 123 mm · 4.8 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

4. 

   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 29°C · 84°FRain 100 mm · 3.9 in

5. 

   Little Corn Island & the Corn Islands

   Nicaragua

   Blowing Rock and the east-side sites need calm seas, which come in April and May and from mid August to mid October.

   Water 26–30°C · 79–86°F

6. 

   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 27°C · 81°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 126 mm · 5.0 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

7. Portobelo

   Panama

   Diving runs all year; May and August to October are the best months, and the rainy August and September count among them.

   Water 27–29°C · 81–84°F

8. 

   Roatán

   Honduras

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

   Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 91 mm · 3.6 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

9. 

   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

10. 

    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 63 mm · 2.5 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

11. 

    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 29°C · 84°FRain 74 mm · 2.9 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

12. 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

13. 

    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

14. 

    Utila

    Honduras

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

    Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 32°C · 90°FRain 104 mm · 4.1 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

Also good in May: Ambergris Caye (San Pedro), Andros, Anguilla, Antigua — English Harbour & Falmouth, Aruba, Barbados, Bay of Pigs, Bayahibe, Bequia — Admiralty Bay & the Stratmann Wreck, Bimini, Bonaire, Cozumel, Curaçao, Exuma Cays, Grand Cayman, Grenada, Guadeloupe — Cousteau Reserve, Isla Mujeres, Jardines de la Reina, La Parguera & Guánica, Little Cayman, Long Island, Bahamas, Los Roques, Mahahual (Costa Maya), María la Gorda, Martinique — Saint-Pierre Wrecks & Rocher du Diamant, Montserrat, Negril & Bloody Bay, Nevis, Ocho Rios, Playa del Carmen, Providencia & San Andrés, Riviera Maya Cenotes, RMS Rhone & Salt Island, Saba, Santa Marta & Tayrona, South Abaco Blue Holes, St. Eustatius, St. John, St. Lucia, Tiger Beach, Tobago — Crown Point & Mount Irvine, Turks & Caicos, Vieques, Virgin Gorda & the Dog Islands

Mediterranean14 at their peak

1. 

   Buggerru & Pan di Zucchero

   Italy

   Across Sardinia the seas are calm from May to October; each dive is planned around the state of the sea.

   Water 14–25°C · 57–77°F

2. 

   Cape Greco & Ayia Napa

   Cyprus

   Diving is possible year-round; May to October brings the warmest water and greater marine-life abundance.

   Water 17–28°C · 63–82°F

3. 

   Gallipoli — Dardanelles Wrecks

   Turkey

   April–May and August–September bring the best conditions; the wrecks can be dived all year.

   Sea 18°C · 64°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 37 mm · 1.5 in

4. Ios & Folegandros

   Greece

   Seas are calmer from late spring to early autumn; the Meltemi wind can chop the sea in July and August, the warmest months.

   Water 16–26°C · 61–79°F

5. Ischia & Procida

   Italy

   May to October is the best stretch, with warmer water and generally good visibility; one Forio centre keeps diving through the winter.

   Water 14–26°C · 57–79°F

6. 

   Kalymnos & Telendos

   Greece

   May and June bring the clearest water in the Telendos channel; north winds and cold set in from late October.

   Water 17–25°C · 63–77°F

7. 

   Kefalonia & Ithaca

   Greece

   May–June and September–October bring the best visibility and smaller groups; August is the warmest month.

   Water 15–26°C · 59–79°FVis 40 m · 130 ft

8. 

   La Herradura

   Spain

   Dived all year; December to March sits at 14-16 °C and winter storms cut visibility to 5-10 m for days, while spring and autumn hold the most consistent 15-25 m.

   Sea 18°C · 64°FHigh 24°C · 75°FRain 22 mm · 0.9 inVis 15 m · 50 ft

9. Marmaris & İçmeler

   Turkey

   May to October is the best time to dive; in the cooler months the water drops to about 20°C (68°F).

   Water 20–28°C · 68–82°F

10. Milos & Kimolos

    Greece

    May, June, September and October give calm water with fewer crowds; the July and August meltemi can shut Kleftiko for days.

    Water 16–26°C · 61–79°FVis 30 m · 100 ft

11. Mljet National Park

    Croatia

    May to September is the best stretch, when the sea is at its warmest; by January it has cooled to about 14 °C.

    Water 14–26°C · 57–79°F

12. Polignano a Mare & Monopoli

    Italy

    September is the pick, with the sea at 24–25 °C and the summer crowds gone; May and June are quiet too, and the water bottoms out near 14 °C in midwinter.

    Water 14–26°C · 57–79°F

13. Punta Campanella & the Sorrento Coast

    Italy

    Spring and autumn bring the most tuna and yellowtail to Li Galli; the sea warms from 14 °C (57 °F) in February to 26 °C (79 °F) in August.

    Water 14–26°C · 57–79°F

14. Santorini & the Caldera

    Greece

    Diving runs all year. April to November is the main season, with the calmest seas in summer; winter water averages about 16°C.

    Water 16–27°C · 61–81°FVis 40 m · 130 ft

Also good in May: Aeolian Islands — Lipari & Vulcano, Agistri & Poros, Akamas Peninsula & Latchi, Alanya, Alonissos & the Peristera Wreck, Amorgos, Baia & the Phlegraean Fields, Banyuls-sur-Mer & the Côte Vermeille, Bastia & Cap Corse (East Coast), Bergeggi, Noli, Spotorno & Finale Ligure, Bodrum, Budva & Jaz, Byblos, Amchit & Batroun, Cabo de Gata-Níjar, Cabo de Palos & Islas Hormigas, Cabo Tiñoso (La Azohía, Isla Plana & Puerto de Mazarrón), Cabrera Archipelago, Cala Gonone & the Gulf of Orosei, Cap d'Agde, Cap de Creus, Capo Caccia & Nereo Cave, Capo Carbonara, Capri, Catania & the Cyclops Islands, Çeşme & Ildır, Ceuta, Corsica — Ajaccio & Sagone, Corsica — Calvi & the Revellata, Corsica — Lavezzi & Bonifacio, Costa Blanca — Calpe, Moraira & Jávea, Costa Brava — Blanes, Lloret & Tossa, Costa Brava — L'Escala & the Montgrí Coast, Costa Brava — Palamós, Llafranc & Begur, Costa Brava — Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Côte d'Azur — Cannes & the Estérel, Crete, Datça & the Knidos Peninsula, Dubrovnik & the Elafiti Islands, Egadi Islands, Elba & the Tuscan Archipelago, Fethiye & Ölüdeniz, Filicudi & Salina, Gökçeada, Golfe de Valinco — Propriano & Porto-Pollo, Halkidiki — Sithonia, Herceg Novi & the Luštica Blue Cave, Hvar & the Pakleni Islands, Ibiza & Formentera, Islas Columbretes, Istria — Rovinj & Pula, Kalkan, Kaş, Kea Channel, Kemer & Tekirova, Kornati Islands, Kos & the Kefalos Peninsula, Kuşadası, Kvarner — Cres, Krk & Lošinj, Kyrenia (Girne), Lampedusa & Linosa, Larnaca — Zenobia, Lefkada & Meganisi, Leros & Lakki, Lesbos, Limassol & the Three Stars Wreck, Mallorca — Alcúdia, Pollença & Cap de Formentor, Mallorca — Palma & the Southwest, Malta & Gozo, Marseille & the Calanques, Medes Islands, Menorca, Palavas-les-Flots, Carnon & Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone, Paphos & Coral Bay, Paros & Naxos, Piran & Portorož, Ponza & the Pontine Islands, Port-Cros & Îles d'Hyères, Porto Cesareo & the Nardò Coast, Portofino Marine Reserve, Premuda, Primošten & Rogoznica, Rhodes, Samos, Santa Maria di Leuca, Santa Maria Navarrese & Arbatax, Sarandë & Ksamil, Sète & Frontignan, Skopelos, Sozopol & St. Ivan Island, Stintino & the Asinara National Park, Tabarca & Santa Pola, Tabarka, Taranto & the Gulf of Taranto, Tarragona, Tavolara & La Maddalena, Thassos, Tremiti Islands, Ustica, Varna & Cape Kaliakra, Vela Luka & the Blue Hole, Vis, Vlora, Karaburun & Sazan, Zadar & Dugi Otok, Zakynthos

East Asia13 at their peak

1. Amami Ōshima

   Japan

   The pufferfish nests are built Apr–Aug, which is also the calmest window; typhoons disrupt Aug–Oct and winter brings north winds.

   Sea 24°C · 75°FHigh 26°C · 79°FRain 257 mm · 10.1 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

2. 

   Green Island

   Taiwan

   Kuroshio keeps water warm year-round; winter monsoon swell and summer typhoons limit exposed-coast sites.

   Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 176 mm · 6.9 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

3. Hachijojima

   Japan

   April and May are the best months; the good season runs March to mid-July and mid-September to December.

   Water 18–25°C · 64–77°FVis 20 m · 66 ft

4. 

   Hong Kong — Sai Kung & Hoi Ha Wan

   Hong Kong

   May and June are the best months; algae bloom and wind cut visibility from July to September.

   Water 17–30°C · 63–86°FVis 10 m · 33 ft

5. 

   Ishigaki

   Japan

   Manta sightings peak April-November; typhoon season (Jul-Sep) and winter winds disrupt boat schedules.

   Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 176 mm · 6.9 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

6. 

   Kenting

   Taiwan

   Apr–Jun and October are best; typhoons hit Jul–Sep and the north-east monsoon from November closes the exposed east coast.

   Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 171 mm · 6.7 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

7. 

   Kerama Islands

   Japan

   Calmest seas and best clarity run April-September; winter brings choppier northeast winds and cooler water.

   Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 226 mm · 8.9 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

8. 

   Miyako-jima

   Japan

   Apr–Jun and October are the best windows; typhoons disrupt Jul–Sep and winter north winds close the exposed cavern sites.

   Sea 26°C · 79°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 195 mm · 7.7 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

9. Muroto, Kannoura & Shishikui

   Japan

   May to July brings the bambooshark spawning; winter has steady visibility, but strong northwest wind can close sites.

   Water 17–28°C · 63–82°FVis 13 m · 43 ft

10. 

    Ogasawara Islands

    Japan

    Calmest seas run April-October; humpback whales pass through December-April but winter crossings are rougher.

    Sea 23°C · 73°FHigh 26°C · 79°FRain 146 mm · 5.7 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

11. 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 25°C · 77°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 249 mm · 9.8 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

12. Tateyama — Hazama, Nishikawana & Ito

    Japan

    Boats run all year; May and June bring the eagle ray schools that can number in the hundreds.

    Water 14–26°C · 57–79°F

13. 

    Xiaoliuqiu

    Taiwan

    Divable year-round; Apr–Jun and October are calmest, while typhoons disrupt Jul–Sep and winter winds raise swell.

    Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 33°C · 91°FRain 187 mm · 7.4 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

Also good in May: Amakusa, Gangneung, Iriomote & the Yonara Channel, Izu Ōshima, Izu Peninsula — Osezaki & IOP, Jeju — Munseom, Katsuura & Namegawa, Kozushima, Kushimoto, Longdong & Northeast Coast, Mikomoto & Nakagi, Miura Peninsula — Jogashima, Hayama & Zushi, Miyakejima, Nanki-Shirahama & Tanabe, Oki Islands, Penghu Islands, Sado Island, Sokcho & Goseong, Ulleungdo, Yonaguni

Red Sea & Gulf of Aden13 at their peak

1. 

   Abu Nuhas & Gubal Strait

   Egypt

   Diving is year-round; Apr–Jun and Sep–Nov give the calmest seas, and winter northerlies can make the exposed north reef unworkable.

   Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 36°C · 97°FRain 0 mm · 0.0 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

2. 

   Aqaba

   Jordan

   Conditions stay calm and diveable year-round; water is coolest January–March.

   Sea 24°C · 75°FHigh 39°C · 102°FRain 1 mm · 0.0 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

3. 

   Dahab

   Egypt

   Conditions stay calm and shore-diveable year-round; visibility peaks in spring and autumn shoulder months.

   Sea 24°C · 75°FHigh 40°C · 104°FRain 0 mm · 0.0 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

4. 

   Eilat

   Israel

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

   Sea 24°C · 75°FHigh 39°C · 102°FRain 1 mm · 0.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

5. 

   El Quseir

   Egypt

   Sheltered shore dives, so the winter wind that disrupts boat schedules from October to April matters less; water falls to 23 °C by February and peaks near 30 °C in late summer.

   Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 38°C · 100°FRain 0 mm · 0.0 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

6. 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 31°C · 88°FHigh 34°C · 93°FRain 7 mm · 0.3 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

7. 

   Hamata & Wadi Lahami

   Egypt

   May to October is the calm window, with much less wind; diving runs all year, but sea state is wind-driven and can reroute a day.

   Sea 26°C · 79°FHigh 37°C · 99°FRain 1 mm · 0.0 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

8. 

   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 29°C · 84°FHigh 44°C · 111°FRain 3 mm · 0.1 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

9. 

   Nuweiba

   Egypt

   Diving runs all year; May-June and September-November are the best months, though July to October is very hot ashore.

   Water 21–29°C · 70–84°FVis 30 m · 100 ft

10. 

    Safaga

    Egypt

    Apr–Jun and Sep–Nov are the most comfortable windows; in every month the wind decides whether the offshore reefs can be reached.

    Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 43°C · 109°FRain 0 mm · 0.0 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

11. 

    Sharm El Sheikh — Ras Mohammed

    Egypt

    Hammerhead sightings at Tiran peak June–September; winter winds can make Tiran crossings choppier.

    Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 32°C · 90°FRain 0 mm · 0.0 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

12. 

    St John's Reefs

    Egypt

    Mar–Jun and Sep–Nov are the settled windows; midsummer is very hot and winter northerlies make the long crossing uncomfortable.

    Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 37°C · 99°FRain 1 mm · 0.0 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

13. 

    Sudanese Red Sea

    Sudan

    Best conditions run April–June and October–November; the 2023 conflict has disrupted Port Sudan liveaboard departures — verify operators.

    Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 35°C · 95°FRain 5 mm · 0.2 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

Also good in May: Brothers & Daedalus, Hurghada & El Gouna, Marsa Alam & Port Ghalib, Yanbu & the Seven Reefs

Indian Ocean10 at their peak

1. 

   Ari & Rasdhoo Atolls

   Maldives

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

   Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 207 mm · 8.1 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

2. 

   Baa Atoll & Hanifaru Bay

   Maldives

   The Hanifaru aggregation runs May–Nov on the south-west monsoon and peaks Aug–Oct; Dec–Apr is calmer and clearer but the mantas disperse.

   Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 216 mm · 8.5 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

3. 

   Cocos (Keeling) Islands

   Australia

   Divable year-round; Apr–Jun and Oct–Nov are calmest, with the wet season from December to March bringing more wind.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 120 mm · 4.7 inVis 50 m · 164 ft

4. 

   Kish Island

   Iran

   Clear, sunny spring and summer are best; stormy autumn and late-winter seas stop the diving on rough days.

   Water 22–34°C · 72–93°F

5. 

   Mauritius

   Mauritius

   Cyclone season (Jan-Mar) can disrupt trips and cloud visibility; the trade-wind months of Apr-Nov give steadier, clearer conditions.

   Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 47 mm · 1.9 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

6. 

   Mayotte

   France

   Dry season (May-Oct) brings calm seas and the clearest water, coinciding with the Jul-Sep humpback whale season; the wet season (Nov-Apr) raises cyclone risk.

   Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 29 mm · 1.1 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

7. 

   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 30°C · 86°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 217 mm · 8.5 in

8. 

   Réunion

   France

   May–Oct is the dry season with the calmest water and humpbacks Jul–Oct; Jan–Mar is cyclone season.

   Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 23 mm · 0.9 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

9. 

   Rodrigues

   Mauritius

   May–Jul and Oct–Nov are the calmest windows; Jan–Mar brings cyclone risk and August can be windy.

   Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 30 mm · 1.2 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

10. 

    Trincomalee & Kalpitiya

    Sri Lanka

    Trincomalee dives Apr–Sep; Kalpitiya's whale season runs Nov–Apr on the opposite monsoon, so one coast is always workable.

    Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 34°C · 93°FRain 150 mm · 5.9 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

Also good in May: Addu Atoll, Christmas Island, Daymaniyat Islands, Fuvahmulah, Haa Alif & Haa Dhaalu Atolls, Ifaty & Mangily, Laamu Atoll, Meemu Atoll, Musandam, Netrani Island & Murudeshwar, North Malé Atoll, Nosy Be, Outer Seychelles — Alphonse, Praslin & La Digue, Qeshm & Hengam Island, Seychelles — Inner Islands, Socotra, South Malé Atoll, Vaavu Atoll

Australia & New Zealand9 at their peak

1. 

   Exmouth Navy Pier

   Australia

   Divable year-round on slack water; Apr–Oct is the dry season and overlaps the wider Ningaloo whale shark and humpback seasons.

   Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 32°C · 90°FRain 37 mm · 1.5 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

2. 

   Jervis Bay

   Australia

   Apr–Jul is clearest as summer runoff clears; seals are present through winter and grey nurse numbers peak in the cooler months.

   Sea 20°C · 68°FHigh 23°C · 73°FRain 62 mm · 2.4 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

3. 

   Lady Elliot Island

   Australia

   Mantas peak May–Aug when cooler water brings them in; humpbacks pass Jun–Oct and turtles nest Nov–Mar.

   Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 25°C · 77°FRain 63 mm · 2.5 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

4. 

   Montague Island

   Australia

   Seal numbers peak May–Oct when the colony is fullest; summer brings warmer, clearer water from the East Australian Current.

   Sea 20°C · 68°FHigh 22°C · 72°FRain 45 mm · 1.8 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

5. 

   Nelson Bay — Fly Point

   Australia

   Apr–Aug is clearest and coldest, with giant cuttlefish courting in winter; summer runoff can drop visibility to a few metres.

   Sea 21°C · 70°FHigh 24°C · 75°FRain 65 mm · 2.6 inVis 15 m · 50 ft

6. 

   Ningaloo Reef

   Australia

   Whale sharks aggregate mid-Mar–Jul after coral spawning; humpback whales pass close to the reef Jul–Oct; manta rays are present year-round.

   Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 38 mm · 1.5 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

7. 

   NSW Central Coast

   Australia

   Logged visibility peaks May–Aug at 15 m or more, when the water is coldest at 16–17°C; spring is murkiest, with 5 m or less logged in October.

   Sea 21°C · 70°FHigh 24°C · 75°FRain 45 mm · 1.8 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

8. 

   Port Phillip — Portsea & Blairgowrie

   Australia

   The spider crab aggregation runs May–Jul; winter also brings the clearest water, while summer is warmest but greener.

   Sea 16°C · 61°FHigh 20°C · 68°FRain 70 mm · 2.8 inVis 15 m · 50 ft

9. 

   Whitsundays

   Australia

   May–Sep is dry with the best visibility; Nov–Mar is the wet season with cyclone risk and stinger suits required inshore.

   Sea 26°C · 79°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 48 mm · 1.9 inVis 15 m · 50 ft

Also good in May: Albany — King George Sound, Bay of Islands, Eaglehawk Neck, Goat Island — Leigh, Great Barrier Reef — Cairns & Ribbons, Julian Rocks — Byron Bay, Kaikōura, Lord Howe Island, Mooloolaba, Mount Gambier — Limestone Coast, Osprey Reef, Poor Knights Islands, Rapid Bay, South West Rocks — Fish Rock, SS Yongala, Stewart Island

Southeast Asia8 at their peak

1. 

   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 31°C · 88°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 219 mm · 8.6 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

2. 

   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 29°C · 84°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 147 mm · 5.8 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

3. 

   Pattaya & the Sattahip Wrecks

   Thailand

   Gulf diving is best May-September and runs year-round; the wrecks are clearest November-March, though site charts drop to 1-2 m visibility in February, August, November and December.

   Sea 31°C · 88°FHigh 32°C · 90°FRain 193 mm · 7.6 inVis 15 m · 50 ft

4. 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

5. 

   Redang & Perhentian Islands

   Malaysia

   The marine park is officially closed November 1-February 28 for the northeast monsoon; conditions are calmest and clearest April-September.

   Sea 31°C · 88°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 169 mm · 6.7 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

6. 

   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 31°C · 88°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 219 mm · 8.6 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

7. 

   Tioman

   Malaysia

   Northeast monsoon brings rough seas and closed resorts November-January; calmest conditions and best visibility run May-September.

   Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 164 mm · 6.5 inVis 15 m · 50 ft

8. Whale Island & Van Phong Bay

   Vietnam

   Whale Island's dive season runs from mid-February to mid-October, and April to September are the best months for diving.

   Water 25–29°C · 77–84°F

Also good in May: Cham Islands & Hoi An, Côn Đảo, Koh Chang & Koh Rang, Koh Kood & Koh Mak, Koh Lanta & Koh Haa, Koh Rong & Koh Tang, Koh Samui & Koh Phangan, Kota Kinabalu & Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Phi Phi & the King Cruiser, Phú Quốc, Phuket — Racha Islands & Local Reefs, Pulau Hantu & Singapore's Southern Islands, Pulau Weh, Tenggol Island

North America7 at their peak

1. 

   Blue Heron Bridge

   United States

   Divable year-round; Apr–Aug brings the warmest water and the widest range of juveniles, and every dive is tied to the high-tide window.

   Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 138 mm · 5.4 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

2. 

   Florida Keys — Key Largo & Islamorada

   United States

   Winter cold fronts (December-February) bring choppier seas and cooler water; April-August offers the calmest conditions, though hurricane season runs June-November.

   Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 130 mm · 5.1 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

3. 

   Key West

   United States

   Boats dive all year; May to October brings the warmest water and best visibility, but August to October is hurricane season.

   Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 106 mm · 4.2 inVis 15 m · 50 ft

4. 

   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

5. Loreto Bay National Park

   Mexico

   Mobula schools peak May to August, and summer brings the warmest, clearest water; winter north winds can keep boats in harbour.

   Water 17–30°C · 63–86°F

6. Panama City Beach

   United States

   April to October is the main diving season; January and February bring water down to about 15 °C (59 °F).

   Water 15–30°C · 59–86°F

7. 

   Veracruz Reef System

   Mexico

   May–Aug is calmest and clearest; the nortes that blow from October to March regularly shut the port to small boats.

   Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 40°C · 104°FRain 79 mm · 3.1 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

Also good in May: Alger Underwater Preserve & Munising, Cabo Pulmo, Catalina Island, Channel Islands, Clearwater, Dunedin & Tarpon Springs, Ensenada & Punta Banda, Flower Garden Banks, Fort Lauderdale, Huatulco, Isle Royale, La Jolla Cove & Canyon, Long Island Wreck Valley, Los Cabos, Marathon & the Middle Keys, Monterey Bay, North Carolina Wrecks, North Florida Springs, Palm Beach & Jupiter, Point Lobos, Port Aransas & Corpus Christi, Redondo, Palos Verdes & San Pedro, Revillagigedo (Socorro), Sea of Cortez — La Paz, Straits of Mackinac

Africa6 at their peak

1. 

   Bazaruto Archipelago

   Mozambique

   May–Oct is calmest with the best visibility; humpbacks pass Jul–Oct and whale sharks are most common Nov–Mar.

   Sea 26°C · 79°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 29 mm · 1.1 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

2. 

   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

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. 

   Lake Malawi

   Malawi

   May to October is the dry, settled stretch; the rains run from November to April and are heaviest from December to March.

   Water 22–29°C · 72–84°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 10 mm · 0.4 in

5. 

   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 25°C · 77°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 40 mm · 1.6 in

6. 

   Tofo

   Mozambique

   The best diving runs from after Easter to early July; August and September bring the humpback peak but choppy seas.

   Sea 26°C · 79°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 37 mm · 1.5 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

Also good in May: Algoa Bay, Aliwal Shoal, Cape Peninsula Kelp Forests, Chinhoyi Caves, Comoros — Mohéli, Hermanus, Ponta do Ouro, Protea Banks, Robberg & Plettenberg Bay, Wild Coast Sardine Run

Atlantic6 at their peak

1. 

   Bermuda

   Bermuda

   May to October is the season, warmest July to September at 27–28°C; the water falls to about 19°C by March, and winter storms make diving the exception.

   Sea 22°C · 72°FHigh 24°C · 75°FRain 93 mm · 3.7 inVis 45 m · 148 ft

2. 

   Cabo Verde — Sal

   Cabo Verde

   Apr–Jun and Oct–Nov bring the calmest seas and best visibility; Jul–Sep swell affects exposed sites, and Jan–Feb trade winds cool the water.

   Sea 23°C · 73°FHigh 24°C · 75°FRain 3 mm · 0.1 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

3. Huelva Coast — Isla Cristina & El Rompido

   Spain

   Diving runs all year; May to October brings the warmest water and the best visibility, and trips are cancelled when sea conditions do not allow them.

   Water 16–22°C · 61–72°F

4. 

   La Graciosa & the Chinijo Archipelago

   Spain

   May to October brings the warmest water and the best visibility; the mild climate keeps any month a reasonable time to come.

   Water 18–21°C · 64–70°F

5. Santander & Isla de Mouro

   Spain

   Boats run from late April to late October; April to September is the best stretch, and visibility can pass 15 m in spring and summer.

   Water 11–23°C · 52–73°F

6. Santo Antão

   Cabo Verde

   Diving runs year-round; April to June and October to November are the best months, and autumn brings the best odds of a manta ray or whale shark.

   Water 23–27°C · 73–81°F

Also good in May: Algarve — Ocean Revival, Ascension Island, Azores — Pico & Faial, Azores — Santa Maria, Azores — São Miguel, Belle-Île-en-Mer & Quiberon, Berlengas & Peniche, Boa Vista, Cascais & Cabo Raso, Crozon Peninsula & the Iroise Marine Park, El Cabrón — Gran Canaria, El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Gijón & Cabo Peñas, Glénan Archipelago, Gran Canaria — Las Palmas & the North Coast, Île d'Oléron & the Pertuis d'Antioche, Île de Groix & Lorient, Illas Cíes & Ría de Vigo, La Palma, Lanzarote & Museo Atlántico, Madeira, Porto Santo, Sálvora, Ons & Ría de Arousa, San Sebastián & Getaria, São Vicente & Mindelo, Sesimbra & the Arrábida, St Helena, Tarifa & the Strait of Gibraltar, Tenerife

South America4 at their peak

1. 

   Arraial do Cabo

   Brazil

   Apr–Aug brings the calmest seas and clearest water; strong spring and summer winds regularly cancel boats, and upwelling drops temperatures sharply.

   Sea 24°C · 75°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 73 mm · 2.9 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

2. 

   Bonito

   Brazil

   The Apr–Sep dry season gives the most reliable clarity; heavy rain from Nov to Feb can cloud the rivers and close them for a day or two after storms.

   Water 21–24°C · 70–75°FHigh 33°C · 91°FRain 84 mm · 3.3 inVis 50 m · 164 ft

3. 

   Laje de Santos

   Brazil

   Autumn and winter (Mar–Sep) bring the clearest water and the manta ray aggregation; summer is warmer but rain and runoff cut visibility, and strong wind can close the park to boats.

   Sea 24°C · 75°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 42 mm · 1.7 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

4. 

   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

Also good in May: Búzios, Guarapari, Ilha Grande & Angra dos Reis, Las Grutas, Paraty, Pucusana, Puerto Madryn & Península Valdés

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. 

   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 28°C · 82°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 183 mm · 7.2 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

3. 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 May: Bat Islands, Cocos Island, Galápagos — Darwin & Wolf, Galápagos West (Isabela & Fernandina), Gorgona Island, Gulf of Chiriquí, Isla del Caño, Islas Catalinas

Water temperature in May

The measured sea surface in May (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