When to dive

Where to dive in November

119 dive destinations are at their peak in November, with another 325 in good shape. The strongest regions are Coral Triangle, Indian Ocean, Africa; water runs from 1 °C to 32 °C (34–90 °F).

Show November on the map Browse the list

At their peakGoodOther destinations

Warmest water: Gizo27–32 °C (81–90 °F)
Clearest water: Christmas Island60 m (197 ft) visibility
Cold-water pick: Stockholm Archipelago & Dalarö1–19 °C (34–66 °F)

Coral Triangle27 at their peak

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 29°C · 84°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 116 mm · 4.6 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
Anda — Bohol
Philippines
Nov–Jun is the main season; the south-west monsoon and typhoons make Jul–Oct unreliable on this exposed coast.
Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 191 mm · 7.5 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
Balicasag
Philippines
Nov–Jun gives the calmest crossings; the south-west monsoon and typhoons make Jul–Oct unreliable and can close the exposed sides.
Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 191 mm · 7.5 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
Banda Islands
Indonesia
October–April is the main liveaboard transit season; hammerhead and mobula sightings at seamounts are seasonal, not guaranteed.
Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 81 mm · 3.2 inVis 35 m · 115 ft
Belongas Bay & South Lombok
Indonesia
Hammerheads peak from August to November; Belongas is calmest from March to mid-June and in October and November.
Water 25–30°C · 77–86°FVis 20 m · 66 ft
Cabilao
Philippines
Dived year-round; Nov–Jun is the main season and the low season runs roughly May–Oct, when the south-west monsoon works the exposed sides.
Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 174 mm · 6.9 inVis 35 m · 115 ft
Camiguin
Philippines
Nov–Apr is the dry, settled run; May–Oct rain is heavy but short and rarely stops diving, and the small typhoon risk falls in Sep–Oct.
Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 252 mm · 9.9 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
Davao Gulf & Samal Island
Philippines
November to May is the best window for diving around Samal Island.
Water 27–31°C · 81–88°F
Dili
Timor-Leste
The dry season runs from May to October and the rainy season from November to April; mid-September to November is the high season, when trip prices carry a surcharge.
Water 27–31°C · 81–88°F
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 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 143 mm · 5.6 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
Gizo
Solomon Islands
Diving runs all year with no monsoon season; November has the least wind, though it can be muggy.
Water 27–32°C · 81–90°FVis 24 m · 80 ft
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 31°C · 88°FRain 199 mm · 7.8 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
Lembeh Strait
Indonesia
Diveable all year; July and August bring the most critters, October to December the clearest water, and January and February the roughest seas.
Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 184 mm · 7.2 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
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 201 mm · 7.9 inVis 40 m · 130 ft
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 144 mm · 5.7 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
Pamilacan
Philippines
Nov–Jun is the workable season; the crossing is exposed and trips are called off on the wind, so Jul–Oct is unreliable.
Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 191 mm · 7.5 inVis 35 m · 115 ft
Panglao
Philippines
Nov–Jun is the main season; the south-west monsoon and typhoons disrupt Jul–Oct, though the sheltered south coast keeps working through much of it.
Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 191 mm · 7.5 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
Raja Ampat
Indonesia
October to April is the drier stretch and November to April the manta season at Manta Ridge; July to mid-September can bring strong winds and rough seas.
Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 186 mm · 7.3 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
Romblon
Philippines
Nov–Jun is the settled season; typhoons and the south-west monsoon make Jul–Oct unreliable for the boat crossing.
Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 266 mm · 10.5 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
Siquijor
Philippines
November to May is the main season; from June to October the south-west monsoon moves the diving from the western walls to the sheltered north-east coast.
Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 232 mm · 9.1 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
Southern Leyte — Sogod Bay
Philippines
Whale sharks are off Pintuyan roughly Oct–Apr; the bay is sheltered but Jul–Oct brings typhoon risk and rougher water.
Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 322 mm · 12.7 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
Subic Bay
Philippines
November–May dry season is clearest, best February–May; the July–September monsoon cuts inner-bay visibility and cancels rough days.
Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 104 mm · 4.1 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
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
Triton Bay
Indonesia
Liveaboards run Oct–Apr, with Nov–Feb the core season; the rest of the year is too rough on this exposed south-facing coast.
Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 261 mm · 10.3 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
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 30°C · 86°FRain 89 mm · 3.5 inVis 35 m · 115 ft
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 31°C · 88°FRain 177 mm · 7.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
Wakatobi
Indonesia
Diveable all year; April–May and September–November are the peak months, and January and February the wettest.
Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 87 mm · 3.4 inVis 35 m · 115 ft

Also good in November: Alor, Amed, Anilao, Apo Island, Apo Reef, Ataúro Island, Bangka Island, Bunaken, Cenderawasih Bay, Dauin, Donsol & Ticao Pass, Gili Islands, Halmahera — Kusu & Sali Islands, Kimbe Bay, Komodo, Krakatau & Sangiang Island, Mabul & Kapalai, Madang & the North Coast, Maumere Bay, Menjangan & West Bali, Milne Bay, Moalboal, Nusa Penida, Puerto Galera, Rabaul & Simpson Harbour, Sangeang & Bima Bay, Sipadan, Solomon Islands — Munda, Takabonerate & Selayar

Indian Ocean12 at their peak

Christmas Island
Australia
October to December brings the clearest water; August and September bring upwellings and lower visibility; from November to April swell can roughen the north side.
Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 96 mm · 3.8 inVis 60 m · 197 ft
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 27°C · 81°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 72 mm · 2.8 inVis 50 m · 164 ft
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 28°C · 82°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 11 mm · 0.4 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
Hikkaduwa
Sri Lanka
The west-coast season runs from October to April; from May to September the main centres dive from Trincomalee instead.
Water 26–31°C · 79–88°F
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 30°C · 86°FRain 78 mm · 3.1 inVis 40 m · 130 ft
Mauritius
Mauritius
Cyclone season (Jan-Mar) can disrupt trips and cloud visibility; the trade-wind months of Apr-Nov give steadier, clearer conditions.
Sea 26°C · 79°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 37 mm · 1.5 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
Musandam
Oman
Oct–May is the comfortable window; midsummer brings 32°C water, plankton blooms and punishing surface heat.
Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 13 mm · 0.5 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
Nosy Be
Madagascar
Cyclone season (Jan-Mar) shuts down most diving; whale sharks aggregate Oct-Dec and humpback whales pass offshore during the austral winter.
Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 134 mm · 5.3 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
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 28°C · 82°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 130 mm · 5.1 inVis 40 m · 130 ft
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 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 134 mm · 5.3 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
Rodrigues
Mauritius
May–Jul and Oct–Nov are the calmest windows; Jan–Mar brings cyclone risk and August can be windy.
Sea 26°C · 79°FHigh 26°C · 79°FRain 24 mm · 0.9 inVis 40 m · 130 ft
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 30°C · 86°FRain 21 mm · 0.8 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

Also good in November: Addu Atoll, Andaman Islands, Ari & Rasdhoo Atolls, Baa Atoll & Hanifaru Bay, Goa & the Grande Island, Haa Alif & Haa Dhaalu Atolls, Ifaty & Mangily, Lhaviyani Atoll, Meemu Atoll, Netrani Island & Murudeshwar, North Malé Atoll, Qeshm & Hengam Island, Raa Atoll, Réunion, Seychelles — Inner Islands, South Malé Atoll, Trincomalee & Kalpitiya, Unawatuna & Jungle Beach, Vaavu Atoll, Weligama & Mirissa

Africa10 at their peak

Aliwal Shoal
South Africa
The reef is dived all year round; ragged-tooth sharks congregate from July to November, bull sharks gather from December to April.
Sea 23°C · 73°FHigh 33°C · 91°FRain 182 mm · 7.2 in
Chinhoyi Caves
Zimbabwe
The pool stays a constant 22–24 °C all year; ratings track visibility, best in the Aug–Nov dry season and reduced when Dec–Mar rains cloud the entrance.
Water 22–24°C · 72–75°FHigh 39°C · 102°FRain 94 mm · 3.7 inVis 50 m · 164 ft
Diani Beach
Kenya
Late November to mid-March is the best time to travel, with whale sharks from November to February; April to June is the main rainy season.
Water 25–31°C · 77–88°F
Jangamo & Guinjata Bay
Mozambique
Whale sharks peak November to May; humpback whales pass from June until November.
Water 24–28°C · 75–82°F
Mafia Island
Tanzania
Whale shark season peaks October-March; the March-May long rains bring rougher seas and reduced visibility.
Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 84 mm · 3.3 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
Mnemba Atoll — Zanzibar
Tanzania
Jul–Mar is divable, with Dec–Feb calmest and clearest; the long rains in April and May bring poor visibility and rough crossings.
Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 129 mm · 5.1 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
Mombasa, Nyali & Bamburi
Kenya
November to March brings the calmest seas and the best visibility; the southeast monsoon from May to October adds wind and current.
Water 25–31°C · 77–88°FVis 30 m · 100 ft
Pemba Island
Tanzania
Oct–Mar is the main season with the calmest sea; the long rains in April and May close most operations on the island.
Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 108 mm · 4.3 inVis 40 m · 130 ft
Wasini Island & Kisite-Mpunguti
Kenya
November to March has the calmest seas; April to June is the rainy season, with a strong current and rough water in May and June.
Water 24–30°C · 75–86°F
Watamu & Malindi
Kenya
Oct–Mar is the season, with whale sharks Nov–Feb; the kusi monsoon and long rains shut most centres from April to June.
Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 141 mm · 5.6 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

Also good in November: Algoa Bay, Bazaruto Archipelago, Cape Peninsula Kelp Forests, Comoros — Mohéli, Gansbaai, Hermanus, Lake Malawi, Mossel Bay, Ponta do Ouro, Robberg & Plettenberg Bay, São Tomé & Príncipe, Sodwana Bay, Tofo

Cold Water10 at their peak

Comox Valley & Hornby Island
Canada
Sea lions and great visibility come November to February; sixgill sharks appear May to September, and the March herring spawn can cloud the water to nothing.
Water 8–10°C · 46–50°FVis 30 m · 100 ft
Horseshoe Bay & Howe Sound
Canada
Dived year-round; the water is clearest in late fall and winter, while spring and summer plankton blooms can cut visibility.
Water 7–11°C · 45–52°F
Lago Nahuel Huapi & Bariloche
Argentina
November to April is the best season; the seasonal schools close after Easter while the centre on Lago Moreno dives all year, and the winter lake is 2 to 4 °C.
Water 2–14°C · 36–57°FVis 20 m · 66 ft
Nanaimo & Gabriola Island
Canada
Clearest water runs September to March; spring and summer blooms cloud the surface layer.
Water 6–13°C · 43–55°F
Oslofjord — Nesodden & Fornebu
Norway
Autumn and winter are usually the high season; September to March has the clearest water, April to October the warmest.
Water 3–18°C · 37–64°FVis 25 m · 82 ft
Puget Sound
United States
Diving runs all year; visibility is often best in fall and winter, while summer brings 16 hours of daylight.
Sea 11°C · 52°FHigh 16°C · 61°FRain 188 mm · 7.4 in
Skjervøy — Orca Migration
Norway
Timing follows the herring's overwintering migration; orca and whale presence is reliable only within this window and drops off once herring disperse in late winter.
Sea 7°C · 45°FHigh 4°C · 39°FRain 95 mm · 3.7 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
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
Stockholm Archipelago & Dalarö
Sweden
Autumn, winter and spring are the best time for the Dalarö wrecks; a drysuit is needed in every season.
Water 1–19°C · 34–66°F
Stoney Cove
United Kingdom
Open 362 days a year. Clearest from late October through winter, coldest in February-March, and a June-August algal bloom cuts visibility even at the warmest surface temperatures.
Water 4–18°C · 39–64°FHigh 15°C · 59°FRain 76 mm · 3.0 inVis 20 m · 66 ft

Also good in November: Antarctic Peninsula, Aran Islands, Attersee, Baltimore & Cape Clear Island, Barkley Sound, Capernwray & the Lake District, Chausey Islands & Granville, Cornwall — Padstow & the Manacles, Discovery Passage & Campbell River, Donegal Coast — Downings, Tory & Arranmore, Feldberger Seenlandschaft, Gdańsk Bay & Gdynia, Gothenburg Archipelago, Gotland & Fårö, Gulen & the Sognefjord, Halifax & St Margaret's Bay, Hel Peninsula, Isle of Skye, Kinlochbervie & the North-West Highlands, Klaipėda & Curonian Spit, Koster Islands & Kosterhavet, Kristiansund & the Atlantic Ocean Road, Lake Baikal — Listvyanka & Olkhon, Lake Constance, Lake Shikotsu, Lillebælt & Middelfart, Loch Fyne & Loch Long, Öland & the Kalmar Strait, Øresund & Isefjord, Pembrokeshire & Skomer, Plymouth Sound & HMS Scylla, Reykjanes Peninsula — Garður & Flekkuvík, San Juan Islands, Shakotan Peninsula, Sinyavino Lake & Yantarny, Skarnsundet & the Trondheim Fjord, South Funen Archipelago, Strangford Lough, Tollensesee & Neubrandenburg, Ushuaia & the Beagle Channel, Väderöarna, Vladivostok & Peter the Great Bay, Zeeland — Oosterschelde & Grevelingen

South America9 at their peak

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
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 23°C · 73°FHigh 32°C · 90°FRain 166 mm · 6.5 in
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
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
Morro de São Paulo
Brazil
November to March is the best season for diving here.
Water 25–29°C · 77–84°F
Porto de Galinhas
Brazil
October to March is the best period for diving here.
Water 26–29°C · 79–84°F
Porto Seguro & Santa Cruz Cabrália
Brazil
November to April brings the clearest water and the least wind; December to February is the busy summer season, when dives are best booked 15 to 30 days ahead.
Water 24–28°C · 75–82°FVis 10 m · 33 ft
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 14°C · 57°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 22 mm · 0.9 inVis 15 m · 50 ft
Recife Wrecks
Brazil
Sep–Mar is the dry season with the calmest seas and best visibility; Apr–Jul rain and runoff can drop it below 8 m.
Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 32°C · 90°FRain 28 mm · 1.1 inVis 25 m · 82 ft

Also good in November: Abrolhos Archipelago, Alcatrazes Archipelago, Arvoredo Marine Reserve, Fernando de Noronha, Guarapari, Las Grutas, Palomino Islands, Paraty, Pucusana, Salvador & Baía de Todos os Santos

Southeast Asia8 at their peak

Khao Lak
Thailand
Wreck day trips run 15 October to 15 May; the dry northeast monsoon from November to April gives the best conditions.
Water 26–30°C · 79–86°FVis 15 m · 50 ft
Koh Kood & Koh Mak
Thailand
Mid-October to May brings calm seas and the clearest water; July to September turns choppy, with visibility down to 5 m.
Water 28–30°C · 82–86°FVis 30 m · 100 ft
Koh Lanta & Koh Haa
Thailand
November to April is the dry season and the best diving; most dive shops close from the end of April to the end of October.
Water 27–30°C · 81–86°FVis 40 m · 130 ft
Koh Rong & Koh Tang
Cambodia
Oct–Jun is the season with Nov–Apr calmest; the south-west monsoon makes the offshore crossing impractical Jul–Sep.
Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 170 mm · 6.7 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
Phi Phi & the King Cruiser
Thailand
Nov–Apr is the dry season with the calmest, clearest water; the south-west monsoon from May to October brings swell and rain.
Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 292 mm · 11.5 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
Phuket — Racha Islands & Local Reefs
Thailand
Calm, dry conditions mid-Oct to May; the May–Oct monsoon cuts clarity but Phuket's sites stay open, unlike the Similans (closed 16 May–15 Oct).
Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 263 mm · 10.4 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
Pulau Weh
Indonesia
Oct–Apr is the settled season with the clearest water; June to September brings wind and swell that close the exposed pinnacles.
Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 281 mm · 11.1 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
Trang Islands — Kradan, Mook & Ngai
Thailand
Diving runs November to April, the dry season; Ko Hai Divers on Koh Ngai is shut from May to October.
Water 28–30°C · 82–86°F

Also good in November: Hin Daeng & Hin Muang, Koh Chang & Koh Rang, Koh Lipe & Tarutao, Kota Kinabalu & Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Mergui Archipelago, Pattaya & the Sattahip Wrecks, Phú Quốc, Pulau Hantu & Singapore's Southern Islands, Richelieu Rock, Similan Islands, Surin Islands

North America7 at their peak

Channel Islands
United States
Water is clearest and calmest September-November after summer plankton blooms settle; winter storms bring rough crossings and colder water.
Sea 17°C · 63°FHigh 22°C · 72°FRain 35 mm · 1.4 inVis 10 m · 33 ft
Crystal River
United States
Manatees crowd the springs Nov–Mar when the Gulf drops below 20°C; in summer they disperse and only the spring dives remain.
Water 22–23°C · 72–73°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 52 mm · 2.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
Los Cabos
Mexico
Diving runs all year. August to February brings the best conditions and clearest autumn water; mobula rays pass from May to July.
Water 20–29°C · 68–84°FVis 30 m · 100 ft
Magdalena Bay
Mexico
The baitball season runs Oct–Dec and peaks in November; outside it the marlin disperse and operators do not run trips.
Sea 24°C · 75°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 13 mm · 0.5 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
Monterey Bay
United States
September to November is the calm, clearer stretch; summer plankton blooms cut visibility and winter brings the biggest swells.
Sea 14°C · 57°FHigh 23°C · 73°FRain 49 mm · 1.9 inVis 9 m · 30 ft
Point Lobos
United States
Sep–Nov gives the clearest water after the summer plankton fades; winter storms close the reserve to diving for days at a time.
Sea 14°C · 57°FHigh 23°C · 73°FRain 49 mm · 1.9 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
Sea of Cortez — La Paz
Mexico
Calm, clear conditions run October to May; summer brings occasional wind and choppier seas, and Los Islotes closes from June to August.
Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 33°C · 91°FRain 17 mm · 0.7 in

Also good in November: Blue Heron Bridge, Cabo Pulmo, Catalina Island, Clearwater, Dunedin & Tarpon Springs, Florida Keys — Key Largo & Islamorada, Fort Lauderdale, Key West, La Jolla Cove & Canyon, Lake Havasu, North Carolina Wrecks, North Florida Springs, Palm Beach & Jupiter, Puerto Vallarta & Banderas Bay, San Diego — Wreck Alley, Point Loma & Coronado Islands

Red Sea & Gulf of Aden7 at their peak

Dahlak Archipelago
Eritrea
October-April offers bearable heat and settled seas; in summer air tops 40°C, water can pass 32°C, and no boats run.
Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 35°C · 95°FRain 15 mm · 0.6 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
Djibouti — Gulf of Tadjoura
Djibouti
Whale sharks aggregate reliably November–February when plankton blooms in the gulf; sightings are sparse the rest of the year.
Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 34°C · 93°FRain 15 mm · 0.6 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
Eilat
Israel
Divable all year; Mar–May and Sep–Nov are most comfortable, while July and August are extremely hot on the surface.
Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 8 mm · 0.3 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
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 30°C · 86°FHigh 37°C · 99°FRain 16 mm · 0.6 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
Marsa Alam & Port Ghalib
Egypt
Diving runs all year; early autumn has the warmest sea without the August crowds.
Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 6 mm · 0.2 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
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
Sudanese Red Sea
Sudan
Best conditions run April–June and October–November; the 2023 conflict has disrupted Port Sudan liveaboard departures — verify operators.
Sea 30°C · 86°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 21 mm · 0.8 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

Also good in November: Abu Nuhas & Gubal Strait, Aqaba, Brothers & Daedalus, Dahab, El Quseir, Farasan Banks & Al Lith, Hamata & Wadi Lahami, Hurghada & El Gouna, Safaga, Sharm El Sheikh — Ras Mohammed, St John's Reefs, Yanbu & the Seven Reefs

Atlantic6 at their peak

Ascension Island
United Kingdom
Divable year-round in 22–28°C water; green turtles nest Dec–May, and Atlantic rollers occasionally close the landing sites.
Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 25°C · 77°FRain 8 mm · 0.3 inVis 40 m · 130 ft
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 26°C · 79°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 25 mm · 1.0 inVis 30 m · 100 ft
Dakar & Ngor
Senegal
Upwelling from about December to May cools water to 17-21°C and dims visibility; October-November is the warm, clear window.
Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 31°C · 88°FRain 15 mm · 0.6 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
La Palma
Spain
Diving runs year round; the south-coast centre rates September to November best, when the trade winds ease and the water is warmest. Dives and boat transits inside the marine reserve are capped.
Sea 23°C · 73°FHigh 24°C · 75°FRain 33 mm · 1.3 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
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
São Vicente & Mindelo
Cabo Verde
Diving runs all year; July to November is the high season, and August to October is the rainy season, though little rain falls.
Water 20–27°C · 68–81°FVis 30 m · 100 ft

Also good in November: Azores — Terceira, Boa Vista, Cascais & Cabo Raso, Crozon Peninsula & the Iroise Marine Park, El Cabrón — Gran Canaria, El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Gijón & Cabo Peñas, Gran Canaria — Las Palmas & the North Coast, Île d'Oléron & the Pertuis d'Antioche, La Graciosa & the Chinijo Archipelago, Lanzarote & Museo Atlántico, Porto Santo, Sálvora, Ons & Ría de Arousa, San Sebastián & Getaria, Sesimbra & the Arrábida, St Helena, Tarifa & the Strait of Gibraltar, Tenerife

Caribbean6 at their peak

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 28°C · 82°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 43 mm · 1.7 inVis 40 m · 130 ft
Isla de la Juventud & Punta Francés
Cuba
November to April is the dry season, with the calmest and warmest water; rates across Cuba can be lower in the off-season from mid-April to December.
Water 23–29°C · 73–84°FVis 40 m · 130 ft
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 28°C · 82°FHigh 30°C · 86°FRain 63 mm · 2.5 inVis 40 m · 130 ft
Montserrat
Montserrat
Diving runs all year; June to November is the best window, while winter swells can make conditions hard for newer divers.
Water 26–29°C · 79–84°F
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 28°C · 82°FRain 66 mm · 2.6 inVis 35 m · 115 ft
Saint Barthélemy — Gustavia & Les Anses
Saint Barthélemy
November to May is the dry peak season; July to October is hurricane season, with a risk of storms and heavy rain.
Water 26–29°C · 79–84°FVis 30 m · 100 ft

Also good in November: Ambergris Caye (San Pedro), Antigua — English Harbour & Falmouth, Aruba, Bayahibe, Bimini, Bonaire, Cayman Brac, Dominica, Eleuthera — Cape Eleuthera & Rock Sound, Eleuthera — Harbour Island & Spanish Wells, Exuma Cays, Grand Cayman, Guadeloupe — Cousteau Reserve, Jardines de la Reina, Little Cayman, Long Island, Bahamas, Mahahual (Costa Maya), Ocho Rios, Playa del Carmen, Portobelo, Providencia & San Andrés, Riviera Maya Cenotes, RMS Rhone & Salt Island, Santa Marta & Tayrona, Sint Maarten, St. Croix, St. Eustatius, Tiger Beach, Tobago — Speyside & the Sisters Rocks, Turks & Caicos, Virgin Gorda & the Dog Islands

East Asia5 at their peak

Iriomote & the Yonara Channel
Japan
Manta odds are highest from November to May; mid-June to October is the sunniest stretch, but it overlaps the June to September typhoon season.
Water 20–31°C · 68–88°F
Ishigaki
Japan
Manta sightings peak April-November; typhoon season (Jul-Sep) and winter winds disrupt boat schedules.
Sea 26°C · 79°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 96 mm · 3.8 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
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 21°C · 70°FHigh 22°C · 72°FRain 106 mm · 4.2 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
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 26°C · 79°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 98 mm · 3.9 inVis 35 m · 115 ft
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

Also good in November: Amakusa, Amami Ōshima, Gangneung, Hachijojima, Hong Kong — Sai Kung & Hoi Ha Wan, Izu Ōshima, Jeju — Munseom, Katsuura & Namegawa, Kenting, Kerama Islands, Kozushima, Kume Island, Kushimoto, Mikomoto & Nakagi, Miura Peninsula — Jogashima, Hayama & Zushi, Miyakejima, Miyako-jima, Muroto, Kannoura & Shishikui, Nanki-Shirahama & Tanabe, Ogasawara Islands, Oki Islands, Sado Island, Sokcho & Goseong, Tateyama — Hazama, Nishikawana & Ito, Tokunoshima, Ulleungdo, Xiaoliuqiu, Yonaguni

Australia & New Zealand4 at their peak

Great Barrier Reef — Cairns & Ribbons
Australia
Boats sail all year; visibility peaks from September to November and corals spawn in October or November, while December to February brings the most rain, often at night.
Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 50 mm · 2.0 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
Kaikōura
New Zealand
Nov–Mar is warmest and calmest; sperm whales and seals are present year-round, and dusky dolphin pods are largest in winter.
Sea 14°C · 57°FHigh 22°C · 72°FRain 61 mm · 2.4 inVis 20 m · 66 ft
Osprey Reef
Australia
Coral Sea crossings run in the calmer dry season; cyclone risk and rough seas suspend trips Jan–Feb, with hammerhead numbers building Sep–Dec.
Sea 28°C · 82°FHigh 28°C · 82°FRain 28 mm · 1.1 inVis 40 m · 130 ft
Rowley Shoals
Australia
Liveaboards run in the calm window from late September to November; trade winds before it and the December–April cyclone season keep boats away.
Sea 29°C · 84°FHigh 29°C · 84°FRain 8 mm · 0.3 inVis 40 m · 130 ft

Also good in November: Albany — King George Sound, Bay of Islands, Eaglehawk Neck, Exmouth Navy Pier, Fiordland, Goat Island — Leigh, Jervis Bay, Julian Rocks — Byron Bay, Lady Elliot Island, Lord Howe Island, Montague Island, Nelson Bay — Fly Point, Neptune Islands, Ningaloo Reef, North Stradbroke Island — Point Lookout, NSW Central Coast, Poor Knights Islands, Port Phillip — Portsea & Blairgowrie, Rapid Bay, South West Rocks — Fish Rock, SS Yongala, Whitsundays

Eastern Pacific3 at their peak

Galápagos — Darwin & Wolf
Ecuador
Whale sharks pass from June to November; the sea is calmer, warmer and clearer from December to May.
Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 25°C · 77°FRain 25 mm · 1.0 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
Islas Catalinas
Costa Rica
Manta trips run November to April, with mantas reported into May; the rest of the year the islands dive for sharks, rays and fish schools.
Water 18–28°C · 64–82°FVis 30 m · 100 ft
Malpelo
Colombia
Jan-Apr is cooler and drier with a shallow, cold thermocline; May-Dec runs warmer with better visibility and the strongest shark and pelagic activity.
Sea 27°C · 81°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 115 mm · 4.5 inVis 30 m · 100 ft

Also good in November: Cocos Island, Galápagos — Central & South Islands, Nuquí & the Gulf of Tribugá

Pacific Islands3 at their peak

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
New Caledonia
France
Sep–Dec is warmest and clearest before the wet season; Jan–Mar is cyclone season, and winter water drops to about 21°C.
Sea 25°C · 77°FHigh 27°C · 81°FRain 72 mm · 2.8 inVis 25 m · 82 ft
Raiatea & Taha'a
French Polynesia
Diving runs every day all year; humpback whales visit from September to early December and are met on snorkelling trips.
Water 26–31°C · 79–88°F

Also good in November: Bikini Atoll, Bligh Water & Vatu-i-Ra, Chuuk Lagoon, Espiritu Santo — SS Coolidge, Fakarava, Guam, Kadavu & the Great Astrolabe Reef, Kauaʻi — Poipu & the South Shore, Kona, Kosrae, Lifou, Majuro & Mili, Maui, Molokini & Lānaʻi, Maupiti, Moorea, Niue, Nuku Hiva, Oʻahu, Palau, Pohnpei, Poindimié & Hienghène, Rainbow Reef & Namena, Rangiroa, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Rarotonga & Aitutaki, Rota, Saipan & Tinian, Savai'i & Upolu, Savusavu & Natewa Bay, Tahiti & Teahupo'o, Tanna & Lenakel, Tikehau, Vava'u, Wallis Island (Uvea), Yap, Yasawa Islands

Mediterranean2 at their peak

Byblos, Amchit & Batroun
Lebanon
Visibility peaks from September to December as the sea settles; January to March bring the most weather cancellations.
Water 18–29°C · 64–84°F
Çeşme & Ildır
Turkey
Diving stops in January and February; September is among the best months, and the stingrays mate in October and November.
Water 15–23°C · 59–73°F

Also good in November: Aeolian Islands — Lipari & Vulcano, Akamas Peninsula & Latchi, Alanya, Cabo de Palos & Islas Hormigas, Ceuta, Crete, Datça & the Knidos Peninsula, Dubrovnik & the Elafiti Islands, Fethiye & Ölüdeniz, Filicudi & Salina, Ios & Folegandros, Ischia & Procida, Kalkan, Kaş, Kemer & Tekirova, Kuşadası, Kyrenia (Girne), La Herradura, Lastovo & the Lastovnjaci, Limassol & the Three Stars Wreck, Malta & Gozo, Marseille & the Calanques, Milos & Kimolos, Pantelleria, Paphos & Coral Bay, Piran & Portorož, Porto Cesareo & the Nardò Coast, Punta Campanella & the Sorrento Coast, Santa Maria di Leuca, Santorini & the Caldera, Tabarca & Santa Pola, Taranto & the Gulf of Taranto, Varna & Cape Kaliakra, Vlora, Karaburun & Sazan

Water temperature in November

The measured sea surface in November (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