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Diving destinations

Where to dive, month by month.

27 destination guides written for divers, not for search engines: water temperature, visibility and rain for every month, the species you came for and when they show up, the airports and ports you will pass through. Departures are listed by the operators who run them — you book with them directly and DiveHQ takes no commission.

27 guides 20 countries 1 boat listed 0% commission
When can you travel?

Asia

10 guides

Africa & Red Sea

2 guides

Oceania & Pacific

5 guides

Americas

9 guides

Europe

1 guide

No guide in this part of the world yet.

At a glance

The same 27 destinations, side by side.

Figures come from each guide's monthly facts. Water and visibility are typical ranges for the season; "experience" is the number of logged dives operators usually ask for.

Diving destinations compared: water temperature, visibility, best months, experience required, gateway airport, departure port and typical trip length
Destination Water Visibility Best months Experience Gateway airport Departs from Typical trip
Raja Ampat Indonesia 27–30 °C 15–30 m Oct–Apr 30+ dives SOQ Sorong Sorong, Waisai 7–12 nights
Komodo Indonesia 22–28 °C 15–40 m Apr–Nov (dry season) 20+ dives LBJ Labuan Bajo Labuan Bajo 3–7 nights on a liveaboard; day trips from Labuan Bajo
Banda Sea Indonesia 26–29 °C 20–40 m Sep–Nov 50+ dives AMQ Ambon Ambon, Maumere, Saumlaki 10–14 nights, one-way crossing
Alor Indonesia 24–28 °C 15–30 m May–Oct 20+ dives ARD Kalabahi, Alor Kalabahi, Maumere, Labuan Bajo 2–4 nights on a crossing; 5–7 nights at a resort
Maldives Maldives 27–30 °C 20–50 m Jan–Apr 20+ dives MLE Malé Malé / Hulhumalé, Gan (Addu), Dharavandhoo (Baa), Hanimaadhoo 7 nights (10 nights for Deep South and Far North)
Similan Islands Thailand 27–30 °C 20–40 m Nov–Apr All levels HKT Phuket Thap Lamu (Khao Lak), Chalong (Phuket) 4 nights (2 to 6 nights available)
Tubbataha Philippines 27–30 °C 30–45 m Apr–May 25+ dives PPS Puerto Princesa Puerto Princesa 5–6 nights (up to 7)
Sipadan Malaysia 28–30 °C 15–30 m Jun–Sep 20+ dives TWU Tawau Semporna 4–7 nights (1–3 Sipadan permit days)
Wakatobi Indonesia 27–30 °C 25–40 m Jun–Sep All levels WNI Wangi-Wangi Wangi-Wangi, Tomia, Kaledupa 7–10 nights (charter flight cycle)
Lembeh Strait Indonesia 25–29 °C 5–20 m Jul–Sep All levels MDC Manado Bitung 7–10 nights (often plus 3–4 in Bunaken)
Red Sea Egypt Egypt 22–28 °C 20–40 m Mar–May and Sep–Nov 50+ dives HRG Hurghada Hurghada, Port Ghalib, Marsa Alam, Hamata, Sharm el-Sheikh 7 nights (some 10- and 14-night combinations)
Mozambique Mozambique 22–29 °C 10–30 m Jun–Oct (dry, humpbacks and mantas); Nov–Feb for whale sharks 20+ dives INH Inhambane Tofo beach (surf launch), Barra, Vilanculos, Ponta do Ouro beach (surf launch) 7–10 days at one base; 14 to combine Tofo and Bazaruto
Palau Palau 27–30 °C 25–50 m Oct–May 30+ dives ROR Koror (Airai, Babeldaob) Koror (Malakal harbor) 7 nights (day boats and liveaboards)
Truk Lagoon Micronesia 28–30 °C 10–30 m Dec–Apr 30+ dives TKK Weno Weno 7–10 nights (island hopper schedule)
Fiji Fiji 25–30 °C 15–40 m Jul–Oct All levels NAN Nadi, Viti Levu Lautoka, Savusavu, Pacific Harbour 7–10 nights (7-night liveaboard itineraries)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea 27–30 °C 20–40 m Sep–Dec 20+ dives GUR Alotau Alotau, Kimbe, Rabaul, Kavieng 7–10 nights (resort or liveaboard); 14 to combine two areas
Ningaloo Reef Australia 21–29 °C 10–25 m Apr–Jul (whale sharks), Aug–Oct (humpbacks) All levels LEA Exmouth Tantabiddi boat ramp (Exmouth), Bundegi boat ramp (Exmouth), Exmouth Boat Harbour, Coral Bay 5–7 days on day boats; 10 to combine Exmouth and Coral Bay
Galapagos Ecuador 16–24 °C 10–25 m Jun–Nov 50+ dives GPS Baltra (Santa Cruz) Baltra, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristobal), Puerto Ayora (day boats) 7 nights liveaboard; 3–7 days land-based
Socorro Islands Mexico 21–26 °C 20–50 m Nov–Jun (humpbacks Jan–Mar) 50+ dives SJD San Jose del Cabo Cabo San Lucas 8–9 nights (5–6 diving days)
Cocos Island Costa Rica 24–28 °C 15–30 m Jun–Dec 50+ dives LIR Liberia Puntarenas 10–11 nights (7 diving days)
Bonaire Caribbean Netherlands 26–29 °C 20–35 m Year-round; driest and calmest Mar–Jun All levels BON Kralendijk Kralendijk (Klein Bonaire boats and water taxis) 7–10 nights with a truck and an unlimited air package
Cozumel Mexico 25–29 °C 20–40 m Dec–May All levels CZM Cozumel San Miguel de Cozumel, Marina Caleta 5–7 nights, 2 to 4 dives a day
Sea of Cortez Mexico 19–30 °C 5–30 m Aug–Nov All levels LAP La Paz La Paz, Marina Costa Baja, Cabo Pulmo, Loreto 5–8 nights (liveaboards 5 to 8, day boats open-ended)
Belize Belize 26–30 °C 20–40 m Mar–Jun All levels BZE Belize City Belize City, San Pedro (Ambergris Caye), Placencia 7 nights (liveaboards run Saturday to Saturday)
Bahamas Bahamas 22–30 °C 25–40 m Apr–Jun for conditions, Dec–Mar for sharks 25+ dives NAS Nassau, New Providence Freeport, West End, Nassau, Bimini, Riviera Beach and Fort Lauderdale (Florida departures) 5–8 nights on shark liveaboards; open-ended for land-based
Malpelo Island Colombia 20–28 °C 15–40 m Jan–May 50+ dives BUN Buenaventura Panama City, Buenaventura 8–11 nights, of which 4 to 5 are diving days at the rock
Azores Portugal 17–24 °C 20–40 m Jul–Sep 20+ dives HOR Horta, Faial Horta (Faial), Madalena (Pico), Lajes do Pico, Vila do Porto (Santa Maria) 7–10 days on one or two islands, with weather days built in
For operators

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