Curator’s statement
Are you a diver and planning your next trip out into the deep blue? Check out some of the best seasonal places to dive and the marine life you can encounter there. Each diving spot offers a plethora of exploration at any time across the year, but as we live in a seasonal climate, there are high and low seasons at each destination. The following offers a month-to-month guide to diving across the world at the right place and time for optimal sights and experiences.
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Best Diving Destinations by Month around the World
January
January is the perfect month to escape the winter blues and go for an underwater adventure in the Maldives. Turks and Caicos are another great option if you are more into a Caribbean adventure.
February
Get ready for some shark adventures and hit the waters in Bimini, the Bahamas or go for a whale shark encounter in Tanzania.
March
This is the perfect time to visit the Galapagos, with migratory marine life this month. Also great for visiting this month are islands in the South Pacific, such as Fiji.
April
The Sipadan Island in Malaysia is an excellent place to sight turtles and reef sharks. Belize is also a great destination this month, where you can dive the Big Blue Hole and the Cayes, like Ambergris Caye.
May
This month, check out the minke whales at the Great Barrier Reef and whale sharks in Ningaloo, Australia or head to the less crowded dive sites in Komodo Marine Park, Indonesia.
June
If you’re a wrecks fanatic, the season in Bikini Atoll runs from May through to September, and its peak is in June. There are dozens of wrecks, including the famous US Saratoga. You can also check out the reefs at Bonaire, where you'll find plenty of microorganisms and turtles and shipwrecks.
July
July is perfect for diving on Cocos Island, Costa Rica. Cocos Island has plankton blooms from June to December, attracting schooling hammerhead sharks. The Azores in Portugal is also a great destination this month, where there are seasonal sightings of mobulas, mantas, whale sharks and whales.
August
If you're in for a thrill, head to Guadalupe Valley in Mexico to dive with great whites. Looking for a more relaxed diving experience? Then head to Nusa Penida, Bali, for the mola-mola season.
September
This month you can travel to the Red Sea in Egypt, where sea conditions are calmer now, and there is plenty of opportunities to see thresher sharks. September is also perfect for diving in Hawaii with migrating whale sharks and nightly displays of manta rays.
October
Book a trip to Seychelles to dive with sharks. This is also the best month for spotting whale sharks in Oman.
November
November is one of the prime months for diving in the Similan Islands in Thailand. Another great destination this month is Palau, home to wrecks, coral reefs and sharks.
December
Winter is here, so head to warmer waters like Chuuk Lagoon to see wrecks covered in soft and hard corals. But if you are a fan of cold water, Norway is an excellent destination with some of the best cold-water diving, offering wrecks and abundant marine life like orcas.
Travel Advisor
Arlette Diederiks
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Looking for more adventure travel inspo? Check out my surfing guide: Luxury Surfing Destinations Around the World.