Where to dive in which month? Eight destinations from January to December
- Entry
- 12
- Date
- Reading time
- 9 min
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- ReisezeitZiele im Vergleich
You can dive at any of the eight destinations for which there is already a guide all year round. What changes with the month are the water, wind and rain and the animals you encounter. Here is how warm the sea is at each destination for every month and what makes the month there special. The figures come from the seasonal travel tables in the guides.
The year at a glance
The destinations can be broadly divided into three groups. At Cozumel, Bali and Koh Tao, the sea is 27 to 30 °C all year round, while the rainy season, monsoon and hurricanes determine the month there. In the Red Sea, it fluctuates between 22 °C in February and March and 28 to 30 °C in August, with winter diving in a 5-mm suit. In Malta, the sea is 14 °C in February and 26 °C in August, while on Lanzarote it only fluctuates between 18 and 23 °C.
Diving in January
It is warmest at Cozumel, Bali and Koh Tao. Bali receives the most rain in January, while the monsoon subsides in the Gulf of Thailand. In the Red Sea, it is calm at 23 °C, and as little diving takes place as otherwise only in February.
| Destination | Water | What makes the month special |
|---|---|---|
| Malta | 15 °C | few crowds |
| Lanzarote | 19 °C | Calima, dust from the Sahara, most common |
| Sharm el-Sheikh | 23 °C | few crowds |
| Hurghada | 23 °C | the fewest dives of the year |
| Marsa Alam | 23 °C | the fewest dives, with February |
| Cozumel | 27 °C | Nortes, eagle rays, bull sharks off Playa del Carmen |
| Bali | 28 °C | peak of the rainy season, 27 rainy days |
| Koh Tao | 27 °C | northeast monsoon subsides, calm sea |
Diving in February
Malta has the coldest water of the year, Koh Tao the driest month. In 2027, Ramadan in Egypt is expected to begin on February 8.
| Destination | Water | What makes the month special |
|---|---|---|
| Malta | 14 °C | coldest water |
| Lanzarote | 19 °C | Calima most common, Carnival in Arrecife |
| Sharm el-Sheikh | 22 °C | Ramadan 2027 expected from February 8, Chamsin possible |
| Hurghada | 22 °C | Ramadan, Chamsin possible |
| Marsa Alam | 22 °C | coldest water, Ramadan |
| Cozumel | 27 °C | Nortes, eagle rays, bull sharks off Playa del Carmen |
| Bali | 28 °C | rainy season, the fewest dives |
| Koh Tao | 28 °C | the driest month, calm sea |
Diving in March
In the Red Sea and on Lanzarote, the water is now at its coldest. Off Koh Tao, the season begins when the bases report whale sharks most frequently, and on Bali, the airport will be closed for one day on March 8, 2027, for Nyepi.
| Destination | Water | What makes the month special |
|---|---|---|
| Malta | 15 °C | the most storm days, with December |
| Lanzarote | 18 °C | coldest water |
| Sharm el-Sheikh | 22 °C | coldest water, Chamsin possible |
| Hurghada | 22 °C | coldest water, with February |
| Marsa Alam | 23 °C | Chamsin possible |
| Cozumel | 27 °C | Nortes, eagle rays, bull sharks off Playa del Carmen, Spring Break |
| Bali | 28 °C | Nyepi on March 8, 2027, airport closed for 24 hours |
| Koh Tao | 29 °C | whale sharks, the most dives |
Diving in April
In Bali, the dry season begins everywhere in mid-April. At Cozumel, Sargassum may drift in from April, seaweed that covers the beaches.
| Destination | Water | What makes the month special |
|---|---|---|
| Malta | 16 °C | windiest month, with March |
| Lanzarote | 19 °C | Easter holidays, peak season for the Reserva Marina |
| Sharm el-Sheikh | 23 °C | Chamsin possible |
| Hurghada | 23 °C | Chamsin possible |
| Marsa Alam | 23 °C | Chamsin possible |
| Cozumel | 27 °C | Sargassum from April |
| Bali | 29 °C | dry season across Bali from mid-April |
| Koh Tao | 30 °C | whale sharks, Songkran from April 13 to 15, 2027 |
Diving in May
From May 15, whale sharks arrive off Cozumel, but only for snorkeling there. In the Gulf of Thailand, the southwest monsoon sets in mid-May, and Lanzarote receives hardly any Saharan dust in the air.
| Destination | Water | What makes the month special |
|---|---|---|
| Malta | 18 °C | moderate crowds |
| Lanzarote | 20 °C | little Calima |
| Sharm el-Sheikh | 24 °C | Chamsin possible |
| Hurghada | 24 °C | Chamsin possible |
| Marsa Alam | 25 °C | Chamsin possible |
| Cozumel | 28 °C | Sargassum, whale sharks from May 15 (snorkeling only) |
| Bali | 29 °C | dry season |
| Koh Tao | 30 °C | whale sharks, southwest monsoon from mid-May |
Diving in June
The high season begins on Malta with stable weather. Off Marsa Alam, scalloped hammerhead sharks pass by Elphinstone and Daedalus, and the hurricane season begins in the Caribbean.
| Destination | Water | What makes the month special |
|---|---|---|
| Malta | 21 °C | high season, stable conditions |
| Lanzarote | 20 °C | Reserva Marina high season begins |
| Sharm el-Sheikh | 26 °C | windiest month, average 38 °C at noon |
| Hurghada | 26 °C | Chamsin possible |
| Marsa Alam | 27 °C | hammerheads at Elphinstone and Daedalus, strongest winds |
| Cozumel | 28 °C | hurricane season from June, whale sharks, Sargassum |
| Bali | 28 °C | dry season |
| Koh Tao | 30 °C | southwest winds, boats sail to the east side |
Diving in July
Malta, Lanzarote and Koh Tao are now in high season. Off Nusa Penida, moonfish arrive from July to October, then the water there is cold in the depths and the current is strongest.
| Destination | Water | What makes the month special |
|---|---|---|
| Malta | 25 °C | high season, fewest storm days |
| Lanzarote | 22 °C | strongest trade winds, lots of crowds |
| Sharm el-Sheikh | 27 °C | average 38 °C at noon |
| Hurghada | 28 °C | hot, average 37 °C at noon |
| Marsa Alam | 29 °C | hammerheads |
| Cozumel | 29 °C | hurricane season, most whale sharks with August |
| Bali | 28 °C | moonfish, strongest current |
| Koh Tao | 30 °C | high season |
Diving in August
In the Red Sea and Malta, the water is warmest, while Malta is also the calmest month. In the Caribbean, hurricanes usually arrive from mid-August.
| Destination | Water | What makes the month special |
|---|---|---|
| Malta | 26 °C | warmest water, calmest month |
| Lanzarote | 22 °C | warmest air, lots of crowds |
| Sharm el-Sheikh | 28 °C | warmest water |
| Hurghada | 29 °C | warmest water, hottest month |
| Marsa Alam | 30 °C | warmest water, hammerheads |
| Cozumel | 29 °C | hurricanes usually from mid-August, whale sharks |
| Bali | 28 °C | moonfish, many guests |
| Koh Tao | 29 °C | high season |
Diving in September
Lanzarote now has the warmest water of the year. In the Caribbean, it is the peak of the hurricane season, and at Cozumel, as little diving takes place as in any other month. Off Koh Tao, divers record the most whale sharks in their logbooks in September.
| Destination | Water | What makes the month special |
|---|---|---|
| Malta | 25 °C | lots of crowds |
| Lanzarote | 23 °C | warmest water |
| Sharm el-Sheikh | 27 °C | average 36 °C at noon |
| Hurghada | 28 °C | strongest winds |
| Marsa Alam | 29 °C | whale sharks at Elphinstone |
| Cozumel | 29 °C | peak of the hurricane season, whale sharks until September 17 |
| Bali | 28 °C | moonfish, strongest current |
| Koh Tao | 29 °C | whale sharks, less crowded sites |
Diving in October
In the Red Sea, October is the month with the most dives, and at the Brothers and Elphinstone, whale sharks arrive. At Cozumel, it rains the most, and in the Gulf of Thailand, the northeast monsoon begins at the end of October.
| Destination | Water | What makes the month special |
|---|---|---|
| Malta | 23 °C | lots of crowds |
| Lanzarote | 22 °C | winds subside |
| Sharm el-Sheikh | 27 °C | the most dives |
| Hurghada | 27 °C | the most dives, whale sharks at the Brothers |
| Marsa Alam | 28 °C | the most dives, whale sharks |
| Cozumel | 29 °C | the most rain, Nortes from October |
| Bali | 28 °C | moonfish after the bases until October |
| Koh Tao | 29 °C | whale sharks, northeast monsoon from the end of October |
Diving in November
At Malta and in the Gulf of Thailand, little diving takes place now, in Thailand due to heavy rain. In the Red Sea, the water is still 26 to 27 °C, and the whale sharks remain. In the Caribbean, the hurricane season ends, and bull sharks gather off Playa del Carmen.
| Destination | Water | What makes the month special |
|---|---|---|
| Malta | 20 °C | few crowds |
| Lanzarote | 21 °C | rain for around three days |
| Sharm el-Sheikh | 26 °C | moderate crowds |
| Hurghada | 26 °C | whale sharks at the Brothers |
| Marsa Alam | 27 °C | whale sharks |
| Cozumel | 28 °C | end of the hurricane season, bull sharks off Playa del Carmen from November |
| Bali | 29 °C | rainy season from early November in the south |
| Koh Tao | 29 °C | northeast monsoon, heavy rain, the fewest dives |
Diving in December
Over Christmas, Sharm el-Sheikh, Cozumel and Bali get busy, so book early there. At Koh Tao, the bases dive on the sheltered west side. More about each destination is in the entry Where to dive in December?.
| Destination | Water | What makes the month special |
|---|---|---|
| Malta | 17 °C | the most storm days, with March |
| Lanzarote | 20 °C | the most rainy days, Calima most common |
| Sharm el-Sheikh | 24 °C | book early over Christmas |
| Hurghada | 24 °C | winds weaker than in summer |
| Marsa Alam | 25 °C | whale sharks according to the logbooks |
| Cozumel | 28 °C | Nortes, eagle rays, bull sharks off Playa del Carmen, book early over Christmas |
| Bali | 29 °C | rainy season, many guests for the New Year |
| Koh Tao | 28 °C | northeast monsoon, diving on the west side |
Where the figures come from
The water at most destinations is the median from the SSI app logbooks, cross-checked with satellite data from NOAA. At Malta, it is the monthly average from 1991 to 2020. In the cenotes, the water is around 24 to 25 °C all year round, the figures for Cozumel apply to the sea. When animals arrive, the bases or the logbooks report it, but no one can guarantee an encounter. Which suit is right for which water temperature is in Which wetsuit for which water temperature?.
The complete table with air, rain, wind, visibility and crowds for each month is available in the booklet Plan Your Diving Holiday for each destination: Malta, Lanzarote, Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Cozumel and Cenotes, Bali and the Gili Islands and Koh Tao and Koh Samui.