Where to go diving in December? Eight destinations for winter and Christmas

You can dive in December at any of the eight destinations for which there is already a guide. The main differences are the water temperature and the flight time. At the Red Sea, the water is still 24 to 25 °C, after a flight of just over four hours. On Cozumel, Bali, and Koh Tao, it is 28 to 29 °C, where you fly for 11 to 19 hours and encounter rain or the monsoon. On Malta and Lanzarote, it is cool and calm at 17 and 20 °C. For Christmas, book Sharm el-Sheikh and Cozumel early, and many guests come to Bali for New Year's Eve.

Destination	Water	Air	Flight from Germany
Sharm el-Sheikh	24 °C	20 °C	just over 4 h nonstop
Hurghada	24 °C	18 °C	4 to 5 h nonstop
Marsa Alam	25 °C	18 °C	4 to 5 h nonstop
Cozumel	28 °C	25 °C	11 to 12 h nonstop from Frankfurt
Bali	29 °C	28 °C	15 to 19 h with layovers
Koh Tao	28 °C	27 °C	10 to 12 h to Bangkok, then domestic flight or ferry
Malta	17 °C	15 °C	just over 2 h nonstop
Lanzarote	20 °C	19 °C	just over 4 h nonstop

Red Sea: short flight, still warm

In Sharm el-Sheikh, the sea is 24 °C in December, the same in Hurghada, and 25 °C in Marsa Alam. The air averages 18 to 20 °C during the day, 24 °C at noon in Hurghada and Marsa Alam, and hardly any rain falls. The wind is measured to be weaker in December than in summer. Before Marsa Alam, divers still record oceanic whitetip sharks in their logbooks.

In winter, you dive at the Red Sea in a long 5-mm suit. Some dive shops in Hurghada recommend 5 to 7 mm with a hood, while Coraya in Marsa Alam recommends a hood or drysuit to everyone who gets slightly chilly. In Sharm el-Sheikh, take a 7 mm or a semi-drysuit if you get cold quickly or dive three times a day. For the break on deck, pack a warm towel or a sweater.

After Hurghada, Condor flies nonstop daily from seven German airports, to Marsa Alam in winter TUIfly, Air Cairo, Eurowings, and Corendon fly from several cities. For Egypt, you need a visa, 30 US dollars on arrival, cash at the bank counters before passport control. How the three regions differ is explained in Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada, or Marsa Alam?.

Cozumel: warm, with Nortes and bull sharks

Before Cozumel, the sea is 28 °C in December, the air 25 °C, and it rains for around eleven days. From October to March, Nortes pass through, cold fronts with wind from north to northwest that bring waves to the west coast. They are usually over quickly. You see eagle rays mainly from December to March, for example at the Santa Rosa Wall. Before Playa del Carmen, bull sharks gather from November to March; you only go to them with specialized guides, in a long suit, and with 20 to 25 logged dives or the Advanced certification.

In the sea, 3 mm is enough for most; those who get slightly chilly take 5 mm. In the cenotes, the water is around 24 to 25 °C all year round, where dive shops recommend a long suit with 5 mm. Condor flies nonstop daily from Frankfurt to Cancún in 11 to 12 hours. Book early for Christmas. What cenote diving is explained in the entry Cenote Diving.

Bali: warm water in the rainy season

On Bali, the sea is 29 °C in December, the air 28 °C, and it is the rainy season with around 22 rainy days. Many guests come for New Year's Eve. A 3-mm suit is enough almost everywhere now, even before Nusa Penida, where the water is cold from July to October. Mantas show themselves at Nusa Penida all year round.

There is no nonstop flight to Bali; you change in Singapore, Dubai, Doha, or Istanbul and are on the move for 15 to 19 hours. Upon entry, you pay the visa on arrival and the Bali tourist tax. When the rainy season starts where is explained in Best time to travel for diving in Bali.

Koh Tao: to the west side in the monsoon

In the Gulf of Thailand, the sea is 28 °C in December. It is the time of the northeast monsoon, with around twelve rainy days and the worst visibility of the year, median 8 m. The dive shops on Koh Tao then dive on the sheltered west side, Big Blue only there from December to mid-January, for example at the Twins and at the White Rock. The Sail Rock can only be reached by boats on calm days. In Ang Thong National Park, several beaches and islands are closed to visitors until December 15, 2026.

Silent Divers recommends a 3-mm suit from December to February, Crystal Dive a wind jacket and warm clothing for the breaks on board. You fly nonstop to Bangkok in 10 to 12 hours, from there further to Koh Samui or by bus and ferry over Chumphon. Leave a buffer day before the return flight because ferries are canceled in storms. Which island suits you is explained in Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, or Koh Samui?.

Malta and Lanzarote: cool, calm, and close

On Malta, the sea is 17 °C in December. December has the most storm days, along with March, but there is little going on at the entry points. The dive shops recommend 7 mm, a semi-drysuit, or a drysuit from December to April. With northwest wind, the southeast side of the islands is calm, almost any spot is available. After Malta, you fly nonstop in just over two hours, but in winter less often on many days. More is explained in Diving in Malta in autumn and winter.

On Lanzarote, the sea is 20 °C in December, it is the month with the most rainy days, around three, and Calima, dust from the Sahara, comes most often now. Viva Blue recommends 7 mm in December. In winter, swell runs from the northwest, then the spots in the north are not available, at Playa Chica in Puerto del Carmen it is calm even in winter. You fly nonstop in just over four hours, Condor flies in winter from Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, and Munich. Which place suits you is explained in Diving in Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca, and Costa Teguise.

Over Christmas and New Year's Eve

For Sharm el-Sheikh and Cozumel, the travel time tables expressly state that you book early for Christmas, Bali is full for New Year's Eve. On Lanzarote, December 8 and 25 are holidays. Those who plan the last day before the return flight without diving have time for an excursion, the ferries, and the way to the airport. What else to do before departure is explained in the Checklist for the diving holiday.

The remaining months are explained in Where to dive in which month?, the suit for the water you will find in Which wetsuit for which water temperature?. The entire travel time table, two weeks of diving, and plan B in case of wind are in the booklet Planning a Diving Holiday for every destination you find via the Atlas.