When to dive
Diving in April
Ranked by our documented month ratings — water, visibility and what each place is actually like in April. Destinations without verified monthly data are listed separately rather than guessed at.
| Destination | Rating | Water | Visibility | What April is like there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sipadan & MabulMalaysia | 5/5 | 27–30 °C / 81–86 °F | 15–35 m | Start of the prime window; turtle and shark action reliable. |
| BonaireBonaire | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–30 m | |
| Riviera Maya & the CenotesMexico | 5/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 30–100 m | Sun climbs; light beams strengthen. |
| Sharm El Sheikh & Ras MohammedEgypt | 5/5 | 22–25 °C / 72–77 °F | 20–30 m | Classic conditions at Tiran and Ras Mohammed. |
| CozumelMexico | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–40 m | Warm, flat seas and long sightlines. |
| RoatánHonduras | 5/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 20–30 m | Settled seas; visibility strong. |
| Marsa Alam & the Deep SouthEgypt | 5/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 20–30 m | Warm, clear, and still uncrowded. |
| Belize Barrier ReefBelize | 5/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 20–35 m | Whale-shark full moons; calm and clear. |
| Kona, HawaiʻiUnited States | 5/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 20–40 m | Calming seas, quieter boats. |
| MalapascuaPhilippines | 5/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 15–25 m | Often the best all-around month of the year. |
| AnilaoPhilippines | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–25 m | Warm and settled; Holy Week crowds spike briefly. |
| Tubbataha ReefsPhilippines | 5/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 20–40 m | Prime weeks: settled seas and the longest sight lines of the year. |
| DahabEgypt | 5/5 | 22–25 °C / 72–77 °F | 15–30 m | Mild water and long calm mornings. |
| Hurghada & El GounaEgypt | 5/5 | 22–25 °C / 72–77 °F | 15–30 m | Calming seas open up the outer wrecks. |
| Socorro & the RevillagigedosMexico | 5/5 | 22–26 °C / 72–79 °F | 20–30 m | |
| Grand CaymanCayman Islands | 5/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 20–40 m | Flat seas; water warming. |
| Koh TaoThailand | 5/5 | 29–31 °C / 84–88 °F | 15–25 m | Warmest water of the year; peak sighting season. |
| Ningaloo ReefAustralia | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 8–20 m | Whale-shark season in full swing |
| Poor Knights IslandsNew Zealand | 5/5 | 19–22 °C / 66–72 °F | 15–30 m | Often the best all-round month |
| Nassau & New ProvidenceThe Bahamas | 5/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 20–40 m | |
| GrenadaGrenada | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–30 m | |
| CuraçaoCuraçao | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 18–30 m | |
| British Virgin IslandsBritish Virgin Islands | 5/5 | 26–27 °C / 79–81 °F | 18–30 m | |
| UtilaHonduras | 5/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 15–30 m | Prime month; sightings most frequent. |
| Saint LuciaSaint Lucia | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–30 m | |
| DominicaDominica | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–30 m | |
| WakatobiIndonesia | 5/5 | 27–30 °C / 81–86 °F | 20–40 m | Excellent month; glassy seas are common. |
| SeychellesSeychelles | 5/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 15–30 m | Calm window; warmest, clearest diving. |
| Sodwana BaySouth Africa | 5/5 | 24–27 °C / 75–81 °F | 12–30 m | Autumn clarity; calm mornings. |
| MauritiusMauritius | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–30 m | Calm, warm, clear — a favorite month. |
| Dumaguete, Dauin & Apo IslandPhilippines | 5/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 15–25 m | Warm, clear, and settled; a peak month. |
| Maui & MolokiniUnited States | 5/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 25–45 m | Calm season begins. |
| Jardines de la ReinaCuba | 5/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 20–35 m | Warm and calm; end of high season. |
| Turks and CaicosTurks and Caicos Islands | 5/5 | 26–27 °C / 79–81 °F | 25–40 m | |
| Little CaymanCayman Islands | 5/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 25–40 m | Calm, clear, reliable wall access. |
| AqabaJordan | 5/5 | 22–24 °C / 72–75 °F | 15–30 m | Mild water, calm sea, Petra weather. |
| MoalboalPhilippines | 5/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 10–30 m | Hot season begins; expect Holy Week crowds. |
| Port Sudan & SanganebSudan | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–40 m | Warm, settled, and superb. |
| Bali & Nusa PenidaIndonesia | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 10–25 m | Dry season begins; reliable diving across the island. |
| KomodoIndonesia | 4/5 | 24–28 °C / 75–82 °F | 10–25 m | Dry season starts; good conditions park-wide before the south roughens. |
| North & South Malé AtollsMaldives | 4/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 15–30 m | Warmest water; transition weather begins late month. |
| PalauPalau | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–40 m | Transition month; conditions usually still settled. |
| Galápagos IslandsEcuador | 4/5 | 23–27 °C / 73–81 °F | 12–25 m | |
| Raja AmpatIndonesia | 4/5 | 27–30 °C / 81–86 °F | 10–25 m | Tail of the calm season; conditions usually still very good. |
| Florida KeysUnited States | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 12–25 m | Seas settle; water warming. |
| Similan Islands & Richelieu RockThailand | 4/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 12–30 m | Plankton blooms feed mantas; visibility trades down. |
| Cocos IslandCosta Rica | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 18–30 m | |
| RangiroaFrench Polynesia | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 25–45 m | Settled autumn conditions. |
| Chuuk (Truk) LagoonFederated States of Micronesia | 4/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 12–30 m | Transition; still generally reliable. |
| CoronPhilippines | 4/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 8–18 m | Hot season; Holy Week fills boats. |
| Isla Mujeres & CancúnMexico | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–30 m | Seas flatten; water warming. |
| Lembeh StraitIndonesia | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 8–18 m | Warm, calm water and consistent sightings. |
| Brothers, Daedalus & St John'sEgypt | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 20–40 m | Reliable crossings resume. |
| Tiger Beach & Grand BahamaThe Bahamas | 4/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 20–40 m | |
| Silfra & IcelandIceland | 4/5 | 2–4 °C / 36–39 °F | 70–100 m | |
| Taveuni & Rainbow ReefFiji | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 12–30 m | Drying out; conditions improving. |
| Ari AtollMaldives | 4/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 15–30 m | Warmest water; late-month transition squalls. |
| FakaravaFrench Polynesia | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 25–45 m | Transition month. |
| Scapa FlowUnited Kingdom | 4/5 | 7–9 °C / 45–48 °F | 6–12 m | Season opens; good clarity before the plankton bloom peaks. |
| Espiritu SantoVanuatu | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 12–28 m | Transition; conditions settling. |
| Beqa Lagoon & Pacific HarbourFiji | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–25 m | Improving weather and clarity. |
| Tofo BeachMozambique | 4/5 | 25–28 °C / 77–82 °F | 10–25 m | Settling weather; comfortable diving. |
| Banda Sea & AmbonIndonesia | 4/5 | 27–30 °C / 81–86 °F | 20–40 m | Reliable inter-monsoon diving across the route. |
| Fernando de NoronhaBrazil | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–35 m | Swell fades; rainy but diveable and calm. |
| Aliwal Shoal & UmkomaasSouth Africa | 4/5 | 23–26 °C / 73–79 °F | 10–25 m | Autumn clarity improves. |
| Daymaniyat IslandsOman | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 10–25 m | Warming fast; blooms possible. |
| Bunaken & ManadoIndonesia | 4/5 | 27–30 °C / 81–86 °F | 15–30 m | Dry season underway; reliable wall diving resumes park-wide. |
| YapFederated States of Micronesia | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–30 m | Season tapering; still reliable mantas. |
| Okinawa & the Kerama IslandsJapan | 4/5 | 22–24 °C / 72–75 °F | 20–35 m | Warming water and pre-rain calm |
| OʻahuUnited States | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 15–30 m | Transition; north swell fading. |
| Musandam PeninsulaOman | 4/5 | 25–28 °C / 77–82 °F | 10–20 m | Warm, with fish activity high. |
| Nosy BeMadagascar | 4/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 10–20 m | Drying; calm seas return. |
| Green IslandTaiwan | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 20–40 m | Calm season begins |
| AlorIndonesia | 4/5 | 24–28 °C / 75–82 °F | 15–25 m | Settled conditions; strait sites come back into rotation. |
| CoibaPanama | 4/5 | 22–28 °C / 72–82 °F | 12–25 m | |
| Mergui ArchipelagoMyanmar | 4/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 10–25 m | Warming water; last full month of trips. |
| South AustraliaAustralia | 4/5 | 17–20 °C / 63–68 °F | 4–12 m | Stable conditions on both gulfs |
| Cairns & the Ribbon ReefsAustralia | 3/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–30 m | Trade winds return; seas can be lumpy |
| Sea of Cortez & Cabo PulmoMexico | 3/5 | 20–24 °C / 68–75 °F | 10–18 m | Mobula aggregations begin building. |
| Baa Atoll & Hanifaru BayMaldives | 3/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 15–25 m | Transition; monsoon build-up late month. |
| Malta & GozoMalta | 3/5 | 15–17 °C / 59–63 °F | 20–35 m | |
| Townsville & the YongalaAustralia | 3/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 10–22 m | Trades begin; pick your weather window |
| Larnaca & the ZenobiaCyprus | 3/5 | 17–19 °C / 63–66 °F | 15–30 m | |
| British ColumbiaCanada | 3/5 | 8–11 °C / 46–52 °F | 8–18 m | Spring bloom begins to green the water. |
| Canary IslandsSpain | 3/5 | 18–20 °C / 64–68 °F | 15–25 m | |
| BermudaBermuda | 3/5 | 18–20 °C / 64–68 °F | 25–45 m | Season starts; thick exposure protection needed. |
| Costa Rica Pacific CoastCosta Rica | 3/5 | 23–27 °C / 73–81 °F | 10–18 m | Winds ease; water begins to warm. |
| Coral Sea & Osprey ReefAustralia | 3/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 25–50 m | Trades build; allow schedule flexibility |
| Medes IslandsSpain | 3/5 | 14–16 °C / 57–61 °F | 12–25 m | |
| YonaguniJapan | 3/5 | 23–25 °C / 73–77 °F | 20–40 m | The Monument in gentler conditions |
| MadeiraPortugal | 3/5 | 17–19 °C / 63–66 °F | 12–25 m | |
| Izu PeninsulaJapan | 3/5 | 15–17 °C / 59–63 °F | 5–15 m | Plankton-rich green water, busy life |
| The AzoresPortugal | 2/5 | 16–17 °C / 61–63 °F | 10–25 m | Season warms up late in the month for inshore sites. |
| California Channel IslandsUnited States | 2/5 | 13–16 °C / 55–61 °F | 5–12 m | |
| VavaʻuTonga | 2/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–30 m | Settling; still no whales. |
| Zanzibar & MnembaTanzania | 2/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 8–20 m | Long rains; many operators scale back. |
| Arctic NorwayNorway | 2/5 | 3–6 °C / 37–43 °F | 8–20 m | |
| The Sardine Run (Wild Coast)South Africa | 1/5 | 20–24 °C / 68–75 °F | 5–15 m | Pre-season; crews begin watching water temperatures. |
| Mafia IslandTanzania | 1/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 5–15 m | Long rains; most lodges and dive operations close. |
Wildlife calendar
In the water in April
Blacktip Reef Shark
e.g. Similan Islands & Richelieu Rock
Blue-Spotted Ribbontail Ray
e.g. Similan Islands & Richelieu Rock
Bumphead Parrotfish
e.g. Tubbataha Reefs
California Sea Lion
e.g. Sea of Cortez & Cabo Pulmo
Dogtooth Tuna
e.g. Tubbataha Reefs
Grey Reef Shark
e.g. Tubbataha Reefs
Hawksbill Turtle
e.g. Tubbataha Reefs
Humpback Whale
e.g. Socorro & the Revillagigedos
Lemon Shark
e.g. Tiger Beach & Grand Bahama
Leopard (Zebra) Shark
e.g. Similan Islands & Richelieu Rock
Mobula (Devil) Ray
e.g. Sea of Cortez & Cabo Pulmo
Oceanic Manta Ray
e.g. Raja Ampat
Make it a trip
The planner crosses this month with your level and interests, and shows its reasons for every match.
Plan a April trip