When to dive
Diving in December
Ranked by our documented month ratings — water, visibility and what each place is actually like in December. Destinations without verified monthly data are listed separately rather than guessed at.
| Destination | Rating | Water | Visibility | What December is like there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raja AmpatIndonesia | 5/5 | 27–30 °C / 81–86 °F | 10–25 m | High season; book boats and homestays well ahead. |
| CozumelMexico | 5/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 20–40 m | Dry season returns; holiday crowds build. |
| PalauPalau | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–40 m | Season in full swing; book boats ahead. |
| RangiroaFrench Polynesia | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 25–45 m | First hammerheads return. |
| Grand CaymanCayman Islands | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–40 m | High season returns. |
| Tiger Beach & Grand BahamaThe Bahamas | 5/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 20–40 m | |
| Chuuk (Truk) LagoonFederated States of Micronesia | 5/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 15–30 m | Season underway; boats fill with groups. |
| Mafia IslandTanzania | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–25 m | High season; excellent across the park. |
| Jardines de la ReinaCuba | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–35 m | High season begins. |
| YapFederated States of Micronesia | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–30 m | Mating season beginning. |
| British Virgin IslandsBritish Virgin Islands | 5/5 | 26–27 °C / 79–81 °F | 18–30 m | |
| British ColumbiaCanada | 5/5 | 7–10 °C / 45–50 °F | 15–30 m | |
| Turks and CaicosTurks and Caicos Islands | 5/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 25–40 m | |
| Arctic NorwayNorway | 5/5 | 4–6 °C / 39–43 °F | 10–25 m | Peak whale weeks around the polar night; expect twilight sessions. |
| YonaguniJapan | 5/5 | 23–25 °C / 73–77 °F | 20–35 m | Schooling season opens |
| BonaireBonaire | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–30 m | |
| Galápagos IslandsEcuador | 4/5 | 21–25 °C / 70–77 °F | 12–25 m | Seas settle as the warm season returns. |
| North & South Malé AtollsMaldives | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–30 m | Northeast monsoon returns; clearing water, holiday crowds. |
| Riviera Maya & the CenotesMexico | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 30–100 m | Holiday crowds at the famous pools. |
| MalapascuaPhilippines | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 10–25 m | Drier weather returns and hammerhead season begins. |
| Lembeh StraitIndonesia | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 5–15 m | Wet season; visibility softens more than the diving does. |
| Socorro & the RevillagigedosMexico | 4/5 | 24–27 °C / 75–81 °F | 20–30 m | |
| CoronPhilippines | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 8–18 m | Calm returns and holiday traffic picks up. |
| Similan Islands & Richelieu RockThailand | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | Holiday season; conditions firmly in place. |
| Belize Barrier ReefBelize | 4/5 | 26–27 °C / 79–81 °F | 15–30 m | Fresh northers alternate with calm spells. |
| FakaravaFrench Polynesia | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 25–45 m | Warm-season pattern returns. |
| Kona, HawaiʻiUnited States | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 20–40 m | Whales returning. |
| Isla Mujeres & CancúnMexico | 4/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 15–30 m | Holiday season; fresh north winds. |
| Cocos IslandCosta Rica | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 18–30 m | |
| Ari AtollMaldives | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–30 m | Dry season returns with the holiday rush. |
| AnilaoPhilippines | 4/5 | 25–28 °C / 77–82 °F | 10–25 m | Cooling water and calm seas; holiday weekends get busy. |
| Marsa Alam & the Deep SouthEgypt | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 15–30 m | Cooling; whitetip sightings taper through the month. |
| MoalboalPhilippines | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–30 m | Amihan calm returns; holidays bring visitors back. |
| Nassau & New ProvidenceThe Bahamas | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 20–40 m | |
| GrenadaGrenada | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–30 m | |
| CuraçaoCuraçao | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–25 m | |
| Saint LuciaSaint Lucia | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–30 m | |
| DominicaDominica | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–30 m | |
| Daymaniyat IslandsOman | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 10–25 m | Cooling into the clear season. |
| Sodwana BaySouth Africa | 4/5 | 24–27 °C / 75–81 °F | 10–25 m | Nesting peak; pregnant raggies arrive at Quarter Mile. |
| MauritiusMauritius | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 15–30 m | Early summer; building warmth and humidity. |
| Dumaguete, Dauin & Apo IslandPhilippines | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 10–25 m | Holiday season with returning northeast wind. |
| Maui & MolokiniUnited States | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 25–40 m | Whales return to the channel. |
| Tofo BeachMozambique | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 8–20 m | Hot, with afternoon storms; big-animal lottery continues. |
| Coral Sea & Osprey ReefAustralia | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 25–50 m | Early-summer heat; watch the forecasts |
| Poor Knights IslandsNew Zealand | 4/5 | 17–20 °C / 63–68 °F | 10–20 m | Early summer; rays begin to return |
| OʻahuUnited States | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 15–30 m | Whale season; dive south and west. |
| Little CaymanCayman Islands | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–40 m | Clear water between northers. |
| Zanzibar & MnembaTanzania | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | Drying out; holiday visitor numbers arrive. |
| Musandam PeninsulaOman | 4/5 | 23–25 °C / 73–77 °F | 10–20 m | Cool season back in force. |
| CoibaPanama | 4/5 | 24–29 °C / 75–84 °F | 12–25 m | Seas settle as the dry season begins. |
| Mergui ArchipelagoMyanmar | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 10–30 m | Conditions firm up; holiday charters fill first. |
| Port Sudan & SanganebSudan | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–40 m | Comfortable start to the classic season. |
| Sharm El Sheikh & Ras MohammedEgypt | 3/5 | 23–25 °C / 73–77 °F | 15–30 m | Holiday crowds ashore; wind more frequent at sea. |
| KomodoIndonesia | 3/5 | 24–29 °C / 75–84 °F | 5–20 m | Rains build; itineraries shift toward sheltered central and southern sites. |
| Sipadan & MabulMalaysia | 3/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 10–25 m | Wet, breezier holiday season; Sipadan still fires on good days. |
| Bali & Nusa PenidaIndonesia | 3/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 8–20 m | Wet season returns; pick sheltered coasts day by day. |
| Cairns & the Ribbon ReefsAustralia | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 12–25 m | Heat builds and the first monsoon rain arrives |
| Taveuni & Rainbow ReefFiji | 3/5 | 28–29 °C / 82–84 °F | 10–28 m | Humid, greener water; quiet boats. |
| Baa Atoll & Hanifaru BayMaldives | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–30 m | Dry season returns; reef diving takes over. |
| Brothers, Daedalus & St John'sEgypt | 3/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 20–40 m | Winter seas cut the schedule back. |
| Ningaloo ReefAustralia | 3/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 8–18 m | Turtle nesting begins; summer heat returns |
| RoatánHonduras | 3/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–25 m | Rain and northers; diveable windows. |
| Hurghada & El GounaEgypt | 3/5 | 23–25 °C / 73–77 °F | 12–25 m | Wind returns as winter chill begins. |
| Florida KeysUnited States | 3/5 | 22–25 °C / 72–77 °F | 10–20 m | |
| Sea of Cortez & Cabo PulmoMexico | 3/5 | 21–24 °C / 70–75 °F | 10–18 m | |
| Silfra & IcelandIceland | 3/5 | 2–4 °C / 36–39 °F | 70–100 m | |
| DahabEgypt | 3/5 | 22–24 °C / 72–75 °F | 15–30 m | Cool and breezy; a holiday bump in town. |
| SeychellesSeychelles | 3/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 10–20 m | Northwest monsoon returns with rain. |
| Canary IslandsSpain | 3/5 | 20–21 °C / 68–70 °F | 12–25 m | |
| AqabaJordan | 3/5 | 22–24 °C / 72–75 °F | 15–30 m | Cool, with holiday visitors ashore. |
| Aliwal Shoal & UmkomaasSouth Africa | 3/5 | 23–26 °C / 73–79 °F | 5–15 m | Summer rain returns; tiger season builds. |
| Beqa Lagoon & Pacific HarbourFiji | 3/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 8–20 m | Fewer bulls; tigers still possible. |
| WakatobiIndonesia | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | Rains build; conditions become more variable. |
| Costa Rica Pacific CoastCosta Rica | 3/5 | 23–27 °C / 73–81 °F | 8–15 m | Northern humpbacks and the first Papagayo blows. |
| Okinawa & the Kerama IslandsJapan | 3/5 | 22–24 °C / 72–75 °F | 20–35 m | First whales arrive |
| California Channel IslandsUnited States | 3/5 | 13–16 °C / 55–61 °F | 10–20 m | |
| Espiritu SantoVanuatu | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–25 m | Wet season returns. |
| Bunaken & ManadoIndonesia | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–20 m | Wet season; pick lee-side sites and flexible schedules. |
| Banda Sea & AmbonIndonesia | 3/5 | 27–30 °C / 81–86 °F | 15–35 m | Early-month trips finish the season before the monsoon turns. |
| Fernando de NoronhaBrazil | 3/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–30 m | Surf season begins on the inner coast. |
| Townsville & the YongalaAustralia | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–22 m | Storm season returns |
| UtilaHonduras | 3/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 10–25 m | Rain and wind between calm windows. |
| Izu PeninsulaJapan | 3/5 | 16–18 °C / 61–64 °F | 10–20 m | Winter clarity arrives |
| Green IslandTaiwan | 3/5 | 23–25 °C / 73–77 °F | 15–30 m | Cooling water; early hammerhead reports |
| South AustraliaAustralia | 3/5 | 18–20 °C / 64–68 °F | 3–10 m | Summer plankton; calm mornings |
| Nosy BeMadagascar | 3/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 8–18 m | Heat and first rains; whale sharks taper. |
| AlorIndonesia | 3/5 | 24–28 °C / 75–82 °F | 10–20 m | Weather window closes; early-month trips can still work. |
| Malta & GozoMalta | 2/5 | 16–18 °C / 61–64 °F | 20–35 m | |
| Koh TaoThailand | 2/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 5–15 m | Rough, rainy weeks; some years clear early. |
| BermudaBermuda | 2/5 | 19–21 °C / 66–70 °F | 25–45 m | Season winds down. |
| Scapa FlowUnited Kingdom | 2/5 | 7–9 °C / 45–48 °F | 8–15 m | |
| Larnaca & the ZenobiaCyprus | 2/5 | 17–19 °C / 63–66 °F | 15–30 m | |
| VavaʻuTonga | 2/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–30 m | Warm, sleepy off-season. |
| Medes IslandsSpain | 2/5 | 13–15 °C / 55–59 °F | 15–30 m | |
| MadeiraPortugal | 2/5 | 19–20 °C / 66–68 °F | 10–20 m | |
| The AzoresPortugal | 1/5 | 17–18 °C / 63–64 °F | 10–25 m | |
| Tubbataha ReefsPhilippines | 1/5 | — | — | No season; the park rests until March. |
| The Sardine Run (Wild Coast)South Africa | 1/5 | 21–25 °C / 70–77 °F | 5–15 m | No run; summer conditions. |
Wildlife calendar
In the water in December
Blacktip Reef Shark
e.g. Similan Islands & Richelieu Rock
Blue-Spotted Ribbontail Ray
e.g. Similan Islands & Richelieu Rock
Bull Shark
e.g. Riviera Maya & the Cenotes
California Sea Lion
e.g. Sea of Cortez & Cabo Pulmo
Great Hammerhead
e.g. Rangiroa
Hawksbill Turtle
e.g. Seychelles
Humpback Whale
e.g. Arctic Norway
Lemon Shark
e.g. Tiger Beach & Grand Bahama
Leopard (Zebra) Shark
e.g. Similan Islands & Richelieu Rock
Loggerhead Turtle
e.g. Sodwana Bay
Oceanic Manta Ray
e.g. Socorro & the Revillagigedos
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
e.g. Marsa Alam & the Deep South
Make it a trip
The planner crosses this month with your level and interests, and shows its reasons for every match.
Plan a December trip