When to dive
Diving in December
Ranked by our documented month ratings: water, visibility and what each place is actually like in December.
99 destinations carry verified figures for December.
Satellite: NASA Blue Marble
Prime Excellent Good · every dot links to its destination guide.
Destinations without verified monthly data are listed separately rather than guessed at. Every rating below comes from documented seasons. The full table, grouped by region and sortable, is at the foot of the page.
December · 15
Prime this month
The month at its best: the trips people fly across the world for. Water this month: 4–30 °C / 39–86 °F.
5/5
5/5
5/5
5/5
5/5
5/5
5/5
5/5
5/5
5/5
5/5
5/5
5/5
5/5
5/5
Cozumel
Mexico · Dry season returns; holiday crowds build.
Raja Ampat
Indonesia · High season; book boats and homestays well ahead.
Palau
Palau · Season in full swing; book boats ahead.
Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon
Federated States of Micronesia · Season underway; boats fill with groups.
Rangiroa
French Polynesia · First hammerheads return.
Tiger Beach & Grand Bahama
The Bahamas
Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands · High season returns.
Mafia Island
Tanzania · High season; excellent across the park.
British Columbia
Canada
Jardines de la Reina
Cuba · High season begins.
Yap
Federated States of Micronesia · Mating season beginning.
British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands
Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos Islands
Arctic Norway
Norway · Peak whale weeks around the polar night; expect twilight sessions.
Yonaguni
Japan · Schooling season opens
December · 38
Excellent right now
Reliably very good diving this month. Water this month: 17–29 °C / 63–84 °F.
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
4/5
Riviera Maya & the Cenotes
Mexico · Holiday crowds at the famous pools.
Bonaire
Bonaire
North & South Malé Atolls
Maldives · Northeast monsoon returns; clearing water, holiday crowds.
Galápagos Islands
Ecuador · Seas settle as the warm season returns.
Fakarava
French Polynesia · Warm-season pattern returns.
Socorro & the Revillagigedos
Mexico
Coron
Philippines · Calm returns and holiday traffic picks up.
Belize Barrier Reef
Belize · Fresh northers alternate with calm spells.
Kona, Hawaiʻi
United States · Whales returning.
Marsa Alam & the Deep South
Egypt · Cooling; whitetip sightings taper through the month.
Isla Mujeres & Cancún
Mexico · Holiday season; fresh north winds.
Malapascua
Philippines · Drier weather returns and hammerhead season begins.
Anilao
Philippines · Cooling water and calm seas; holiday weekends get busy.
Ari Atoll
Maldives · Dry season returns with the holiday rush.
Lembeh Strait
Indonesia · Wet season; visibility softens more than the diving does.
Similan Islands & Richelieu Rock
Thailand · Holiday season; conditions firmly in place.
Cocos Island
Costa Rica
Oʻahu
United States · Whale season; dive south and west.
Mauritius
Mauritius · Early summer; building warmth and humidity.
Curaçao
Curaçao
Maui & Molokini
United States · Whales return to the channel.
Nassau & New Providence
The Bahamas
Grenada
Grenada
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia
Dominica
Dominica
Daymaniyat Islands
Oman · Cooling into the clear season.
Dumaguete, Dauin & Apo Island
Philippines · Holiday season with returning northeast wind.
Poor Knights Islands
New Zealand · Early summer; rays begin to return
Coral Sea & Osprey Reef
Australia · Early-summer heat; watch the forecasts
Little Cayman
Cayman Islands · Clear water between northers.
Moalboal
Philippines · Amihan calm returns; holidays bring visitors back.
Zanzibar & Mnemba
Tanzania · Drying out; holiday visitor numbers arrive.
Tofo Beach
Mozambique · Hot, with afternoon storms; big-animal lottery continues.
Sodwana Bay
South Africa · Nesting peak; pregnant raggies arrive at Quarter Mile.
Port Sudan & Sanganeb
Sudan · Comfortable start to the classic season.
Coiba
Panama · Seas settle as the dry season begins.
Musandam Peninsula
Oman · Cool season back in force.
Mergui Archipelago
Myanmar · Conditions firm up; holiday charters fill first.
December · 35
Good, with trade-offs
Solid diving this month. Read each note before you book. Water this month: 2–30 °C / 36–86 °F.
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
3/5
Bali & Nusa Penida
Indonesia · Wet season returns; pick sheltered coasts day by day.
Sipadan & Mabul
Malaysia · Wet, breezier holiday season; Sipadan still fires on good days.
Cairns & the Ribbon Reefs
Australia · Heat builds and the first monsoon rain arrives
Komodo
Indonesia · Rains build; itineraries shift toward sheltered central and southern sites.
Sharm El Sheikh & Ras Mohammed
Egypt · Holiday crowds ashore; wind more frequent at sea.
Florida Keys
United States
Roatán
Honduras · Rain and northers; diveable windows.
Sea of Cortez & Cabo Pulmo
Mexico
Ningaloo Reef
Australia · Turtle nesting begins; summer heat returns
Silfra & Iceland
Iceland
Dahab
Egypt · Cool and breezy; a holiday bump in town.
Taveuni & Rainbow Reef
Fiji · Humid, greener water; quiet boats.
Brothers, Daedalus & St John's
Egypt · Winter seas cut the schedule back.
Baa Atoll & Hanifaru Bay
Maldives · Dry season returns; reef diving takes over.
Hurghada & El Gouna
Egypt · Wind returns as winter chill begins.
Costa Rica Pacific Coast
Costa Rica · Northern humpbacks and the first Papagayo blows.
Aliwal Shoal & Umkomaas
South Africa · Summer rain returns; tiger season builds.
Townsville & the Yongala
Australia · Storm season returns
Fernando de Noronha
Brazil · Surf season begins on the inner coast.
Wakatobi
Indonesia · Rains build; conditions become more variable.
Canary Islands
Spain
Aqaba
Jordan · Cool, with holiday visitors ashore.
Utila
Honduras · Rain and wind between calm windows.
California Channel Islands
United States
Espiritu Santo
Vanuatu · Wet season returns.
Beqa Lagoon & Pacific Harbour
Fiji · Fewer bulls; tigers still possible.
Okinawa & the Kerama Islands
Japan · First whales arrive
Bunaken & Manado
Indonesia · Wet season; pick lee-side sites and flexible schedules.
Seychelles
Seychelles · Northwest monsoon returns with rain.
Banda Sea & Ambon
Indonesia · Early-month trips finish the season before the monsoon turns.
Izu Peninsula
Japan · Winter clarity arrives
Green Island
Taiwan · Cooling water; early hammerhead reports
South Australia
Australia · Summer plankton; calm mornings
Alor
Indonesia · Weather window closes; early-month trips can still work.
Nosy Be
Madagascar · Heat and first rains; whale sharks taper.
Wildlife calendar
In the water in December
Species with documented seasonal or resident sightings this month, each with one place that reliably has them.
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. Maui & Molokini
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
The full table
Every December figure, region by region
99 destinations · every figure documented · sort by any column, or jump to a region
Australia, New Zealand & East Asia 10Caribbean & Western Atlantic 19Europe, Atlantic & Mediterranean 9Indian Ocean & East Africa 12Pacific Islands & Micronesia 12Red Sea & Middle East 9Southeast Asia & Coral Triangle 18The Americas & Eastern Pacific 10
| Destination | Rating | Water | Visibility | What December is like there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia, New Zealand & East Asia · 10 destinations | ||||
| YonaguniJapan | 5/5 | 23–25 °C / 73–77 °F | 20–35 m | Schooling season opens |
| Poor Knights IslandsNew Zealand | 4/5 | 17–20 °C / 63–68 °F | 10–20 m | Early summer; rays begin to return |
| Coral Sea & Osprey ReefAustralia | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 25–50 m | Early-summer heat; watch the forecasts |
| Cairns & the Ribbon ReefsAustralia | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 12–25 m | Heat builds and the first monsoon rain arrives |
| Ningaloo ReefAustralia | 3/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 8–18 m | Turtle nesting begins; summer heat returns |
| Townsville & the YongalaAustralia | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–22 m | Storm season returns |
| Okinawa & the Kerama IslandsJapan | 3/5 | 22–24 °C / 72–75 °F | 20–35 m | First whales arrive |
| 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 |
| Caribbean & Western Atlantic · 19 destinations | ||||
| CozumelMexico | 5/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 20–40 m | Dry season returns; holiday crowds build. |
| Tiger Beach & Grand BahamaThe Bahamas | 5/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 20–40 m | |
| Grand CaymanCayman Islands | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–40 m | High season returns. |
| Jardines de la ReinaCuba | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–35 m | High season begins. |
| British Virgin IslandsBritish Virgin Islands | 5/5 | 26–27 °C / 79–81 °F | 18–30 m | |
| Turks and CaicosTurks and Caicos Islands | 5/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 25–40 m | |
| Riviera Maya & the CenotesMexico | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 30–100 m | Holiday crowds at the famous pools. |
| BonaireBonaire | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–30 m | |
| Belize Barrier ReefBelize | 4/5 | 26–27 °C / 79–81 °F | 15–30 m | Fresh northers alternate with calm spells. |
| Isla Mujeres & CancúnMexico | 4/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 15–30 m | Holiday season; fresh north winds. |
| CuraçaoCuraçao | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–25 m | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Little CaymanCayman Islands | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–40 m | Clear water between northers. |
| RoatánHonduras | 3/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–25 m | Rain and northers; diveable windows. |
| UtilaHonduras | 3/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 10–25 m | Rain and wind between calm windows. |
| BermudaBermuda | 2/5 | 19–21 °C / 66–70 °F | 25–45 m | Season winds down. |
| Europe, Atlantic & Mediterranean · 9 destinations | ||||
| Arctic NorwayNorway | 5/5 | 4–6 °C / 39–43 °F | 10–25 m | Peak whale weeks around the polar night; expect twilight sessions. |
| Silfra & IcelandIceland | 3/5 | 2–4 °C / 36–39 °F | 70–100 m | |
| Canary IslandsSpain | 3/5 | 20–21 °C / 68–70 °F | 12–25 m | |
| Malta & GozoMalta | 2/5 | 16–18 °C / 61–64 °F | 20–35 m | |
| 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 | |
| MadeiraPortugal | 2/5 | 19–20 °C / 66–68 °F | 10–20 m | |
| Medes IslandsSpain | 2/5 | 13–15 °C / 55–59 °F | 15–30 m | |
| The AzoresPortugal | 1/5 | 17–18 °C / 63–64 °F | 10–25 m | |
| Indian Ocean & East Africa · 12 destinations | ||||
| Mafia IslandTanzania | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–25 m | High season; excellent across the park. |
| North & South Malé AtollsMaldives | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–30 m | Northeast monsoon returns; clearing water, holiday crowds. |
| Ari AtollMaldives | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–30 m | Dry season returns with the holiday rush. |
| MauritiusMauritius | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 15–30 m | Early summer; building warmth and humidity. |
| Zanzibar & MnembaTanzania | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | Drying out; holiday visitor numbers arrive. |
| Tofo BeachMozambique | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 8–20 m | Hot, with afternoon storms; big-animal lottery continues. |
| Sodwana BaySouth Africa | 4/5 | 24–27 °C / 75–81 °F | 10–25 m | Nesting peak; pregnant raggies arrive at Quarter Mile. |
| Baa Atoll & Hanifaru BayMaldives | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–30 m | Dry season returns; reef diving takes over. |
| Aliwal Shoal & UmkomaasSouth Africa | 3/5 | 23–26 °C / 73–79 °F | 5–15 m | Summer rain returns; tiger season builds. |
| SeychellesSeychelles | 3/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 10–20 m | Northwest monsoon returns with rain. |
| Nosy BeMadagascar | 3/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 8–18 m | Heat and first rains; whale sharks taper. |
| The Sardine Run (Wild Coast)South Africa | 1/5 | 21–25 °C / 70–77 °F | 5–15 m | No run; summer conditions. |
| Pacific Islands & Micronesia · 12 destinations | ||||
| PalauPalau | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–40 m | Season in full swing; book boats ahead. |
| Chuuk (Truk) LagoonFederated States of Micronesia | 5/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 15–30 m | Season underway; boats fill with groups. |
| RangiroaFrench Polynesia | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 25–45 m | First hammerheads return. |
| YapFederated States of Micronesia | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–30 m | Mating season beginning. |
| 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. |
| OʻahuUnited States | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 15–30 m | Whale season; dive south and west. |
| Maui & MolokiniUnited States | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 25–40 m | Whales return to the channel. |
| Taveuni & Rainbow ReefFiji | 3/5 | 28–29 °C / 82–84 °F | 10–28 m | Humid, greener water; quiet boats. |
| Espiritu SantoVanuatu | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–25 m | Wet season returns. |
| Beqa Lagoon & Pacific HarbourFiji | 3/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 8–20 m | Fewer bulls; tigers still possible. |
| VavaʻuTonga | 2/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–30 m | Warm, sleepy off-season. |
| Red Sea & Middle East · 9 destinations | ||||
| Marsa Alam & the Deep SouthEgypt | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 15–30 m | Cooling; whitetip sightings taper through the month. |
| Daymaniyat IslandsOman | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 10–25 m | Cooling into the clear season. |
| Port Sudan & SanganebSudan | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–40 m | Comfortable start to the classic season. |
| Musandam PeninsulaOman | 4/5 | 23–25 °C / 73–77 °F | 10–20 m | Cool season back in force. |
| Sharm El Sheikh & Ras MohammedEgypt | 3/5 | 23–25 °C / 73–77 °F | 15–30 m | Holiday crowds ashore; wind more frequent at sea. |
| DahabEgypt | 3/5 | 22–24 °C / 72–75 °F | 15–30 m | Cool and breezy; a holiday bump in town. |
| Brothers, Daedalus & St John'sEgypt | 3/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 20–40 m | Winter seas cut the schedule back. |
| Hurghada & El GounaEgypt | 3/5 | 23–25 °C / 73–77 °F | 12–25 m | Wind returns as winter chill begins. |
| AqabaJordan | 3/5 | 22–24 °C / 72–75 °F | 15–30 m | Cool, with holiday visitors ashore. |
| Southeast Asia & Coral Triangle · 18 destinations | ||||
| Raja AmpatIndonesia | 5/5 | 27–30 °C / 81–86 °F | 10–25 m | High season; book boats and homestays well ahead. |
| CoronPhilippines | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 8–18 m | Calm returns and holiday traffic picks up. |
| MalapascuaPhilippines | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 10–25 m | Drier weather returns and hammerhead season begins. |
| AnilaoPhilippines | 4/5 | 25–28 °C / 77–82 °F | 10–25 m | Cooling water and calm seas; holiday weekends get busy. |
| Lembeh StraitIndonesia | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 5–15 m | Wet season; visibility softens more than the diving does. |
| Similan Islands & Richelieu RockThailand | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | Holiday season; conditions firmly in place. |
| Dumaguete, Dauin & Apo IslandPhilippines | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 10–25 m | Holiday season with returning northeast wind. |
| MoalboalPhilippines | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–30 m | Amihan calm returns; holidays bring visitors back. |
| Mergui ArchipelagoMyanmar | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 10–30 m | Conditions firm up; holiday charters fill first. |
| Bali & Nusa PenidaIndonesia | 3/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 8–20 m | Wet season returns; pick sheltered coasts day by day. |
| Sipadan & MabulMalaysia | 3/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 10–25 m | Wet, breezier holiday season; Sipadan still fires on good days. |
| KomodoIndonesia | 3/5 | 24–29 °C / 75–84 °F | 5–20 m | Rains build; itineraries shift toward sheltered central and southern sites. |
| WakatobiIndonesia | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | Rains build; conditions become more variable. |
| 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. |
| AlorIndonesia | 3/5 | 24–28 °C / 75–82 °F | 10–20 m | Weather window closes; early-month trips can still work. |
| Koh TaoThailand | 2/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 5–15 m | Rough, rainy weeks; some years clear early. |
| Tubbataha ReefsPhilippines | 1/5 | — | — | No season; the park rests until March. |
| The Americas & Eastern Pacific · 10 destinations | ||||
| British ColumbiaCanada | 5/5 | 7–10 °C / 45–50 °F | 15–30 m | |
| Galápagos IslandsEcuador | 4/5 | 21–25 °C / 70–77 °F | 12–25 m | Seas settle as the warm season returns. |
| Socorro & the RevillagigedosMexico | 4/5 | 24–27 °C / 75–81 °F | 20–30 m | |
| Cocos IslandCosta Rica | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 18–30 m | |
| CoibaPanama | 4/5 | 24–29 °C / 75–84 °F | 12–25 m | Seas settle as the dry season 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 | |
| Costa Rica Pacific CoastCosta Rica | 3/5 | 23–27 °C / 73–81 °F | 8–15 m | Northern humpbacks and the first Papagayo blows. |
| Fernando de NoronhaBrazil | 3/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–30 m | Surf season begins on the inner coast. |
| California Channel IslandsUnited States | 3/5 | 13–16 °C / 55–61 °F | 10–20 m | |
A dash means that figure is not yet verified for this month, not that it is zero.
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