When to dive
Diving in January
Ranked by our documented month ratings — water, visibility and what each place is actually like in January. Destinations without verified monthly data are listed separately rather than guessed at.
| Destination | Rating | Water | Visibility | What January is like there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CozumelMexico | 5/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 20–40 m | Dry and settled; eagle rays on the walls. |
| Raja AmpatIndonesia | 5/5 | 27–30 °C / 81–86 °F | 10–25 m | Prime season; calm seas across the archipelago and busy manta cleaning stations. |
| North & South Malé AtollsMaldives | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–30 m | Dry northeast monsoon; clear channels and settled seas. |
| PalauPalau | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–40 m | Dry-season trades; corners fire on the incoming tide. |
| BonaireBonaire | 5/5 | 26–27 °C / 79–81 °F | 20–30 m | |
| Ari AtollMaldives | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–30 m | Dry season; clear water and easy seas. |
| AnilaoPhilippines | 5/5 | 24–27 °C / 75–81 °F | 10–25 m | Dry, calm, and cool; peak critter season in full swing. |
| Socorro & the RevillagigedosMexico | 5/5 | 22–25 °C / 72–77 °F | 15–30 m | Humpbacks arrive; big-animal density climbs. |
| Tiger Beach & Grand BahamaThe Bahamas | 5/5 | 23–25 °C / 73–77 °F | 20–40 m | Peak tiger season; occasional cold fronts bring wind. |
| CoronPhilippines | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 8–18 m | Dry season; the bay at its clearest and calmest. |
| Chuuk (Truk) LagoonFederated States of Micronesia | 5/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 15–30 m | Trade-wind season; lagoon usually calm. |
| Grand CaymanCayman Islands | 5/5 | 26–27 °C / 79–81 °F | 20–40 m | Dry and clear; occasional norwester swell. |
| RangiroaFrench Polynesia | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 25–45 m | Hammerhead season at Tiputa; warm and mostly calm. |
| Similan Islands & Richelieu RockThailand | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | High season; calm seas and the full route open. |
| Mafia IslandTanzania | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–25 m | Whale sharks off Kilindoni; warm and settled. |
| Turks and CaicosTurks and Caicos Islands | 5/5 | 25–26 °C / 77–79 °F | 25–40 m | Humpbacks moving through the passage. |
| MoalboalPhilippines | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 10–30 m | Dry season; clear water over the wall and calm mornings. |
| GrenadaGrenada | 5/5 | 26–27 °C / 79–81 °F | 15–30 m | |
| CuraçaoCuraçao | 5/5 | 26–27 °C / 79–81 °F | 18–30 m | |
| British Virgin IslandsBritish Virgin Islands | 5/5 | 25–26 °C / 77–79 °F | 18–30 m | |
| YapFederated States of Micronesia | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–30 m | Manta courtship trains in Mi'il Channel. |
| Jardines de la ReinaCuba | 5/5 | 26–27 °C / 79–81 °F | 20–35 m | Dry, calm, cooler water; peak bookings. |
| Saint LuciaSaint Lucia | 5/5 | 26–27 °C / 79–81 °F | 15–30 m | |
| British ColumbiaCanada | 5/5 | 7–9 °C / 45–48 °F | 15–30 m | Peak winter clarity; drysuit weather above and below. |
| DominicaDominica | 5/5 | 26–27 °C / 79–81 °F | 20–30 m | Whale season and settled seas. |
| CoibaPanama | 5/5 | 22–28 °C / 72–82 °F | 12–25 m | Dry season; upwelling cools the water and draws big animals. |
| YonaguniJapan | 5/5 | 22–24 °C / 72–75 °F | 20–35 m | Hammerhead schools off Irizaki |
| Mergui ArchipelagoMyanmar | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 10–30 m | Heart of the season; mantas working Black Rock. |
| Galápagos IslandsEcuador | 4/5 | 22–26 °C / 72–79 °F | 12–25 m | Warm season under way; calmer seas and lively central sites. |
| Riviera Maya & the CenotesMexico | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 30–100 m | Cool air, same warm water; bull sharks off Playa. |
| Marsa Alam & the Deep SouthEgypt | 4/5 | 23–25 °C / 73–77 °F | 15–30 m | Mild southern winter; offshore trips depend on wind. |
| Isla Mujeres & CancúnMexico | 4/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 15–30 m | Dry season; sailfish trips offshore. |
| Belize Barrier ReefBelize | 4/5 | 26–27 °C / 79–81 °F | 15–30 m | Dry and pleasant; occasional cold front. |
| Cocos IslandCosta Rica | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 18–30 m | Dry season; calmer seas and clearer water. |
| Lembeh StraitIndonesia | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 5–15 m | Rainier period; visibility dips but critter diving continues uninterrupted. |
| MalapascuaPhilippines | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 10–25 m | Hammerhead season at Kimud; amihan chop on exposed crossings. |
| FakaravaFrench Polynesia | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 25–45 m | Warm, humid; sharks as always. |
| Kona, HawaiʻiUnited States | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 20–40 m | Whale song on every dive; occasional swell. |
| Sodwana BaySouth Africa | 4/5 | 25–28 °C / 77–82 °F | 10–25 m | Warm water; turtle nesting and Quarter Mile raggies. |
| Little CaymanCayman Islands | 4/5 | 26–27 °C / 79–81 °F | 20–40 m | Clear water; fronts can close Bloody Bay. |
| Zanzibar & MnembaTanzania | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | Kaskazi season; hot with calm mornings. |
| MauritiusMauritius | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | Hot and humid; cyclone watch between glassy spells. |
| Poor Knights IslandsNew Zealand | 4/5 | 19–22 °C / 66–72 °F | 10–20 m | Stingrays gather in the arches |
| OʻahuUnited States | 4/5 | 24–25 °C / 75–77 °F | 15–30 m | South wrecks fine; North Shore closed by surf. |
| Tofo BeachMozambique | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 8–20 m | Hot, rainy spells; plankton-rich whale shark water. |
| Daymaniyat IslandsOman | 4/5 | 23–25 °C / 73–77 °F | 10–25 m | Cool and frequently clear; jackets for the ride out. |
| Nassau & New ProvidenceThe Bahamas | 4/5 | 23–25 °C / 73–77 °F | 20–40 m | Occasional fronts; otherwise superb visibility. |
| Dumaguete, Dauin & Apo IslandPhilippines | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 10–25 m | Dry and cool; wind can shuffle Apo crossings. |
| Maui & MolokiniUnited States | 4/5 | 24–25 °C / 75–77 °F | 25–40 m | Whale season; morning windows still reliable. |
| Musandam PeninsulaOman | 4/5 | 22–24 °C / 72–75 °F | 10–20 m | Cool and comfortable - core season. |
| Port Sudan & SanganebSudan | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–40 m | Season in full swing; sharks on the cool thermoclines. |
| Arctic NorwayNorway | 4/5 | 3–6 °C / 37–43 °F | 10–25 m | Late orca season in near-darkness; hard weather, strong sightings some years. |
| Sharm El Sheikh & Ras MohammedEgypt | 3/5 | 22–24 °C / 72–75 °F | 15–30 m | Cool water and quiet boats; bring a 5 mm suit. |
| Sipadan & MabulMalaysia | 3/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 10–25 m | Northeast monsoon; rain squalls and chop, diving continues. |
| KomodoIndonesia | 3/5 | 23–28 °C / 73–82 °F | 5–20 m | Northwest monsoon: rain and chop in the north, calmer diving in the south; fewest boats. |
| Cairns & the Ribbon ReefsAustralia | 3/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 12–25 m | Wet season rain and cyclone watch; the outer reefs still dive |
| Bali & Nusa PenidaIndonesia | 3/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 8–20 m | Wet season; runoff and swell affect the east coast, but many days still dive well. |
| Florida KeysUnited States | 3/5 | 22–24 °C / 72–75 °F | 10–20 m | Cold fronts; great vis on the settled days between them. |
| Taveuni & Rainbow ReefFiji | 3/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 10–25 m | Warm and wet; cyclone season. |
| Hurghada & El GounaEgypt | 3/5 | 22–24 °C / 72–75 °F | 12–25 m | Cool and often windy; wreck crossings get canceled. |
| Baa Atoll & Hanifaru BayMaldives | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–30 m | Clear and calm; Hanifaru mostly quiet. |
| Silfra & IcelandIceland | 3/5 | 2–4 °C / 36–39 °F | 70–100 m | Short daylight and winter roads; the fissure itself is unchanged. |
| RoatánHonduras | 3/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–30 m | Rainy season tail; northers stir the sea. |
| Brothers, Daedalus & St John'sEgypt | 3/5 | 23–25 °C / 73–77 °F | 20–40 m | Rough crossings; fewer departures. |
| Koh TaoThailand | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–20 m | Monsoon tail; conditions rebuild through the month. |
| DahabEgypt | 3/5 | 21–23 °C / 70–73 °F | 15–30 m | Chilly for Dahab; thick neoprene and a windproof jacket. |
| UtilaHonduras | 3/5 | 26–27 °C / 79–81 °F | 10–25 m | Northers; south-side diving. |
| WakatobiIndonesia | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | Wettest, windiest stretch; diving continues on sheltered reefs. |
| Costa Rica Pacific CoastCosta Rica | 3/5 | 22–27 °C / 72–81 °F | 8–15 m | Papagayo winds; cool water and manta season at the Catalinas. |
| Fernando de NoronhaBrazil | 3/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–30 m | North swell; inner-sea sites can be washed out. |
| Coral Sea & Osprey ReefAustralia | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 25–45 m | Cyclone watch governs the crossing |
| Beqa Lagoon & Pacific HarbourFiji | 3/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 8–20 m | Wet season; some bulls still absent pupping. |
| AqabaJordan | 3/5 | 21–23 °C / 70–73 °F | 15–30 m | Cool and quiet, with crisp desert light. |
| Okinawa & the Kerama IslandsJapan | 3/5 | 21–23 °C / 70–73 °F | 20–35 m | Humpbacks sing off the Keramas |
| California Channel IslandsUnited States | 3/5 | 12–15 °C / 54–59 °F | 8–18 m | Cool and often clear between storms. |
| Aliwal Shoal & UmkomaasSouth Africa | 3/5 | 24–27 °C / 75–81 °F | 5–15 m | Warm and rainy; tiger sharks on baited dives. |
| Bunaken & ManadoIndonesia | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–20 m | Wet season; rain squalls and chop, with sheltered walls still workable. |
| Canary IslandsSpain | 3/5 | 19–20 °C / 66–68 °F | 12–25 m | Angelshark season; occasional northern swell. |
| Espiritu SantoVanuatu | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–25 m | Hot, humid, cyclone season. |
| SeychellesSeychelles | 3/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 8–20 m | Northwest monsoon; warm, humid, rain squalls. |
| South AustraliaAustralia | 3/5 | 19–22 °C / 66–72 °F | 3–10 m | Warmest water; jetties alive but often hazy |
| Green IslandTaiwan | 3/5 | 22–24 °C / 72–75 °F | 15–30 m | Monsoon wind; hammerheads for advanced divers |
| Izu PeninsulaJapan | 3/5 | 14–16 °C / 57–61 °F | 10–20 m | Cold and clear; rare deepwater visitors at Ose |
| Malta & GozoMalta | 2/5 | 15–16 °C / 59–61 °F | 20–35 m | Cool and quiet; northerly winds limit site choice some days. |
| Sea of Cortez & Cabo PulmoMexico | 2/5 | 19–23 °C / 66–73 °F | 8–15 m | Cool and green; sea lions lively, whale sharks in the bay. |
| Ningaloo ReefAustralia | 2/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 8–18 m | Hot, cyclone watch, quiet town |
| Scapa FlowUnited Kingdom | 2/5 | 6–8 °C / 43–46 °F | 8–15 m | Cold and often clear, but weather cancels freely and few boats run. |
| Banda Sea & AmbonIndonesia | 2/5 | 27–30 °C / 81–86 °F | 15–30 m | Northwest monsoon; few boats cross, Ambon muck remains an option. |
| Townsville & the YongalaAustralia | 2/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 8–20 m | Wet-season runoff and wind cancellations |
| VavaʻuTonga | 2/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | No whales; cyclone season. |
| Larnaca & the ZenobiaCyprus | 2/5 | 16–18 °C / 61–64 °F | 15–30 m | |
| Medes IslandsSpain | 2/5 | 12–14 °C / 54–57 °F | 15–30 m | Cold, clear, quiet; limited boat schedules. |
| MadeiraPortugal | 2/5 | 18–19 °C / 64–66 °F | 10–20 m | |
| AlorIndonesia | 2/5 | 24–28 °C / 75–82 °F | 10–20 m | Northwest monsoon; wind, rain, and limited operations. |
| Nosy BeMadagascar | 2/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 8–15 m | Rainy season; storms and reduced visibility. |
| Tubbataha ReefsPhilippines | 1/5 | — | — | Closed season; the open crossing is too exposed to the amihan. |
| The AzoresPortugal | 1/5 | 16–18 °C / 61–64 °F | 10–25 m | Atlantic storms; most dive operations paused. |
| BermudaBermuda | 1/5 | 17–19 °C / 63–66 °F | 25–45 m | Most operators closed; cold, windy. |
| The Sardine Run (Wild Coast)South Africa | 1/5 | 22–26 °C / 72–79 °F | 5–15 m | No run; summer rain and river silt. |
Wildlife calendar
In the water in January
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. Brothers, Daedalus & St John's
Make it a trip
The planner crosses this month with your level and interests, and shows its reasons for every match.
Plan a January trip