When to dive
Diving in May
Ranked by our documented month ratings — water, visibility and what each place is actually like in May. Destinations without verified monthly data are listed separately rather than guessed at.
| Destination | Rating | Water | Visibility | What May is like there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sipadan & MabulMalaysia | 5/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 15–35 m | Calm crossings and long blue-water sight lines. |
| BonaireBonaire | 5/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 20–30 m | |
| KomodoIndonesia | 5/5 | 24–28 °C / 75–82 °F | 15–25 m | Excellent month in the north and center; manta traffic steady. |
| Riviera Maya & the CenotesMexico | 5/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 30–100 m | Midday beams near their best. |
| Sharm El Sheikh & Ras MohammedEgypt | 5/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 20–30 m | Prime month - warm water before the summer crowds. |
| FakaravaFrench Polynesia | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 25–45 m | Trade season; groupers beginning to gather. |
| Marsa Alam & the Deep SouthEgypt | 5/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 20–30 m | Settled seas open the outer reefs. |
| Silfra & IcelandIceland | 5/5 | 2–4 °C / 36–39 °F | 70–100 m | Long days, fewer tour buses than midsummer. |
| DahabEgypt | 5/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 15–30 m | Prime shore-diving weather. |
| RoatánHonduras | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–30 m | Warm and calm. |
| MalapascuaPhilippines | 5/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 15–25 m | Warm, calm water as hammerhead sightings taper. |
| Tubbataha ReefsPhilippines | 5/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 20–40 m | Peak conditions hold; plankton pulses can pull in whale sharks. |
| Belize Barrier ReefBelize | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–35 m | Warm and calm; whale sharks continue. |
| Brothers, Daedalus & St John'sEgypt | 5/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 20–40 m | Hammerhead schooling builds at Daedalus. |
| Hurghada & El GounaEgypt | 5/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 15–30 m | Warm and settled, with fine visibility runs. |
| Ningaloo ReefAustralia | 5/5 | 24–27 °C / 75–81 °F | 10–20 m | Peak season; book everything ahead |
| Grand CaymanCayman Islands | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–40 m | Long calm spells before the rains. |
| Kona, HawaiʻiUnited States | 5/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 20–40 m | Settled lee-coast diving. |
| Espiritu SantoVanuatu | 5/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 15–30 m | Dry season begins; comfortable diving. |
| Sodwana BaySouth Africa | 5/5 | 23–26 °C / 73–79 °F | 12–30 m | Often the best visibility window. |
| Maui & MolokiniUnited States | 5/5 | 25–26 °C / 77–79 °F | 25–45 m | Clear, settled mornings. |
| Dumaguete, Dauin & Apo IslandPhilippines | 5/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 15–25 m | Glassy channel days are common. |
| CuraçaoCuraçao | 5/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 18–30 m | |
| Bunaken & ManadoIndonesia | 5/5 | 27–30 °C / 81–86 °F | 20–35 m | Excellent clarity and calm crossings. |
| AqabaJordan | 5/5 | 23–25 °C / 73–77 °F | 15–30 m | Settled and warm. |
| Little CaymanCayman Islands | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 25–40 m | Prime conditions on the north wall. |
| OʻahuUnited States | 5/5 | 25–26 °C / 77–79 °F | 18–35 m | Sharks Cove season opens. |
| Beqa Lagoon & Pacific HarbourFiji | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 12–28 m | Dry season; strong shark attendance. |
| WakatobiIndonesia | 5/5 | 27–30 °C / 81–86 °F | 20–40 m | Prime conditions across the atolls. |
| Scapa FlowUnited Kingdom | 5/5 | 8–10 °C / 46–50 °F | 5–12 m | |
| SeychellesSeychelles | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | Glassy days; excellent all around the inner islands. |
| Bali & Nusa PenidaIndonesia | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 15–25 m | Calm seas; good visibility at Tulamben and Menjangan. |
| Cairns & the Ribbon ReefsAustralia | 4/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 15–30 m | Cooling water and improving clarity |
| CozumelMexico | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–40 m | Hotter; first rains late in the month. |
| PalauPalau | 4/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 15–35 m | Warm and quieter; first southwest weather possible. |
| Galápagos IslandsEcuador | 4/5 | 21–25 °C / 70–77 °F | 12–25 m | Transition month; seas still reasonable. |
| Chuuk (Truk) LagoonFederated States of Micronesia | 4/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 12–25 m | Showers increase. |
| AnilaoPhilippines | 4/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 10–20 m | Hot season; afternoon winds pick up late in the month. |
| Isla Mujeres & CancúnMexico | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | Hot; aggregation season approaches. |
| Taveuni & Rainbow ReefFiji | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–35 m | Dry season begins. |
| Malta & GozoMalta | 4/5 | 17–19 °C / 63–66 °F | 20–40 m | |
| Cocos IslandCosta Rica | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 15–28 m | Transition toward the rainy season. |
| RangiroaFrench Polynesia | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 25–45 m | Trades starting; passes reliable. |
| CoronPhilippines | 4/5 | 28–31 °C / 82–88 °F | 5–15 m | First rains arrive; wrecks stay diveable. |
| Florida KeysUnited States | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–30 m | |
| Koh TaoThailand | 4/5 | 29–31 °C / 84–88 °F | 10–25 m | Still excellent; brief squalls appear. |
| Socorro & the RevillagigedosMexico | 4/5 | 24–27 °C / 75–81 °F | 20–30 m | Warming late season; whale sharks possible. |
| Lembeh StraitIndonesia | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 8–18 m | Settled weather; strait stays flat most days. |
| Okinawa & the Kerama IslandsJapan | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 15–30 m | Rainy season begins mid-month |
| Larnaca & the ZenobiaCyprus | 4/5 | 19–22 °C / 66–72 °F | 20–35 m | |
| Jardines de la ReinaCuba | 4/5 | 28–29 °C / 82–84 °F | 20–35 m | Hotter; first rains. |
| Canary IslandsSpain | 4/5 | 19–21 °C / 66–70 °F | 15–30 m | |
| UtilaHonduras | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | Warm and settled. |
| Fernando de NoronhaBrazil | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–35 m | |
| Nassau & New ProvidenceThe Bahamas | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–35 m | |
| GrenadaGrenada | 4/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 15–30 m | |
| Costa Rica Pacific CoastCosta Rica | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 10–20 m | Bat Islands bull shark season opens. |
| DominicaDominica | 4/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 15–30 m | |
| Saint LuciaSaint Lucia | 4/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 15–30 m | |
| BermudaBermuda | 4/5 | 21–23 °C / 70–73 °F | 25–45 m | |
| MoalboalPhilippines | 4/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 10–25 m | Still fine diving as the first rains arrive. |
| British Virgin IslandsBritish Virgin Islands | 4/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 18–30 m | |
| Tofo BeachMozambique | 4/5 | 24–27 °C / 75–81 °F | 10–25 m | Dry season begins; clean southern water arrives. |
| MauritiusMauritius | 4/5 | 24–27 °C / 75–81 °F | 15–25 m | Cooling; still consistently pleasant. |
| Townsville & the YongalaAustralia | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 10–25 m | Cooler, cleaner water over the wreck |
| Coral Sea & Osprey ReefAustralia | 4/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 25–50 m | Cooler water and big visibility |
| Aliwal Shoal & UmkomaasSouth Africa | 4/5 | 22–25 °C / 72–77 °F | 10–25 m | Clean water; shark seasons overlap some years. |
| Poor Knights IslandsNew Zealand | 4/5 | 17–20 °C / 63–68 °F | 15–30 m | Cooling but clean |
| Turks and CaicosTurks and Caicos Islands | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–35 m | |
| Medes IslandsSpain | 4/5 | 16–18 °C / 61–64 °F | 12–25 m | |
| Nosy BeMadagascar | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 12–25 m | Dry season; settled diving weather. |
| AlorIndonesia | 4/5 | 23–28 °C / 73–82 °F | 15–30 m | Good diving; thermoclines begin to sharpen. |
| Port Sudan & SanganebSudan | 4/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 15–40 m | Late season; heat building. |
| Green IslandTaiwan | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–40 m | Warm and clear; quiet midweek |
| South AustraliaAustralia | 4/5 | 15–18 °C / 59–64 °F | 4–12 m | Cuttlefish begin massing near Point Lowly |
| North & South Malé AtollsMaldives | 3/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 10–20 m | Southwest monsoon arrives with wind, rain, and plankton. |
| Raja AmpatIndonesia | 3/5 | 27–30 °C / 81–86 °F | 10–20 m | Transition month; winds begin to build and some boats reposition. |
| Ari AtollMaldives | 3/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 10–20 m | Southwest monsoon sets in; plankton feeds the filter feeders. |
| Baa Atoll & Hanifaru BayMaldives | 3/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 10–20 m | Plankton arrives; first bay feeding events some years. |
| The AzoresPortugal | 3/5 | 17–18 °C / 63–64 °F | 15–30 m | |
| Sea of Cortez & Cabo PulmoMexico | 3/5 | 22–26 °C / 72–79 °F | 10–20 m | Mobula season; water warming. |
| Tiger Beach & Grand BahamaThe Bahamas | 3/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–35 m | |
| British ColumbiaCanada | 3/5 | 9–13 °C / 48–55 °F | 5–12 m | |
| Banda Sea & AmbonIndonesia | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–35 m | Window narrows as the southeast monsoon approaches. |
| YapFederated States of Micronesia | 3/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 10–25 m | Transition month. |
| Daymaniyat IslandsOman | 3/5 | 28–31 °C / 82–88 °F | 8–20 m | Hot; island landings close for nesting season. |
| North Carolina Outer BanksUnited States | 3/5 | 18–23 °C / 64–73 °F | 10–20 m | Season opens; water still mixed, wetsuit-thick diving. |
| VavaʻuTonga | 3/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 18–35 m | Clear winter water arrives. |
| California Channel IslandsUnited States | 3/5 | 14–17 °C / 57–63 °F | 6–15 m | |
| YonaguniJapan | 3/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 20–40 m | Warm, quiet shoulder season |
| Izu PeninsulaJapan | 3/5 | 17–19 °C / 63–66 °F | 5–15 m | Squid spawning starts as water warms |
| Musandam PeninsulaOman | 3/5 | 28–31 °C / 82–88 °F | 8–18 m | Heat arrives; early trips only. |
| Arctic NorwayNorway | 3/5 | 5–8 °C / 41–46 °F | 8–20 m | |
| CoibaPanama | 3/5 | 25–29 °C / 77–84 °F | 8–18 m | |
| MadeiraPortugal | 3/5 | 18–20 °C / 64–68 °F | 12–25 m | |
| Similan Islands & Richelieu RockThailand | 2/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 10–25 m | Season ends mid-month as the monsoon arrives. |
| Zanzibar & MnembaTanzania | 2/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 8–20 m | Rains taper late in the month. |
| The Sardine Run (Wild Coast)South Africa | 2/5 | 19–22 °C / 66–72 °F | 5–15 m | Early activity possible in the far south some years. |
| Mergui ArchipelagoMyanmar | 2/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 8–20 m | Final departures early in the month as the monsoon builds. |
| Mafia IslandTanzania | 1/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 5–15 m | Rains continue; island effectively shut for diving. |
Wildlife calendar
In the water in May
Australian Giant Cuttlefish
e.g. South Australia
Blacktip Reef Shark
e.g. Similan Islands & Richelieu Rock
Blue-Spotted Ribbontail Ray
e.g. Similan Islands & Richelieu Rock
Bottlenose Dolphin
e.g. The Azores
Bull Shark
e.g. Costa Rica Pacific Coast
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
Leopard (Zebra) Shark
e.g. Similan Islands & Richelieu Rock
Mobula (Devil) Ray
e.g. Sea of Cortez & Cabo Pulmo
Make it a trip
The planner crosses this month with your level and interests, and shows its reasons for every match.
Plan a May trip