When to dive
Diving in May
Ranked by our documented month ratings: water, visibility and what each place is actually like in May.
100 destinations carry verified figures for May, plus 1 more in season without monthly detail yet.
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.
May · 31
Prime this month
The month at its best: the trips people fly across the world for. Water this month: 2–30 °C / 36–86 °F.
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Riviera Maya & the Cenotes
Mexico · Midday beams near their best.
Sharm El Sheikh & Ras Mohammed
Egypt · Prime month: warm water before the summer crowds.
Komodo
Indonesia · Excellent month in the north and center; manta traffic steady.
Sipadan & Mabul
Malaysia · Calm crossings and long blue-water sight lines.
Bonaire
Bonaire
Tubbataha Reefs
Philippines · Peak conditions hold; plankton pulses can pull in whale sharks.
Hurghada & El Gouna
Egypt · Warm and settled, with fine visibility runs.
Fakarava
French Polynesia · Trade season; groupers beginning to gather.
Marsa Alam & the Deep South
Egypt · Settled seas open the outer reefs.
Brothers, Daedalus & St John's
Egypt · Hammerhead schooling builds at Daedalus.
Kona, Hawaiʻi
United States · Settled lee-coast diving.
Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands · Long calm spells before the rains.
Roatán
Honduras · Warm and calm.
Ningaloo Reef
Australia · Peak season; book everything ahead
Malapascua
Philippines · Warm, calm water as hammerhead sightings taper.
Dahab
Egypt · Prime shore-diving weather.
Silfra & Iceland
Iceland · Long days, fewer tour buses than midsummer.
Belize Barrier Reef
Belize · Warm and calm; whale sharks continue.
Curaçao
Curaçao
Maui & Molokini
United States · Clear, settled mornings.
Beqa Lagoon & Pacific Harbour
Fiji · Dry season; strong shark attendance.
Sodwana Bay
South Africa · Often the best visibility window.
Wakatobi
Indonesia · Prime conditions across the atolls.
Dumaguete, Dauin & Apo Island
Philippines · Glassy channel days are common.
Espiritu Santo
Vanuatu · Dry season begins; comfortable diving.
Aqaba
Jordan · Settled and warm.
Scapa Flow
United Kingdom
Little Cayman
Cayman Islands · Prime conditions on the north wall.
Seychelles
Seychelles · Glassy days; excellent all around the inner islands.
Bunaken & Manado
Indonesia · Excellent clarity and calm crossings.
Oʻahu
United States · Sharks Cove season opens.
May · 44
Excellent right now
Reliably very good diving this month. Water this month: 15–31 °C / 59–88 °F.
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Cozumel
Mexico · Hotter; first rains late in the month.
Galápagos Islands
Ecuador · Transition month; seas still reasonable.
Palau
Palau · Warm and quieter; first southwest weather possible.
Bali & Nusa Penida
Indonesia · Calm seas; good visibility at Tulamben and Menjangan.
Cairns & the Ribbon Reefs
Australia · Cooling water and improving clarity
Rangiroa
French Polynesia · Trades starting; passes reliable.
Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon
Federated States of Micronesia · Showers increase.
Lembeh Strait
Indonesia · Settled weather; strait stays flat most days.
Taveuni & Rainbow Reef
Fiji · Dry season begins.
Anilao
Philippines · Hot season; afternoon winds pick up late in the month.
Cocos Island
Costa Rica · Transition toward the rainy season.
Koh Tao
Thailand · Still excellent; brief squalls appear.
Socorro & the Revillagigedos
Mexico · Warming late season; whale sharks possible.
Malta & Gozo
Malta
Coron
Philippines · First rains arrive; wrecks stay diveable.
Isla Mujeres & Cancún
Mexico · Hot; aggregation season approaches.
Florida Keys
United States
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia
British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands
Costa Rica Pacific Coast
Costa Rica · Bat Islands bull shark season opens.
Townsville & the Yongala
Australia · Cooler, cleaner water over the wreck
Fernando de Noronha
Brazil
Grenada
Grenada
Nassau & New Providence
The Bahamas
Poor Knights Islands
New Zealand · Cooling but clean
Moalboal
Philippines · Still fine diving as the first rains arrive.
Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos Islands
Coral Sea & Osprey Reef
Australia · Cooler water and big visibility
Utila
Honduras · Warm and settled.
Bermuda
Bermuda
Mauritius
Mauritius · Cooling; still consistently pleasant.
Larnaca & the Zenobia
Cyprus
Aliwal Shoal & Umkomaas
South Africa · Clean water; shark seasons overlap some years.
Canary Islands
Spain
Okinawa & the Kerama Islands
Japan · Rainy season begins mid-month
Jardines de la Reina
Cuba · Hotter; first rains.
Dominica
Dominica
Tofo Beach
Mozambique · Dry season begins; clean southern water arrives.
Port Sudan & Sanganeb
Sudan · Late season; heat building.
Medes Islands
Spain
Alor
Indonesia · Good diving; thermoclines begin to sharpen.
South Australia
Australia · Cuttlefish begin massing near Point Lowly
Green Island
Taiwan · Warm and clear; quiet midweek
Nosy Be
Madagascar · Dry season; settled diving weather.
May · 20
Good, with trade-offs
Solid diving this month. Read each note before you book. Water this month: 5–31 °C / 41–88 °F.
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Raja Ampat
Indonesia · Transition month; winds begin to build and some boats reposition.
North & South Malé Atolls
Maldives · Southwest monsoon arrives with wind, rain, and plankton.
The Azores
Portugal
Ari Atoll
Maldives · Southwest monsoon sets in; plankton feeds the filter feeders.
Baa Atoll & Hanifaru Bay
Maldives · Plankton arrives; first bay feeding events some years.
Tiger Beach & Grand Bahama
The Bahamas
Sea of Cortez & Cabo Pulmo
Mexico · Mobula season; water warming.
North Carolina Outer Banks
United States · Season opens; water still mixed, wetsuit-thick diving.
Yap
Federated States of Micronesia · Transition month.
British Columbia
Canada
Daymaniyat Islands
Oman · Hot; island landings close for nesting season.
California Channel Islands
United States
Vavaʻu
Tonga · Clear winter water arrives.
Banda Sea & Ambon
Indonesia · Window narrows as the southeast monsoon approaches.
Arctic Norway
Norway
Madeira
Portugal
Yonaguni
Japan · Warm, quiet shoulder season
Coiba
Panama
Musandam Peninsula
Oman · Heat arrives; early trips only.
Izu Peninsula
Japan · Squid spawning starts as water warms
Wildlife calendar
In the water in May
Species with documented seasonal or resident sightings this month, each with one place that reliably has them.
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
Also in season (no monthly detail verified yet)
Their best-months list includes May, but we have not verified water, visibility or a rating for it, so they sit here rather than in the ranks above.
The full table
Every May figure, region by region
100 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 11
| Destination | Rating | Water | Visibility | What May is like there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia, New Zealand & East Asia · 10 destinations | ||||
| Ningaloo ReefAustralia | 5/5 | 24–27 °C / 75–81 °F | 10–20 m | Peak season; book everything ahead |
| Cairns & the Ribbon ReefsAustralia | 4/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 15–30 m | Cooling water and improving clarity |
| Townsville & the YongalaAustralia | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 10–25 m | Cooler, cleaner water over the wreck |
| Poor Knights IslandsNew Zealand | 4/5 | 17–20 °C / 63–68 °F | 15–30 m | Cooling but clean |
| Coral Sea & Osprey ReefAustralia | 4/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 25–50 m | Cooler water and big visibility |
| Okinawa & the Kerama IslandsJapan | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 15–30 m | Rainy season begins mid-month |
| South AustraliaAustralia | 4/5 | 15–18 °C / 59–64 °F | 4–12 m | Cuttlefish begin massing near Point Lowly |
| Green IslandTaiwan | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–40 m | Warm and clear; quiet midweek |
| 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 |
| Caribbean & Western Atlantic · 19 destinations | ||||
| Riviera Maya & the CenotesMexico | 5/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 30–100 m | Midday beams near their best. |
| BonaireBonaire | 5/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 20–30 m | |
| Grand CaymanCayman Islands | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–40 m | Long calm spells before the rains. |
| RoatánHonduras | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–30 m | Warm and calm. |
| Belize Barrier ReefBelize | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–35 m | Warm and calm; whale sharks continue. |
| CuraçaoCuraçao | 5/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 18–30 m | |
| Little CaymanCayman Islands | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 25–40 m | Prime conditions on the north wall. |
| CozumelMexico | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–40 m | Hotter; first rains late in the month. |
| Isla Mujeres & CancúnMexico | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | Hot; aggregation season approaches. |
| Saint LuciaSaint Lucia | 4/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 15–30 m | |
| British Virgin IslandsBritish Virgin Islands | 4/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 18–30 m | |
| GrenadaGrenada | 4/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 15–30 m | |
| Nassau & New ProvidenceThe Bahamas | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–35 m | |
| Turks and CaicosTurks and Caicos Islands | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–35 m | |
| UtilaHonduras | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | Warm and settled. |
| BermudaBermuda | 4/5 | 21–23 °C / 70–73 °F | 25–45 m | |
| Jardines de la ReinaCuba | 4/5 | 28–29 °C / 82–84 °F | 20–35 m | Hotter; first rains. |
| DominicaDominica | 4/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 15–30 m | |
| Tiger Beach & Grand BahamaThe Bahamas | 3/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–35 m | |
| Europe, Atlantic & Mediterranean · 9 destinations | ||||
| Silfra & IcelandIceland | 5/5 | 2–4 °C / 36–39 °F | 70–100 m | Long days, fewer tour buses than midsummer. |
| Scapa FlowUnited Kingdom | 5/5 | 8–10 °C / 46–50 °F | 5–12 m | |
| Malta & GozoMalta | 4/5 | 17–19 °C / 63–66 °F | 20–40 m | |
| Larnaca & the ZenobiaCyprus | 4/5 | 19–22 °C / 66–72 °F | 20–35 m | |
| Canary IslandsSpain | 4/5 | 19–21 °C / 66–70 °F | 15–30 m | |
| Medes IslandsSpain | 4/5 | 16–18 °C / 61–64 °F | 12–25 m | |
| The AzoresPortugal | 3/5 | 17–18 °C / 63–64 °F | 15–30 m | |
| Arctic NorwayNorway | 3/5 | 5–8 °C / 41–46 °F | 8–20 m | |
| MadeiraPortugal | 3/5 | 18–20 °C / 64–68 °F | 12–25 m | |
| Indian Ocean & East Africa · 12 destinations | ||||
| Sodwana BaySouth Africa | 5/5 | 23–26 °C / 73–79 °F | 12–30 m | Often the best visibility window. |
| SeychellesSeychelles | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | Glassy days; excellent all around the inner islands. |
| MauritiusMauritius | 4/5 | 24–27 °C / 75–81 °F | 15–25 m | Cooling; still consistently pleasant. |
| Aliwal Shoal & UmkomaasSouth Africa | 4/5 | 22–25 °C / 72–77 °F | 10–25 m | Clean water; shark seasons overlap some years. |
| Tofo BeachMozambique | 4/5 | 24–27 °C / 75–81 °F | 10–25 m | Dry season begins; clean southern water arrives. |
| Nosy BeMadagascar | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 12–25 m | Dry season; settled diving weather. |
| North & South Malé AtollsMaldives | 3/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 10–20 m | Southwest monsoon arrives with wind, rain, and plankton. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Mafia IslandTanzania | 1/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 5–15 m | Rains continue; island effectively shut for diving. |
| Pacific Islands & Micronesia · 12 destinations | ||||
| FakaravaFrench Polynesia | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 25–45 m | Trade season; groupers beginning to gather. |
| Kona, HawaiʻiUnited States | 5/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 20–40 m | Settled lee-coast diving. |
| Maui & MolokiniUnited States | 5/5 | 25–26 °C / 77–79 °F | 25–45 m | Clear, settled mornings. |
| Beqa Lagoon & Pacific HarbourFiji | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 12–28 m | Dry season; strong shark attendance. |
| Espiritu SantoVanuatu | 5/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 15–30 m | Dry season begins; comfortable diving. |
| OʻahuUnited States | 5/5 | 25–26 °C / 77–79 °F | 18–35 m | Sharks Cove season opens. |
| PalauPalau | 4/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 15–35 m | Warm and quieter; first southwest weather possible. |
| RangiroaFrench Polynesia | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 25–45 m | Trades starting; passes reliable. |
| Chuuk (Truk) LagoonFederated States of Micronesia | 4/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 12–25 m | Showers increase. |
| Taveuni & Rainbow ReefFiji | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–35 m | Dry season begins. |
| YapFederated States of Micronesia | 3/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 10–25 m | Transition month. |
| VavaʻuTonga | 3/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 18–35 m | Clear winter water arrives. |
| Red Sea & Middle East · 9 destinations | ||||
| Sharm El Sheikh & Ras MohammedEgypt | 5/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 20–30 m | Prime month: warm water before the summer crowds. |
| Hurghada & El GounaEgypt | 5/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 15–30 m | Warm and settled, with fine visibility runs. |
| Marsa Alam & the Deep SouthEgypt | 5/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 20–30 m | Settled seas open the outer reefs. |
| Brothers, Daedalus & St John'sEgypt | 5/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 20–40 m | Hammerhead schooling builds at Daedalus. |
| DahabEgypt | 5/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 15–30 m | Prime shore-diving weather. |
| AqabaJordan | 5/5 | 23–25 °C / 73–77 °F | 15–30 m | Settled and warm. |
| Port Sudan & SanganebSudan | 4/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 15–40 m | Late season; heat building. |
| Daymaniyat IslandsOman | 3/5 | 28–31 °C / 82–88 °F | 8–20 m | Hot; island landings close for nesting season. |
| Musandam PeninsulaOman | 3/5 | 28–31 °C / 82–88 °F | 8–18 m | Heat arrives; early trips only. |
| Southeast Asia & Coral Triangle · 18 destinations | ||||
| KomodoIndonesia | 5/5 | 24–28 °C / 75–82 °F | 15–25 m | Excellent month in the north and center; manta traffic steady. |
| Sipadan & MabulMalaysia | 5/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 15–35 m | Calm crossings and long blue-water sight lines. |
| Tubbataha ReefsPhilippines | 5/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 20–40 m | Peak conditions hold; plankton pulses can pull in whale sharks. |
| MalapascuaPhilippines | 5/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 15–25 m | Warm, calm water as hammerhead sightings taper. |
| WakatobiIndonesia | 5/5 | 27–30 °C / 81–86 °F | 20–40 m | Prime conditions across the atolls. |
| Dumaguete, Dauin & Apo IslandPhilippines | 5/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 15–25 m | Glassy channel days are common. |
| Bunaken & ManadoIndonesia | 5/5 | 27–30 °C / 81–86 °F | 20–35 m | Excellent clarity and calm crossings. |
| Bali & Nusa PenidaIndonesia | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 15–25 m | Calm seas; good visibility at Tulamben and Menjangan. |
| Lembeh StraitIndonesia | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 8–18 m | Settled weather; strait stays flat most days. |
| AnilaoPhilippines | 4/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 10–20 m | Hot season; afternoon winds pick up late in the month. |
| Koh TaoThailand | 4/5 | 29–31 °C / 84–88 °F | 10–25 m | Still excellent; brief squalls appear. |
| CoronPhilippines | 4/5 | 28–31 °C / 82–88 °F | 5–15 m | First rains arrive; wrecks stay diveable. |
| MoalboalPhilippines | 4/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 10–25 m | Still fine diving as the first rains arrive. |
| AlorIndonesia | 4/5 | 23–28 °C / 73–82 °F | 15–30 m | Good diving; thermoclines begin to sharpen. |
| Raja AmpatIndonesia | 3/5 | 27–30 °C / 81–86 °F | 10–20 m | Transition month; winds begin to build and some boats reposition. |
| Banda Sea & AmbonIndonesia | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–35 m | Window narrows as the southeast monsoon approaches. |
| Similan Islands & Richelieu RockThailand | 2/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 10–25 m | Season ends mid-month as the monsoon arrives. |
| Mergui ArchipelagoMyanmar | 2/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 8–20 m | Final departures early in the month as the monsoon builds. |
| The Americas & Eastern Pacific · 11 destinations | ||||
| Galápagos IslandsEcuador | 4/5 | 21–25 °C / 70–77 °F | 12–25 m | Transition month; seas still reasonable. |
| Cocos IslandCosta Rica | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 15–28 m | Transition toward the rainy season. |
| Socorro & the RevillagigedosMexico | 4/5 | 24–27 °C / 75–81 °F | 20–30 m | Warming late season; whale sharks possible. |
| Florida KeysUnited States | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °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. |
| Fernando de NoronhaBrazil | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–35 m | |
| Sea of Cortez & Cabo PulmoMexico | 3/5 | 22–26 °C / 72–79 °F | 10–20 m | Mobula season; water warming. |
| North Carolina Outer BanksUnited States | 3/5 | 18–23 °C / 64–73 °F | 10–20 m | Season opens; water still mixed, wetsuit-thick diving. |
| British ColumbiaCanada | 3/5 | 9–13 °C / 48–55 °F | 5–12 m | |
| California Channel IslandsUnited States | 3/5 | 14–17 °C / 57–63 °F | 6–15 m | |
| CoibaPanama | 3/5 | 25–29 °C / 77–84 °F | 8–18 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 May trip