When to dive
Diving in November
Ranked by our documented month ratings — water, visibility and what each place is actually like in November. Destinations without verified monthly data are listed separately rather than guessed at.
| Destination | Rating | Water | Visibility | What November is like there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raja AmpatIndonesia | 5/5 | 27–30 °C / 81–86 °F | 10–25 m | Excellent month; calm water and full liveaboard schedules. |
| Marsa Alam & the Deep SouthEgypt | 5/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 15–30 m | Sharks linger; conditions still warm. |
| Tiger Beach & Grand BahamaThe Bahamas | 5/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 20–40 m | |
| Daymaniyat IslandsOman | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 10–25 m | Warm, calmer, clearer - superb. |
| British ColumbiaCanada | 5/5 | 8–11 °C / 46–52 °F | 15–30 m | |
| Mafia IslandTanzania | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | Prime month: whale sharks and glassy seas. |
| Fernando de NoronhaBrazil | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 25–40 m | |
| Banda Sea & AmbonIndonesia | 5/5 | 27–30 °C / 81–86 °F | 20–40 m | Excellent conditions; the classic hammerhead window continues. |
| Coral Sea & Osprey ReefAustralia | 5/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 30–60 m | Often the calmest crossings of the year |
| SeychellesSeychelles | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | Flat seas continue; superb conditions. |
| MauritiusMauritius | 5/5 | 25–28 °C / 77–82 °F | 15–30 m | Warm and clear before summer heat. |
| Nosy BeMadagascar | 5/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–20 m | Whale sharks most reliable; warm and calm. |
| Musandam PeninsulaOman | 5/5 | 25–28 °C / 77–82 °F | 10–20 m | Prime month; settled and rich. |
| Arctic NorwayNorway | 5/5 | 5–8 °C / 41–46 °F | 10–25 m | Orca and humpback season typically opens in the northern fjords. |
| Sharm El Sheikh & Ras MohammedEgypt | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 15–30 m | Cooling but comfortable; good value. |
| Cairns & the Ribbon ReefsAustralia | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–30 m | Coral spawning after the full moon |
| Galápagos IslandsEcuador | 4/5 | 19–24 °C / 66–75 °F | 12–22 m | |
| BonaireBonaire | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | |
| Bali & Nusa PenidaIndonesia | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 10–25 m | Shoulder month; first rains arrive late in the month. |
| PalauPalau | 4/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 15–40 m | Trades returning; visibility improves. |
| North & South Malé AtollsMaldives | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–25 m | Transition back to dry season; mantas linger. |
| KomodoIndonesia | 4/5 | 24–29 °C / 75–84 °F | 10–25 m | Shoulder month; south-coast season begins as the north stays workable. |
| Riviera Maya & the CenotesMexico | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 30–100 m | Drying out; bull sharks return off Playa. |
| CozumelMexico | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–40 m | Drying out; first nortes arrive. |
| Grand CaymanCayman Islands | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–35 m | Drying; seas settle. |
| Socorro & the RevillagigedosMexico | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–30 m | Season opens warm; whale shark chances. |
| FakaravaFrench Polynesia | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 25–45 m | Quiet shoulder season. |
| AnilaoPhilippines | 4/5 | 26–29 °C / 79–84 °F | 10–25 m | Amihan returns with dry, workable weather. |
| Chuuk (Truk) LagoonFederated States of Micronesia | 4/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 12–28 m | Drier pattern returning. |
| Belize Barrier ReefBelize | 4/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 15–30 m | Drying out; seas settle. |
| Ari AtollMaldives | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–25 m | Transition month; settling seas. |
| CoronPhilippines | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 8–15 m | Drying out; conditions rebuild toward high season. |
| RangiroaFrench Polynesia | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 25–45 m | Season building toward summer. |
| Lembeh StraitIndonesia | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 8–15 m | First rains return; still fully diveable. |
| Baa Atoll & Hanifaru BayMaldives | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–25 m | Season tails off; seas settle. |
| Sea of Cortez & Cabo PulmoMexico | 4/5 | 23–27 °C / 73–81 °F | 15–25 m | |
| Cocos IslandCosta Rica | 4/5 | 25–28 °C / 77–82 °F | 12–25 m | Rains taper; still strong shark diving. |
| Similan Islands & Richelieu RockThailand | 4/5 | 28–30 °C / 82–86 °F | 15–30 m | Early-season diving with building visibility. |
| Kona, HawaiʻiUnited States | 4/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 20–40 m | First winter swells possible. |
| DahabEgypt | 4/5 | 23–26 °C / 73–79 °F | 15–30 m | Cooling; good value and quiet entries. |
| Hurghada & El GounaEgypt | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 15–30 m | Cooling but still reliable at sea. |
| Isla Mujeres & CancúnMexico | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 15–30 m | Drying; first nortes blow. |
| Brothers, Daedalus & St John'sEgypt | 4/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 20–40 m | Whitetips linger; wind returns late in the month. |
| MoalboalPhilippines | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–25 m | Drying out; a quiet, good-value month. |
| Canary IslandsSpain | 4/5 | 21–23 °C / 70–73 °F | 15–30 m | Angelsharks begin appearing on the shallows. |
| Nassau & New ProvidenceThe Bahamas | 4/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 20–40 m | |
| GrenadaGrenada | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–30 m | |
| CuraçaoCuraçao | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–25 m | |
| British Virgin IslandsBritish Virgin Islands | 4/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 18–30 m | |
| DominicaDominica | 4/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 15–30 m | Whales become dependable again. |
| WakatobiIndonesia | 4/5 | 27–30 °C / 81–86 °F | 20–35 m | Late-season calm before the rains. |
| Sodwana BaySouth Africa | 4/5 | 23–26 °C / 73–79 °F | 10–25 m | Turtle nesting begins on the beaches. |
| Aliwal Shoal & UmkomaasSouth Africa | 4/5 | 21–25 °C / 70–77 °F | 8–20 m | Last raggies; water warming. |
| YapFederated States of Micronesia | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–28 m | Drying out; mantas shifting northwest. |
| Townsville & the YongalaAustralia | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 12–25 m | Coral spawning and building heat |
| Dumaguete, Dauin & Apo IslandPhilippines | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–25 m | Drying trend; storms possible regionally. |
| Maui & MolokiniUnited States | 4/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 25–40 m | First winter systems possible. |
| Jardines de la ReinaCuba | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–35 m | Drying; crossings settle. |
| Tofo BeachMozambique | 4/5 | 25–28 °C / 77–82 °F | 8–20 m | Historically strong whale shark month. |
| OʻahuUnited States | 4/5 | 25–26 °C / 77–79 °F | 15–30 m | North Shore winding down for winter. |
| Turks and CaicosTurks and Caicos Islands | 4/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 20–35 m | |
| Little CaymanCayman Islands | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 20–35 m | Drying; first fronts of winter. |
| AqabaJordan | 4/5 | 23–25 °C / 73–77 °F | 15–30 m | Comfortable autumn diving. |
| Okinawa & the Kerama IslandsJapan | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 20–35 m | Warm water lingers; thin crowds |
| California Channel IslandsUnited States | 4/5 | 14–18 °C / 57–64 °F | 12–22 m | |
| Costa Rica Pacific CoastCosta Rica | 4/5 | 25–28 °C / 77–82 °F | 10–18 m | |
| Izu PeninsulaJapan | 4/5 | 18–20 °C / 64–68 °F | 10–20 m | Southern drifters linger in cooling water |
| YonaguniJapan | 4/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 20–35 m | First hammerhead reports |
| Port Sudan & SanganebSudan | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–40 m | Settled seas and warm water. |
| Mergui ArchipelagoMyanmar | 4/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–25 m | Early-season trips resume when permitted. |
| AlorIndonesia | 4/5 | 24–28 °C / 75–82 °F | 15–25 m | Late season remains reliable before the monsoon turns. |
| Sipadan & MabulMalaysia | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–25 m | Rain increases and seas pick up. |
| Florida KeysUnited States | 3/5 | 24–27 °C / 75–81 °F | 10–25 m | |
| Malta & GozoMalta | 3/5 | 18–21 °C / 64–70 °F | 20–35 m | |
| RoatánHonduras | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–25 m | Wet; boats work the lee shore. |
| MalapascuaPhilippines | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–20 m | Transition month with lingering storm risk. |
| Ningaloo ReefAustralia | 3/5 | 23–26 °C / 73–79 °F | 8–20 m | Warming shoulder; turtles court in the lagoon |
| Taveuni & Rainbow ReefFiji | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 12–30 m | Wet season approaching. |
| Silfra & IcelandIceland | 3/5 | 2–4 °C / 36–39 °F | 70–100 m | |
| Espiritu SantoVanuatu | 3/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 12–28 m | Humidity building. |
| Beqa Lagoon & Pacific HarbourFiji | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 8–22 m | Pupping absence; wet season starts. |
| Larnaca & the ZenobiaCyprus | 3/5 | 19–22 °C / 66–72 °F | 15–30 m | |
| Zanzibar & MnembaTanzania | 3/5 | 26–28 °C / 79–82 °F | 10–25 m | Short rains; calm interludes between showers. |
| UtilaHonduras | 3/5 | 27–28 °C / 81–82 °F | 10–25 m | Wet season; lee-shore diving. |
| Poor Knights IslandsNew Zealand | 3/5 | 16–18 °C / 61–64 °F | 8–18 m | Bloom lingers; fish life everywhere |
| Bunaken & ManadoIndonesia | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 10–25 m | First rains; conditions begin to turn. |
| BermudaBermuda | 3/5 | 21–23 °C / 70–73 °F | 25–45 m | |
| Saint LuciaSaint Lucia | 3/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 15–25 m | |
| MadeiraPortugal | 3/5 | 20–22 °C / 68–72 °F | 12–25 m | |
| Medes IslandsSpain | 3/5 | 15–18 °C / 59–64 °F | 15–30 m | |
| Green IslandTaiwan | 3/5 | 24–26 °C / 75–79 °F | 15–35 m | Wind returns; leeward sites still work |
| CoibaPanama | 3/5 | 25–29 °C / 77–84 °F | 10–20 m | |
| South AustraliaAustralia | 3/5 | 16–19 °C / 61–66 °F | 3–10 m | Male seadragons often carry eggs |
| The AzoresPortugal | 2/5 | 18–20 °C / 64–68 °F | 10–25 m | |
| Koh TaoThailand | 2/5 | 27–29 °C / 81–84 °F | 5–15 m | Northeast monsoon peaks; expect cancellations. |
| North Carolina Outer BanksUnited States | 2/5 | 18–22 °C / 64–72 °F | 10–20 m | Season winds down; scarce weather windows. |
| Scapa FlowUnited Kingdom | 2/5 | 9–11 °C / 48–52 °F | 8–15 m | |
| VavaʻuTonga | 2/5 | 25–27 °C / 77–81 °F | 15–30 m | Season over. |
| Tubbataha ReefsPhilippines | 1/5 | — | — | The amihan builds and boats work other coasts. |
| The Sardine Run (Wild Coast)South Africa | 1/5 | 20–24 °C / 68–75 °F | 5–15 m | No run. |
Wildlife calendar
In the water in November
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
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. Raja Ampat
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
e.g. Brothers, Daedalus & St John's
Olive Ridley Turtle
e.g. Costa Rica Pacific Coast
Make it a trip
The planner crosses this month with your level and interests, and shows its reasons for every match.
Plan a November trip