Discover where to dive, when to go, and what you could see.

Discover where to dive, when to go, and what you could see.
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Region

Indian Ocean & East Africa

Manta cyclones, whale-shark aggregations and monsoon-driven seasons from the Maldives to Africa's wild east coast.

Photo: dronepicr · CC BY 2.0

12 destinations across 7 countries; peak season Year-round.

Seasons

Month by month across Indian Ocean & East Africa

Year-round is when most of the region rates highest. Sodwana Bay holds a 4 or better for 12 months of the year; Mafia Island drops to 1/5 in Apr–May. All 12 destinations are listed; a destination without verified monthly data says so rather than showing a guess.

Everything in season →
Destination JFMAMJJASOND
North & South Malé Atolls
Ari Atoll
Baa Atoll & Hanifaru Bay
Aliwal Shoal & Umkomaas
Mafia Island
Mauritius
Seychelles
Sodwana Bay
The Sardine Run (Wild Coast)
Tofo Beach
Zanzibar & Mnemba
Nosy Be
Cell color = documented month rating from 1–5. Gray = no verified monthly data.

12 destinations

The destinations

Most dived first. Each guide has the sites, the month table, the marine life and the logistics.

North & South Malé Atolls

North & South Malé Atolls

Maldives · 7 sites
Best: Dec–Apr
Ari Atoll

Ari Atoll

Maldives · 6 sites
Best: Dec–Apr
Baa Atoll & Hanifaru Bay

Baa Atoll & Hanifaru Bay

Maldives · 5 sites
Best: Jun–Nov
Aliwal Shoal & Umkomaas

Aliwal Shoal & Umkomaas

South Africa · 5 sites
Best: Jun–Oct
Mafia Island

Mafia Island

Tanzania · 5 sites
Best: Oct–Feb
Mauritius

Mauritius

Mauritius · 5 sites
Best: Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec
Seychelles

Seychelles

Seychelles · 5 sites
Best: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov
Sodwana Bay

Sodwana Bay

South Africa · 5 sites
Best: Apr–Sep
The Sardine Run (Wild Coast)

The Sardine Run (Wild Coast)

South Africa · 4 sites
Best: Jun–Jul
Tofo Beach

Tofo Beach

Mozambique · 4 sites
Best: Jun–Nov
Zanzibar & Mnemba

Zanzibar & Mnemba

Tanzania · 5 sites
Best: Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Dec
Nosy Be

Nosy Be

Madagascar · 4 sites
Best: May–Nov

Australia, New Zealand & East Asia

Cairns & the Ribbon ReefsNingaloo ReefCoral Sea & Osprey ReefOkinawa & the Kerama IslandsPoor Knights IslandsTownsville & the YongalaGreen IslandIzu Peninsula

Caribbean & Western Atlantic

BonaireCozumelRiviera Maya & the CenotesBelize Barrier ReefGrand CaymanIsla Mujeres & CancúnRoatánTiger Beach & Grand Bahama

Europe, Atlantic & Mediterranean

Malta & GozoSilfra & IcelandThe AzoresCanary IslandsLarnaca & the ZenobiaScapa FlowArctic NorwayMadeira

Indian Ocean & East Africa

North & South Malé AtollsAri AtollBaa Atoll & Hanifaru BayAliwal Shoal & UmkomaasMafia IslandMauritiusSeychellesSodwana Bay

Pacific Islands & Micronesia

PalauChuuk (Truk) LagoonFakaravaKona, HawaiʻiRangiroaTaveuni & Rainbow ReefBeqa Lagoon & Pacific HarbourEspiritu Santo

Red Sea & Middle East

Sharm El Sheikh & Ras MohammedBrothers, Daedalus & St John'sDahabHurghada & El GounaMarsa Alam & the Deep SouthAqabaDaymaniyat IslandsMusandam Peninsula

Southeast Asia & Coral Triangle

Bali & Nusa PenidaKomodoRaja AmpatSipadan & MabulAnilaoCoronKoh TaoLembeh Strait

The Americas & Eastern Pacific

Galápagos IslandsCocos IslandFlorida KeysSea of Cortez & Cabo PulmoSocorro & the RevillagigedosBritish ColumbiaCalifornia Channel IslandsCosta Rica Pacific Coast