Malaysia
Best Time to Dive in Layang Layang
7.39°N 113.82°E
Go March to June for the best conditions. We have no reliable wildlife season for this site.
- Best time
- Mar–Jun
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Visibility
- 20–35 m
- Dived from
- day boat
- Tidal range
- 0.6–1.8 m
Where it is
444 km across · coastline from Natural Earth 10m
Diving in Layang Layang — monthly breakdown
A year of scuba diving conditions at a glance. Hover a month to isolate it.
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conditions | Poor | Moderate | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Moderate | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Poor |
| Water temp (°C) | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
| Visibility (m) | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 25–35 | 25–35 | 25–35 | 25–35 | 25–35 | 25–35 | 25–35 | 20–30 |
| Marine life | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data |
| Best time | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak |
Excellent Good Moderate PoorPeak season Mar–Jun
Long-term averages, 2016–2025. Visibility is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a. Water temperature is the surface mean; it is cooler at depth.
The Layang Layang diving season
February · Shoulder season
1 monthJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 28–28 °C
- Visibility
- 20–30 m
- Rain
- 13 days a month
Diving conditionsRain is frequent topside. The wind is up. The sea is rougher.
March to July · Peak season
5 monthsJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 28–30 °C
- Visibility
- 25–35 m
- Rain
- 16 days a month
Diving conditionsRain is frequent topside. The wind eases. The sea is calmer.
August to November · Shoulder season
4 monthsJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 29–29 °C
- Visibility
- 25–35 m
- Rain
- 23 days a month
Diving conditionsExpect some swell. It rains more.
December to January · Off season
2 monthsJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 28–29 °C
- Visibility
- 20–30 m
- Rain
- 24 days a month
Diving conditionsThis is the wet season topside. The wind is up. The sea is rougher.
- Spring tides run 1.8 m against 0.6 m on neaps, so currents build around the full and new moon.
- Water temperature is satellite sea-surface temperature, so expect it cooler below the thermocline.
- Visibility is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a.
Layang Layang water temperature and weather
10 years of sea temperature
Water & weather
Layang Layang water temperature by month
The dashed line is the monthly average. Eight days in ten fall inside the band.
10th to 90th percentile rangemonthly mean
9
rough days a month
Seas top 1.5 m on 30% of days. Enough to cancel a day boat
1
blowy days a month
Gusts over 40 km/h, about where a day boat stays in port
19
wet days a month
7 of them bring heavy rain
| Month | Swell | Gusts over 40 km/h | Wet days | Heavy rain | Air | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2.5 m | 10% | 22 | 10 | 28 °C | 11.6 h |
| February | 2.5 m | 10% | 13 | 3 | 28 °C | 11.8 h |
| March | 1.8 m | 1% | 9 | 2 | 28 °C | 12.0 h |
| April | 1.2 m | 0% | 11 | 2 | 29 °C | 12.2 h |
| May | 1.2 m | 0% | 19 | 4 | 30 °C | 12.3 h |
| June | 1.6 m | 2% | 22 | 8 | 29 °C | 12.4 h |
| July | 2.3 m | 6% | 20 | 7 | 29 °C | 12.4 h |
| August | 1.9 m | 7% | 19 | 6 | 29 °C | 12.2 h |
| September | 2.1 m | 5% | 22 | 8 | 29 °C | 12.0 h |
| October | 1.9 m | 5% | 25 | 11 | 29 °C | 11.8 h |
| November | 2.1 m | 0% | 25 | 11 | 29 °C | 11.7 h |
| December | 2.6 m | 7% | 27 | 14 | 28 °C | 11.6 h |
Swell is the rough end of the month: nine days in ten come in under it. Sea temperature covers 10 years, waves 4.
Pick your week
48 weeks from the daily record. Darker is better, against this site's own year. Pick a month for the detail.
| Week 1 | January week 1: Moderate | February week 1: Moderate | March week 1: Good | April week 1: Excellent | May week 1: Excellent | June week 1: Good | July week 1: Good | August week 1: Good | September week 1: Moderate | October week 1: Moderate | November week 1: Moderate | December week 1: Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 2 | January week 2: Poor | February week 2: Moderate | March week 2: Excellent | April week 2: Excellent | May week 2: Excellent | June week 2: Good | July week 2: Moderate | August week 2: Good | September week 2: Moderate | October week 2: Moderate | November week 2: Moderate | December week 2: Poor |
| Week 3 | January week 3: Poor | February week 3: Good | March week 3: Excellent | April week 3: Excellent | May week 3: Excellent | June week 3: Good | July week 3: Moderate | August week 3: Good | September week 3: Moderate | October week 3: Moderate | November week 3: Moderate | December week 3: Poor |
| Week 4 | January week 4: Poor | February week 4: Good | March week 4: Excellent | April week 4: Excellent | May week 4: Excellent | June week 4: Good | July week 4: Good | August week 4: Good | September week 4: Good | October week 4: Moderate | November week 4: Poor | December week 4: Poor |
Excellent Good Moderate PoorBest week to go: third of April
January, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Moderate | 28 °C | 2.3 m | 30 km/h | 76% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 28 °C | 2.4 m | 30 km/h | 70% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 28 °C | 2.6 m | 31 km/h | 71% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 28 °C | 2.9 m | 32 km/h | 64% |
February, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Moderate | 28 °C | 2.8 m | 32 km/h | 52% |
| Week 2 | Moderate | 28 °C | 2.6 m | 31 km/h | 42% |
| Week 3 | Good | 28 °C | 2.2 m | 31 km/h | 43% |
| Week 4 | Good | 28 °C | 2.2 m | 32 km/h | 44% |
March, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Good | 28 °C | 2.1 m | 30 km/h | 34% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.8 m | 27 km/h | 29% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.6 m | 26 km/h | 30% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.6 m | 24 km/h | 33% |
April, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 29 °C | 1.5 m | 23 km/h | 34% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 29 °C | 1.4 m | 22 km/h | 29% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 29 °C | 1.1 m | 21 km/h | 31% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 29 °C | 1.0 m | 21 km/h | 47% |
May, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 30 °C | 1.1 m | 19 km/h | 52% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 30 °C | 1.0 m | 19 km/h | 52% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 30 °C | 1.0 m | 19 km/h | 69% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 30 °C | 1.3 m | 20 km/h | 70% |
June, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Good | 30 °C | 1.5 m | 21 km/h | 68% |
| Week 2 | Good | 30 °C | 1.6 m | 21 km/h | 72% |
| Week 3 | Good | 30 °C | 1.4 m | 21 km/h | 76% |
| Week 4 | Good | 30 °C | 1.6 m | 20 km/h | 77% |
July, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Good | 30 °C | 1.8 m | 21 km/h | 71% |
| Week 2 | Moderate | 30 °C | 2.5 m | 25 km/h | 75% |
| Week 3 | Moderate | 29 °C | 2.4 m | 27 km/h | 63% |
| Week 4 | Good | 29 °C | 1.7 m | 27 km/h | 53% |
August, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Good | 29 °C | 1.6 m | 26 km/h | 58% |
| Week 2 | Good | 29 °C | 1.8 m | 24 km/h | 57% |
| Week 3 | Good | 29 °C | 1.7 m | 23 km/h | 60% |
| Week 4 | Good | 29 °C | 1.9 m | 22 km/h | 65% |
September, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Moderate | 29 °C | 2.0 m | 23 km/h | 70% |
| Week 2 | Moderate | 29 °C | 2.2 m | 26 km/h | 75% |
| Week 3 | Moderate | 29 °C | 2.3 m | 26 km/h | 73% |
| Week 4 | Good | 29 °C | 1.9 m | 23 km/h | 70% |
October, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Moderate | 29 °C | 1.6 m | 22 km/h | 72% |
| Week 2 | Moderate | 29 °C | 1.5 m | 23 km/h | 76% |
| Week 3 | Moderate | 29 °C | 1.9 m | 23 km/h | 84% |
| Week 4 | Moderate | 29 °C | 2.0 m | 22 km/h | 84% |
November, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Moderate | 29 °C | 1.9 m | 22 km/h | 81% |
| Week 2 | Moderate | 29 °C | 1.6 m | 22 km/h | 78% |
| Week 3 | Moderate | 29 °C | 1.9 m | 23 km/h | 82% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 29 °C | 2.2 m | 25 km/h | 89% |
December, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 29 °C | 2.1 m | 27 km/h | 92% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 29 °C | 2.1 m | 29 km/h | 88% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 29 °C | 2.9 m | 29 km/h | 82% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 29 °C | 2.7 m | 28 km/h | 83% |
10 years of daily records, averaged into weeks.
Gear & storms
What to wear
Off the coldest water of each month, not the average — that is what the suit has to cope with.
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suit | January: skin | February: 3 mm | March: skin | April: skin | May: skin | June: skin | July: skin | August: skin | September: skin | October: skin | November: skin | December: skin |
- Mar–Janskin or 3 mm shorty
- Feb3 mm full suit
Swell through the year
The rough end of each month — nine days in ten come in under it.
Amber is over 1.5 m.
Tides
Tropical storms
5 of the last 30 Decembers saw a tropical storm pass within 250 km. Anything has been recorded Oct–Jan.
Share of the last 30 years with a storm that month.
- NOAASea surface temperature, from OISST and MUR
- ERA5Wind, waves, rain and air temperature, via Open-Meteo
- OBISMarine species records within 60 km
- IBTrACSTropical cyclone tracks, 1996 to 2025
Layang Layang marine life — what you'll see diving
Only 0 records have been logged within 60 km. A thin record is not an empty reef.
No survey records within 60 km of this site.
- Observed window
- Months with records. Peak is where most of them fall.
- Reliability
- Near-guaranteed in 60% of surveyed years or more
- Likely 30% to 60%
- Hit-or-miss under 30%
- Evidence
- Years it was seen, out of the years anyone surveyed.
- Records
- OBIS sightings within 60 km.
These are sightings people logged, not a full survey of the reef. A species missing from a month may just mean nobody recorded one.
Diving Layang Layang — common questions
- When is the best time to dive Layang Layang?
- Go March to June for the best conditions. We have no reliable wildlife season for this site.
- When is the diving season in Layang Layang?
- The diving season in Layang Layang runs March to June.
- Is the diving in Layang Layang good for beginners?
- It is better with some experience. It suits Advanced Open Water divers or equivalent, so newer divers should ask the local operator which sites fit their level.
- How warm is the water in Layang Layang?
- Between 28 and 30 °C at the surface across the year, coldest in February and warmest in May. It runs cooler below the thermocline.
- What wetsuit do I need in Layang Layang?
- A 3 mm full suit covers the coldest water of the year. In the warmest months a skin or 3 mm shorty is enough.
- What is the visibility like in Layang Layang?
- Roughly 20 to 35 m depending on the month. That is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a rather than measured in the water.
- Does Layang Layang get tropical storms?
- Yes. Over 30 years of records a storm passed within 250 km in Oct–Jan, most often in December at 5 of 30 years.
- Is there current in Layang Layang?
- The tide rises and falls 1.8 m around the full and new moon, against 0.6 m in between. How much of that becomes current depends on the shape of the channel.
- When should I avoid Layang Layang?
- December–January are the weakest months for conditions.
- How do you dive Layang Layang?
- Mostly from day boats. Trips run through the season, Mar–Jun.