BVI
Best Time to Dive in the British Virgin Islands
18.33°N 64.55°W
Aim for January to May, clear of the storm season — the months either side see a tropical storm in 16% of years. The marine life holds steady all year, so the weather picks the month. The full season runs November to July.
- Best time
- Jan–May
- Water
- 27–29 °C
- Visibility
- 20–35 m
- Season runs
- Nov–Jul
- Dived from
- day boat
- Tidal range
- 0.1–0.4 m
- Species logged
- 10
Worth knowing: 35% of days see seas over 1.5 m.
Where it is
111 km across · coastline from Natural Earth 10m
Diving in the British Virgin Islands — 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 | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Poor | Poor | Moderate | Good | Excellent |
| Water temp (°C) | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
| Visibility (m) | 25–35 | 25–35 | 25–35 | 25–35 | 25–35 | 25–35 | 20–30 | 25–35 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 20–30 | 25–35 |
| Marine life | Busy | Busy | Steady | Steady | Steady | Steady | Steady | Steady | Steady | Steady | Busy | Busy |
| Best time | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak |
Excellent Good Moderate PoorPeak season Jan–May
Long-term averages, 2016–2025. Visibility is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a. Water temperature is the surface mean; it is cooler at depth.
The British Virgin Islands diving season
August to September · Off season
2 monthsJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 29–29 °C
- Visibility
- 25–35 m
- Rain
- 16 days a month
Diving conditionsExpect some swell. It rains more.
October · Shoulder season
1 monthJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 29–29 °C
- Visibility
- 20–30 m
- Rain
- 18 days a month
Diving conditionsExpect some swell. The wind eases. It rains more.
November to July · Peak season
9 monthsJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 27–29 °C
- Visibility
- 25–35 m
- Rain
- 12 days a month
Diving conditionsSwell is common, and crossings can be rough. The wind is up. It rains less.
- Water temperature is satellite sea-surface temperature, so expect it cooler below the thermocline.
- Visibility is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a.
British Virgin Islands water temperature and weather
1,552 underwater observation records · 32 surveyed years of ocean data · 10 years of sea temperature
Water & weather
British Virgin Islands 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 29% of days. Enough to cancel a day boat
2
blowy days a month
Gusts over 40 km/h, about where a day boat stays in port
14
wet days a month
2 of them bring heavy rain
| Month | Swell | Gusts over 40 km/h | Wet days | Heavy rain | Air | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1.9 m | 9% | 12 | 0 | 26 °C | 11.0 h |
| February | 2.0 m | 13% | 12 | 1 | 26 °C | 11.4 h |
| March | 2.0 m | 8% | 9 | 0 | 26 °C | 11.9 h |
| April | 1.9 m | 4% | 11 | 1 | 27 °C | 12.4 h |
| May | 1.6 m | 1% | 13 | 2 | 27 °C | 12.9 h |
| June | 1.8 m | 1% | 12 | 1 | 28 °C | 13.1 h |
| July | 1.9 m | 7% | 16 | 2 | 28 °C | 13.0 h |
| August | 1.8 m | 8% | 16 | 2 | 29 °C | 12.6 h |
| September | 1.6 m | 6% | 17 | 3 | 29 °C | 12.1 h |
| October | 1.6 m | 3% | 18 | 5 | 29 °C | 11.6 h |
| November | 1.7 m | 3% | 16 | 4 | 28 °C | 11.1 h |
| December | 2.0 m | 12% | 12 | 0 | 27 °C | 10.9 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: Excellent | February week 1: Good | March week 1: Excellent | April week 1: Excellent | May week 1: Excellent | June week 1: Excellent | July week 1: Good | August week 1: Poor | September week 1: Poor | October week 1: Good | November week 1: Good | December week 1: Excellent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 2 | January week 2: Excellent | February week 2: Good | March week 2: Excellent | April week 2: Excellent | May week 2: Excellent | June week 2: Excellent | July week 2: Moderate | August week 2: Poor | September week 2: Poor | October week 2: Good | November week 2: Good | December week 2: Good |
| Week 3 | January week 3: Excellent | February week 3: Good | March week 3: Excellent | April week 3: Excellent | May week 3: Excellent | June week 3: Excellent | July week 3: Good | August week 3: Poor | September week 3: Poor | October week 3: Moderate | November week 3: Good | December week 3: Good |
| Week 4 | January week 4: Excellent | February week 4: Excellent | March week 4: Excellent | April week 4: Excellent | May week 4: Excellent | June week 4: Good | July week 4: Good | August week 4: Poor | September week 4: Poor | October week 4: Moderate | November week 4: Excellent | December week 4: Excellent |
Excellent Good Moderate PoorBest week to go: third of May
January, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 27 °C | 1.8 m | 31 km/h | 37% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 27 °C | 1.8 m | 30 km/h | 39% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 27 °C | 2.0 m | 30 km/h | 36% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 27 °C | 2.1 m | 31 km/h | 36% |
February, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Good | 27 °C | 2.0 m | 33 km/h | 41% |
| Week 2 | Good | 27 °C | 2.2 m | 35 km/h | 42% |
| Week 3 | Good | 27 °C | 2.0 m | 34 km/h | 38% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 27 °C | 1.7 m | 32 km/h | 36% |
March, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 27 °C | 1.8 m | 30 km/h | 33% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 27 °C | 2.1 m | 29 km/h | 27% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 27 °C | 2.0 m | 30 km/h | 30% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 27 °C | 2.0 m | 31 km/h | 29% |
April, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 27 °C | 2.1 m | 30 km/h | 30% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 27 °C | 2.0 m | 29 km/h | 35% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 27 °C | 1.8 m | 29 km/h | 38% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 27 °C | 1.6 m | 29 km/h | 44% |
May, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 27 °C | 1.4 m | 30 km/h | 47% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.7 m | 30 km/h | 39% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.7 m | 29 km/h | 33% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.5 m | 29 km/h | 43% |
June, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.5 m | 30 km/h | 45% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.6 m | 31 km/h | 34% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.7 m | 32 km/h | 36% |
| Week 4 | Good | 29 °C | 2.0 m | 33 km/h | 44% |
July, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Good | 29 °C | 2.1 m | 34 km/h | 45% |
| Week 2 | Moderate | 29 °C | 1.9 m | 34 km/h | 52% |
| Week 3 | Good | 29 °C | 1.8 m | 33 km/h | 56% |
| Week 4 | Good | 29 °C | 1.8 m | 32 km/h | 52% |
August, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.7 m | 32 km/h | 49% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.9 m | 32 km/h | 52% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 29 °C | 2.0 m | 31 km/h | 54% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.6 m | 30 km/h | 48% |
September, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.6 m | 28 km/h | 49% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.6 m | 27 km/h | 57% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.6 m | 27 km/h | 57% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 30 °C | 1.5 m | 27 km/h | 59% |
October, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Good | 29 °C | 1.5 m | 27 km/h | 61% |
| Week 2 | Good | 29 °C | 1.4 m | 26 km/h | 59% |
| Week 3 | Moderate | 29 °C | 1.8 m | 27 km/h | 56% |
| Week 4 | Moderate | 29 °C | 1.8 m | 27 km/h | 54% |
November, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Good | 29 °C | 1.7 m | 28 km/h | 62% |
| Week 2 | Good | 29 °C | 1.7 m | 30 km/h | 65% |
| Week 3 | Good | 29 °C | 1.7 m | 29 km/h | 55% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.7 m | 28 km/h | 42% |
December, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.7 m | 30 km/h | 37% |
| Week 2 | Good | 28 °C | 2.0 m | 32 km/h | 43% |
| Week 3 | Good | 28 °C | 2.0 m | 32 km/h | 41% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 27 °C | 1.9 m | 31 km/h | 35% |
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: 3 mm | February: 3 mm | March: 3 mm | April: 3 mm | May: skin | June: skin | July: skin | August: skin | September: skin | October: skin | November: skin | December: skin |
- Jan–Apr3 mm full suit
- May–Decskin or 3 mm shorty
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
14 of the last 30 Augusts saw a tropical storm pass within 250 km. Anything has been recorded Jul–Dec.
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
British Virgin Islands marine life — what you'll see diving
| Species | When | Observed window | Reliability | Evidence | Records |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern stingray | All year | Near-guaranteed | 230 | ||
| Nassau grouper | All year | Near-guaranteed | 168 | ||
| Green turtle | All year | Near-guaranteed | 480 | ||
| Nurse shark | All year | Near-guaranteed | 121 | ||
| Spotted eagle ray | All year | Near-guaranteed | 75 | ||
| Hawksbill turtle | Nov–Feb | Likely | 204 | ||
| Lemon shark | All year | Likely | 25 | ||
| Humpback whale | Feb–Mar | Hit-or-miss | 176 | ||
| Orca | Jan, Mar–Apr | Hit-or-miss | 9 | ||
| Bottlenose dolphin | Mar–Apr, Aug | Hit-or-miss | 17 |
Peak Present
- 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 the British Virgin Islands — common questions
- When is the best time to dive the British Virgin Islands?
- Aim for January to May, clear of the storm season — the months either side see a tropical storm in 16% of years. The marine life holds steady all year, so the weather picks the month. The full season runs November to July.
- When is the diving season at the British Virgin Islands?
- The diving season at the British Virgin Islands runs November to July, and it is at its best January to May.
- Is the diving at the British Virgin Islands good for beginners?
- Yes. It suits Open Water divers, so it works for a first trip after certification.
- How warm is the water at the British Virgin Islands?
- Between 27 and 29 °C at the surface across the year, coldest in February and warmest in September. It runs cooler below the thermocline.
- What wetsuit do I need at the British Virgin Islands?
- 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 at the British Virgin Islands?
- Roughly 20 to 35 m depending on the month. That is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a rather than measured in the water.
- What will I see diving the British Virgin Islands?
- The most consistently recorded species are Southern stingray (near-guaranteed), Nassau grouper (near-guaranteed) and Green turtle (near-guaranteed), from 1,552 records within 60 km.
- Does the British Virgin Islands get tropical storms?
- Yes. Over 30 years of records a storm passed within 250 km in Jul–Dec, most often in August at 14 of 30 years.
- Is there current at the British Virgin Islands?
- The tide rises and falls 0.4 m around the full and new moon, against 0.1 m in between. How much of that becomes current depends on the shape of the channel.
- When should I avoid the British Virgin Islands?
- August is the weakest month for conditions.
- How do you dive the British Virgin Islands?
- Mostly from day boats. Trips run through the season, Nov–Jul.