Best places to dive in December
Martinique rates highest in December, and 8 of the top 10 are in the Americas and the Red Sea & Middle East. Humpback whale season starts at Puerto Vallarta / Banderas.
At the ten best-rated destinations
At their peak somewhere this month
Of 144 rated destinations
Destinations with a 1 in 10 storm chance or more
The top ten in December
| # | Destination | Region | Water | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martinique | Caribbean | 28 °C | Jan–May |
| 2 | Guanacaste / Catalinas | Americas | 28 °C | Dec–Apr |
| 3 | Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos | Americas | 22 °C | Oct–Jan |
| 4 | Guadeloupe | Caribbean | 28 °C | Jan–May |
| 5 | Cabo San Lucas | Americas | 26 °C | Nov–Mar |
| 6 | Marsa AlamElphinstone reef and the offshore pinnacles | Red Sea & Middle East | 25 °C | Oct–Feb |
| 7 | Loreto / Sea of Cortez NorthThe sea lion colony at Coronado and the island walls | Americas | 23 °C | Mar–Apr |
| 8 | HurghadaThe Thistlegorm and the Giftun reefs | Red Sea & Middle East | 25 °C | Oct–Dec |
| 9 | Sharm el-Sheikh / Ras MohammedRas Mohammed's reef walls, Shark and Yolanda, and the Thistlegorm | Red Sea & Middle East | 25 °C | Oct–Dec |
| 10 | Abu DabbabThe resident dugongs and green turtles in the seagrass bay | Red Sea & Middle East | 25 °C | Oct–Dec |
Region by region
Red Sea & Middle East
7 of 7 at their best
The whole region is in season. Expect 24–25 °C water and dry weather. It is oceanic whitetip season at Abu Dabbab.
Americas
12 of 27 at their best
The season is opening, up from 8 at their best in November. The sea sits at 4–29 °C. It is humpback whale season at Puerto Vallarta / Banderas.
Europe & Atlantic
3 of 21 at their best
Off season for most of the region. Seas are rough, with the bigger days over 2.8 m of swell. The water is cold, around 15 °C at the cooler sites. Santa Maria, Azores is in common dolphin season.
Asia-Pacific
4 of 49 at their best
The season is closing, down from 14 in November. 18 destinations are in storm season, with up to a 37% chance of a storm passing nearby. Perhentian closes for the season. Ribbon Reefs is in Napoleon wrasse season.
Indian Ocean
1 of 15 at their best
The season is closing, down from 4 in November. 2 destinations are in storm season, with up to a 17% chance of a storm passing nearby. Rain falls on about 17 days of the month. West (Hikkaduwa), Sri Lanka is in spinner dolphin season.
Wildlife in season in December
Humpback whale
Puerto Vallarta / BanderasPeak Dec–Feb
Napoleon wrasse
Ribbon ReefsPeak Jul–Aug, Oct, Dec
Common dolphin
Santa Maria, AzoresPeak May–Jun, Dec
Orca
Narvik wrecksPeak Nov–Jan
Oceanic manta
Socorro / RevillagigedoPeak Dec–Feb, Jun
Ocean sunfish
Costa Brava / MedesPeak Dec–Jan, May
Spinner dolphin
West (Hikkaduwa), Sri LankaPeak Mar–Apr, Dec
Bumphead parrotfish
Misool, Raja AmpatPeak Dec–Jan, Apr–May
Also in season: bigeye trevally, harbour seal, tiger shark, blue whale, oceanic whitetip, dugong, Atlantic spotted dolphin, lemon shark, potato cod, blackfin barracuda, scalloped hammerhead, silvertip shark.
Diving in December: common questions
- Where is the best place to dive in December?
- Martinique, followed by Guanacaste / Catalinas and Western (Isabela/Fernandina), Galapagos. The Americas and the Red Sea & Middle East hold 8 of the top ten.
- Where is the warmest water for diving in December?
- Komodo South at 29 °C, Komodo North at 29 °C and Coiba at 29 °C, all with good conditions that month.
- What marine life is in season in December?
- Humpback whale at Puerto Vallarta / Banderas, Napoleon wrasse at Ribbon Reefs, common dolphin at Santa Maria, Azores, orca at Narvik wrecks and oceanic manta at Socorro / Revillagigedo. 20 animals with a season are at their peak somewhere in December.
- Where should you avoid diving in December?
- Coron, Donsol and Ticao / Manta Bowl and 25 more destinations are in storm season, with up to a 37% chance of a storm passing nearby. Measured from NOAA storm tracks since 1980.