Best places to dive in February
Coiba rates highest in February, and 7 of the top 10 are in the Americas and the Asia-Pacific. California sea lion season starts at Loreto / Sea of Cortez North.
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 February
| # | Destination | Region | Water | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coiba | Americas | 29 °C | Jan–Mar |
| 2 | Oslob | Asia-Pacific | 27 °C | Feb–Jun |
| 3 | Koh Tao | Asia-Pacific | 28 °C | Feb–Jun |
| 4 | Loreto / Sea of Cortez NorthThe sea lion colony at Coronado and the island walls | Americas | 19 °C | Mar–Apr |
| 5 | Guadeloupe | Caribbean | 27 °C | Jan–May |
| 6 | Cano Island / Drake Bay | Americas | 30 °C | Dec–Apr |
| 7 | Martinique | Caribbean | 27 °C | Jan–May |
| 8 | Bohol / Panglao | Asia-Pacific | 28 °C | Jan–May |
| 9 | Guanacaste / Catalinas | Americas | 27 °C | Dec–Apr |
| 10 | North & Central Atolls, Maldives | Indian Ocean | 29 °C | Jan–Apr |
Region by region
Red Sea & Middle East
7 of 7 at their best
The whole region is in season. Dry weather, with the sea at 22–23 °C.
Americas
13 of 27 at their best
The sea sits at 0–30 °C. Puerto Vallarta / Banderas is in humpback whale season.
Asia-Pacific
18 of 49 at their best
6 destinations are in storm season, with up to a 43% chance of a storm passing nearby. This is the wet season, with rain on about 16 days. It is shortfin mako season at Poor Knights.
Indian Ocean
4 of 15 at their best
3 destinations are in storm season, with up to a 50% chance of a storm passing nearby. This is the wet season, with rain on about 14 days. It is tiger shark season at Fuvahmulah.
Europe & Atlantic
2 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 13 °C at the cooler sites. It is common dolphin season at Madeira.
Wildlife in season in February
Manatee
Key Largo, Florida KeysPeak Jan–Feb
Humpback whale
Puerto Vallarta / BanderasPeak Dec–Feb
California sea lion
Loreto / Sea of Cortez NorthPeak Feb–Apr
Southern stingray
Key Largo, Florida KeysPeak Feb–Apr
Bottlenose dolphin
Loreto / Sea of Cortez NorthPeak Feb–Mar
Grey whale
Catalina IslandPeak Feb–Mar
Sperm whale
DominicaPeak Jan–Mar
Shortfin mako
Poor KnightsPeak Feb–Apr
Also in season: common dolphin, bull shark, reef manta, oceanic manta, dugong, tiger shark, bumphead parrotfish, Atlantic spotted dolphin, zebra shark, bronze whaler, harbour seal, yellowfin tuna, bigeye trevally, great hammerhead, lemon shark, Munk's mobula, scalloped hammerhead, short-finned pilot whale, silky shark, silvertip shark, angelshark.
Diving in February: common questions
- Where is the best place to dive in February?
- Coiba, followed by Oslob and Koh Tao. The Americas and the Asia-Pacific hold 7 of the top ten.
- Where is the warmest water for diving in February?
- Cano Island / Drake Bay at 30 °C, Dampier Strait, Raja Ampat at 29 °C and Cocos Island at 29 °C, all with good conditions that month.
- What marine life is in season in February?
- Manatee at Key Largo, Florida Keys, humpback whale at Puerto Vallarta / Banderas, California sea lion at Loreto / Sea of Cortez North, southern stingray at Key Largo, Florida Keys and bottlenose dolphin at Loreto / Sea of Cortez North. 29 animals with a season are at their peak somewhere in February.
- Where should you avoid diving in February?
- Mauritius, Rowley Shoals and Reunion and 9 more destinations are in storm season, with up to a 50% chance of a storm passing nearby. Measured from NOAA storm tracks since 1980.