Best places to dive in July
Nosy Be rates highest in July, and 8 of the top 10 are in Europe & Atlantic and the Asia-Pacific. Humpback whale season starts at Cano Island / Drake Bay.
At the ten best-rated destinations
At their peak somewhere this month
Of 145 rated destinations
Destinations with a 1 in 10 storm chance or more
The top ten in July
| # | Destination | Region | Water | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nosy Be | Indian Ocean | 27 °C | May–Sep |
| 2 | Komodo North | Asia-Pacific | 28 °C | Jun–Oct |
| 3 | Ibiza / Formentera | Europe & Atlantic | 26 °C | May–Sep |
| 4 | Elba | Europe & Atlantic | 26 °C | May–Sep |
| 5 | Gili Islands | Asia-Pacific | 28 °C | May–Sep |
| 6 | Portofino / Ligurian Sea | Europe & Atlantic | 26 °C | Jun–Sep |
| 7 | Tulamben / AmedThe USAT Liberty wreck and the black-sand muck alongside it | Asia-Pacific | 28 °C | May–Sep |
| 8 | MenorcaThe caves and rocky reefs of the north coast | Europe & Atlantic | 25 °C | Jul |
| 9 | Madeira | Europe & Atlantic | 22 °C | May–Sep |
| 10 | Channel Islands | Americas | 19 °C | Jun–Oct |
Region by region
Red Sea & Middle East
7 of 7 at their best
The season is opening, up from 5 at their best in June. Expect 28–29 °C water and dry weather. It is oceanic whitetip season at Brothers Islands.
Europe & Atlantic
10 of 21 at their best
Expect 11–26 °C water. Farne Islands is in minke whale season.
Americas
11 of 27 at their best
The season is opening, up from 6 at their best in June. 4 destinations are in storm season, with up to a 60% chance of a storm passing nearby. It is humpback whale season at Cano Island / Drake Bay.
Caribbean
10 of 30 at their best
12 destinations are in storm season, with up to a 17% chance of a storm passing nearby. This is the wet season, with rain on about 16 days. It is Nassau grouper season at Key Largo, Florida Keys.
Asia-Pacific
11 of 49 at their best
8 destinations are in storm season, with up to a 40% chance of a storm passing nearby. Tubbataha 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 3 in June. Seas are rough, with the bigger days over 2.7 m of swell.
Wildlife in season in July
Humpback whale
Cano Island / Drake BayPeak Jul–Sep
Minke whale
Farne IslandsPeak Jun–Aug
Basking shark
CornwallPeak May–Jul
Ocean sunfish
CornwallPeak Jul–Aug
Nassau grouper
Key Largo, Florida KeysPeak Jun–Aug
Sperm whale
AzoresPeak May, Jul
Napoleon wrasse
Ribbon ReefsPeak Jul–Aug, Oct, Dec
Whale shark
Cancun / Riviera MayaPeak Jun–Aug
Also in season: blue whale, Atlantic spotted dolphin, orca, bull shark, loggerhead turtle, goliath grouper, sand tiger shark, short-finned pilot whale, shortfin mako, silky shark, blue shark, grey seal, scalloped hammerhead, bigeye trevally, blackfin barracuda, Munk's mobula, silvertip shark, oceanic whitetip, tiger shark, yellowfin tuna.
Diving in July: common questions
- Where is the best place to dive in July?
- Nosy Be, followed by Komodo North and Ibiza / Formentera. Europe & Atlantic and the Asia-Pacific hold 8 of the top ten.
- Where is the warmest water for diving in July?
- Perhentian at 30 °C, Key Largo, Florida Keys at 30 °C and Redang at 30 °C, all with good conditions that month.
- What marine life is in season in July?
- Humpback whale at Cano Island / Drake Bay, minke whale at Farne Islands, basking shark at Cornwall, ocean sunfish at Cornwall and Nassau grouper at Key Largo, Florida Keys. 28 animals with a season are at their peak somewhere in July.
- Where should you avoid diving in July?
- Roca Partida, Socorro / Revillagigedo, Socorro / Revillagigedo and Yonaguni and 32 more destinations are in storm season, with up to a 63% chance of a storm passing nearby. Measured from NOAA storm tracks since 1980.