Best places to dive in March
Koh Tao rates highest in March, and 7 of the top 10 are in the Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Blue whale season starts at Loreto / Sea of Cortez North.
At the ten best-rated destinations
At their peak somewhere this month
Of 146 rated destinations
Destinations with a 1 in 10 storm chance or more
The top ten in March
| # | Destination | Region | Water | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Koh Tao | Asia-Pacific | 29 °C | Feb–Jun |
| 2 | Coiba | Americas | 29 °C | Jan–Mar |
| 3 | Guadeloupe | Caribbean | 27 °C | Jan–May |
| 4 | Martinique | Caribbean | 27 °C | Jan–May |
| 5 | Loreto / Sea of Cortez NorthThe sea lion colony at Coronado and the island walls | Americas | 20 °C | Mar–Apr |
| 6 | Komodo North | Asia-Pacific | 29 °C | Jun–Oct |
| 7 | North & Central Atolls, Maldives | Indian Ocean | 29 °C | Jan–Apr |
| 8 | Oslob | Asia-Pacific | 28 °C | Feb–Jun |
| 9 | Dumaguete / Dauin | Asia-Pacific | 28 °C | Feb–May |
| 10 | Redang | Asia-Pacific | 29 °C | Mar–Jul |
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.
Caribbean
15 of 30 at their best
The sea sits at 24–28 °C. It is southern stingray season at Key Largo, Florida Keys.
Asia-Pacific
24 of 49 at their best
7 destinations are in storm season, with up to a 33% chance of a storm passing nearby. Perhentian and Tubbataha reopen after the closed season. Maui / Molokini is in humpback whale season.
Americas
12 of 27 at their best
The sea sits at -0–30 °C. It is California sea lion season at Loreto / Sea of Cortez North.
Indian Ocean
5 of 15 at their best
4 destinations are in storm season, with up to a 20% chance of a storm passing nearby. Rain falls on about 14 days of the month. West (Hikkaduwa), Sri Lanka is in spinner dolphin season.
Europe & Atlantic
1 of 21 at their best
Off season for most of the region. Seas are rough, with the bigger days over 2.9 m of swell. The water is cold, around 13 °C at the cooler sites. Madeira is in common dolphin season.
Wildlife in season in March
Humpback whale
Maui / MolokiniPeak Jan–Mar
California sea lion
Loreto / Sea of Cortez NorthPeak Feb–Apr
Blue whale
Loreto / Sea of Cortez NorthPeak Mar
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, whale shark, reef manta, zebra shark, bull shark, spinner dolphin, Napoleon wrasse, bigeye trevally, blacktip reef shark, bumphead parrotfish, tiger shark, grey reef shark, Atlantic spotted dolphin, Bryde's whale, manatee, sand tiger shark, harbour seal, ocean sunfish, potato cod, short-finned pilot whale, yellowfin tuna, camouflage grouper, Munk's mobula, oceanic whitetip, lemon shark, oceanic manta, orca, silky shark, blackfin barracuda.
Diving in March: common questions
- Where is the best place to dive in March?
- Koh Tao, followed by Coiba and Guadeloupe. The Asia-Pacific and the Americas hold 7 of the top ten.
- Where is the warmest water for diving in March?
- Cano Island / Drake Bay at 30 °C, Seychelles at 30 °C and Cocos Island at 30 °C, all with good conditions that month.
- What marine life is in season in March?
- Humpback whale at Maui / Molokini, California sea lion at Loreto / Sea of Cortez North, blue whale at Loreto / Sea of Cortez North, southern stingray at Key Largo, Florida Keys and bottlenose dolphin at Loreto / Sea of Cortez North. 37 animals with a season are at their peak somewhere in March.
- Where should you avoid diving in March?
- Rowley Shoals, Ribbon Reefs and Ningaloo and 10 more destinations are in storm season, with up to a 33% chance of a storm passing nearby. Measured from NOAA storm tracks since 1980.