Best places to dive in May
Komodo North rates highest in May, and 8 of the top 10 are in the Asia-Pacific and the Caribbean. Basking shark season starts at Cornwall.
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 May
| # | Destination | Region | Water | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Komodo North | Asia-Pacific | 29 °C | Jun–Oct |
| 2 | Tulamben / AmedThe USAT Liberty wreck and the black-sand muck alongside it | Asia-Pacific | 30 °C | May–Sep |
| 3 | Martinique | Caribbean | 28 °C | Jan–May |
| 4 | Loreto / Sea of Cortez NorthThe sea lion colony at Coronado and the island walls | Americas | 24 °C | Mar–Apr |
| 5 | Nosy Be | Indian Ocean | 29 °C | May–Sep |
| 6 | Guadeloupe | Caribbean | 28 °C | Jan–May |
| 7 | Gili Islands | Asia-Pacific | 30 °C | May–Sep |
| 8 | Oslob | Asia-Pacific | 29 °C | Feb–Jun |
| 9 | MoalboalThe resident sardine ball off Panagsama, a few metres from shore | Asia-Pacific | 30 °C | Jan–May |
| 10 | Dumaguete / Dauin | Asia-Pacific | 29 °C | Feb–May |
Region by region
Red Sea & Middle East
7 of 7 at their best
The whole region is in season. The water is 24–26 °C, and it barely rains.
Caribbean
20 of 30 at their best
Silver Bank closes for the season. It is Nassau grouper season at Key West, Florida Keys.
Europe & Atlantic
9 of 21 at their best
The season is opening, up from 2 at their best in April. The water is cold, around 17 °C at the cooler sites. Cornwall is in basking shark season.
Asia-Pacific
17 of 49 at their best
7 destinations are in storm season, with up to a 20% chance of a storm passing nearby. Kauai / Niihau reopens after the closed season. Donsol is in whale shark season.
Indian Ocean
2 of 15 at their best
The season is closing, down from 4 in April. Rain falls on about 14 days of the month. Seas are rough, with the bigger days over 2.5 m of swell. Ponta do Ouro is in potato cod season.
Wildlife in season in May
Basking shark
CornwallPeak May–Jul
Minke whale
Scapa FlowPeak May–Jun, Aug
Orca
Scapa FlowPeak Apr–Jun
Sperm whale
AzoresPeak May, Jul
Blue whale
Catalina IslandPeak May–Jul
Grey seal
Scapa FlowPeak May–Jun, Aug
Common dolphin
AzoresPeak May
Nassau grouper
Key West, Florida KeysPeak May–Jul, Sep
Also in season: whale shark, bull shark, loggerhead turtle, ocean sunfish, bumphead parrotfish, reef manta, dugong, bigeye trevally, blacktip reef shark, grey reef shark, Napoleon wrasse, goliath grouper, harbour seal, short-finned pilot whale, grey whale, potato cod, Munk's mobula, scalloped hammerhead, yellowfin tuna, lemon shark, camouflage grouper, zebra shark, tiger shark, blackfin barracuda, silvertip shark.
Diving in May: common questions
- Where is the best place to dive in May?
- Komodo North, followed by Tulamben / Amed and Martinique. The Asia-Pacific and the Caribbean hold 8 of the top ten.
- Where is the warmest water for diving in May?
- Perhentian at 31 °C, Koh Tao at 31 °C and Redang at 31 °C, all with good conditions that month.
- What marine life is in season in May?
- Basking shark at Cornwall, minke whale at Scapa Flow, orca at Scapa Flow, sperm whale at Azores and blue whale at Catalina Island. 33 animals with a season are at their peak somewhere in May.
- Where should you avoid diving in May?
- Donsol, Ticao / Manta Bowl and Yap and 7 more destinations are in storm season, with up to a 20% chance of a storm passing nearby. Measured from NOAA storm tracks since 1980.