Best places to dive in September
Komodo North rates highest in September, and 8 of the top 10 are in the Asia-Pacific and Europe & Atlantic. Nassau grouper season starts at Key West, Florida Keys.
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 September
| # | Destination | Region | Water | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Komodo North | Asia-Pacific | 28 °C | Jun–Oct |
| 2 | Nosy Be | Indian Ocean | 27 °C | May–Sep |
| 3 | Tulamben / AmedThe USAT Liberty wreck and the black-sand muck alongside it | Asia-Pacific | 28 °C | May–Sep |
| 4 | Gili Islands | Asia-Pacific | 28 °C | May–Sep |
| 5 | Rowley ShoalsThe untouched hard coral of the outer atolls and the drift through the lagoon entrances | Asia-Pacific | 27 °C | Aug–Nov |
| 6 | Channel Islands | Americas | 20 °C | Jun–Oct |
| 7 | Lanzarote, Canary Islands | Europe & Atlantic | 23 °C | Sep–Oct |
| 8 | Oslob | Asia-Pacific | 29 °C | Feb–Jun |
| 9 | Lombok | Asia-Pacific | 28 °C | May–Sep |
| 10 | Madeira | Europe & Atlantic | 24 °C | May–Sep |
Region by region
Red Sea & Middle East
6 of 7 at their best
The season is opening, up from 4 at their best in August. Expect 28–29 °C water and dry weather. It is bluespotted ribbontail ray season at Nuweiba / Ras Abu Galum.
Asia-Pacific
18 of 49 at their best
9 destinations are in storm season, with up to a 67% chance of a storm passing nearby. Rain falls on about 16 days of the month. Lombok is in bump-head sunfish season.
Indian Ocean
3 of 15 at their best
Rain falls on about 13 days of the month. Seas are rough, with the bigger days over 2.5 m of swell. Baa / Hanifaru, Maldives is in reef manta season.
Americas
4 of 27 at their best
The season is closing, down from 8 in August. 10 destinations are in storm season, with up to a 77% chance of a storm passing nearby. It is humpback whale season at Cano Island / Drake Bay.
Caribbean
Off season
Off season for most of the region. 30 destinations are in storm season, with up to a 37% chance of a storm passing nearby. This is the wet season, with rain on about 18 days. It is Nassau grouper season at Key West, Florida Keys.
Wildlife in season in September
Humpback whale
Cano Island / Drake BayPeak Jul–Sep
Ocean sunfish
Channel IslandsPeak Aug–Oct
Blue shark
Channel IslandsPeak Aug–Oct
Sardine
Channel IslandsPeak Aug–Oct
Common thresher
Channel IslandsPeak Aug–Sep
Minke whale
CornwallPeak Jul–Sep
Basking shark
Scapa FlowPeak Jul–Sep
Sperm whale
French Riviera / CorsicaPeak Jun, Aug–Sep
Also in season: Nassau grouper, orca, bluespotted ribbontail ray, great white shark, bump-head sunfish, loggerhead turtle, Napoleon wrasse, reef manta, dugong, blacktip reef shark, bigeye trevally, blue whale, harbour seal, oceanic manta, potato cod, grey seal, lemon shark, silvertip shark, yellowfin tuna, blackfin barracuda, camouflage grouper, scalloped hammerhead, short-finned pilot whale, angelshark.
Diving in September: common questions
- Where is the best place to dive in September?
- Komodo North, followed by Nosy Be and Tulamben / Amed. The Asia-Pacific and Europe & Atlantic hold 8 of the top ten.
- Where is the warmest water for diving in September?
- Perhentian at 30 °C, Redang at 30 °C and Moalboal at 30 °C, all with good conditions that month.
- What marine life is in season in September?
- Humpback whale at Cano Island / Drake Bay, ocean sunfish at Channel Islands, blue shark at Channel Islands, sardine at Channel Islands and common thresher at Channel Islands. 32 animals with a season are at their peak somewhere in September.
- Where should you avoid diving in September?
- Roca Partida, Socorro / Revillagigedo, Socorro / Revillagigedo and Yonaguni and 63 more destinations are in storm season, with up to a 80% chance of a storm passing nearby. Measured from NOAA storm tracks since 1980.