The verdict
Best places to dive with sailfish
Istiophorus platypterus
No site we score is reliable for sailfish. The best-evidenced is Aliwal Shoal, from January to March.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: 2 of 4 at peak | February: 4 of 4 at peak | March: 2 of 4 at peak | April: 0 of 4 at peak | May: 0 of 4 at peak | June: 0 of 4 at peak | July: 0 of 4 at peak | August: 0 of 4 at peak | September: 0 of 4 at peak | October: 0 of 4 at peak | November: 0 of 4 at peak | December: 1 of 4 at peak |
Most sites at peak Some at peak Possible only Not common
Based on 117 OBIS records of sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) within 60 km of 4 dive destinations.
Top destinations to dive with sailfish
Ranked on how reliably they turn up, then on how long the record runs.
| # | Destination | Country / area | Season | Reliability | Evidence | Dive type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aliwal Shoal | South Africa | Jan–Mar | Hit-or-miss | 9 of 31 years | Day boat |
| 2 | Ribbon Reefs | Australia | Feb–Mar | Hit-or-miss | 2 of 32 years | Liveaboard |
| 3 | Protea Banks | South Africa | Dec–Feb | Hit-or-miss | 2 of 26 yearsfew records | Day boat |
| 4 | Coiba | Panama | Feb | Hit-or-miss | 1 of 22 yearsfew records | Day boat |
When to dive with sailfish
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aliwal Shoal | Jan: Peak season | Feb: Peak season | Mar: Peak season | Apr: Possible | May: Possible | Jun: Possible | Jul: Not common | Aug: Not common | Sep: Not common | Oct: Not common | Nov: Possible | Dec: Possible |
| Ribbon Reefs | Jan: Not common | Feb: Peak season | Mar: Peak season | Apr: Possible | May: Not common | Jun: Not common | Jul: Not common | Aug: Not common | Sep: Not common | Oct: Not common | Nov: Possible | Dec: Not common |
| Protea Banks | Jan: Peak season | Feb: Peak season | Mar: Possible | Apr: Possible | May: Not common | Jun: Not common | Jul: Not common | Aug: Not common | Sep: Possible | Oct: Not common | Nov: Not common | Dec: Peak season |
| Coiba | Jan: Not common | Feb: Peak season | Mar: Not common | Apr: Not common | May: Not common | Jun: Not common | Jul: Not common | Aug: Not common | Sep: Not common | Oct: Not common | Nov: Not common | Dec: Not common |
Peak season Possible Not common
Sailfish month by month
- January
- Season starts at Aliwal Shoal. Also good at Protea Banks.
- February
- Season starts at Ribbon Reefs. Also good at Aliwal Shoal, Protea Banks and 1 more.
- March
- Last peak month at Aliwal Shoal. Also good at Ribbon Reefs.
- April
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Aliwal Shoal.
- May
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Aliwal Shoal.
- June
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Aliwal Shoal.
- Jul–Aug
- Not a month for sailfish.
- September
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Protea Banks.
- October
- Not a month for sailfish.
- November
- Off-peak everywhere. Your best chance is Aliwal Shoal.
- December
- Season starts at Protea Banks.
What to expect in the water
Water temperature and the suit to pack at the top sites, in the months sailfish are there.
| Destination | Season | Water | Suit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aliwal Shoal | Jan–Mar | 26 °C | 3 mm full suit |
| Ribbon Reefs | Feb–Mar | 29 °C | Skin or 3 mm shorty |
| Protea Banks | Dec–Feb | 25–27 °C | 5 mm full suit |
| Coiba | Feb | 29 °C | Skin or 3 mm shorty |
What else you'll see with sailfish
Animals at their peak in the same places and months.
Diving with sailfish: common questions
- Where is the best place to dive with sailfish?
- No site we score is reliable for sailfish. The best-evidenced is Aliwal Shoal, from January to March.
- When is the best time to dive with sailfish?
- February, when 4 of the 4 best-evidenced destinations are at their peak. It varies by place: Aliwal Shoal peaks January to March; Ribbon Reefs peaks February to March; Protea Banks peaks December to February.
- What wetsuit do you need to dive with sailfish?
- At Aliwal Shoal from January to March, the water is 26 °C to 26 °C, so bring a 3 mm full suit.
- How many places can you dive with sailfish?
- besttimetodive.com has sailfish on record at 4 of the destinations it scores. Not an exhaustive list — these are the sites we hold verified data for.