Best diving in January
67 dive sites are at peak season in January, across 27 species and 33 countries. The most reliable is Palm Beach, Florida, USA, for blacktip shark — very high reliability, 5-25 m. Another 26 sites are a realistic shoulder-season bet this month, listed below the peak set.
- Sites
- 93
- Species
- 33
- No-certification sites
- 42
- Most-represented country
- Mexico
34 countries
snorkel or freedive
Where to go, best first
Very high reliability
Palm Beach, Florida
USA · Blacktip shark
Peak Jan-Mar · 5-25 m
Needs: Open Water
Very high reliability
Rangiroa: Tiputa Pass
French Polynesia · Bottlenose dolphin
Peak Year-round · 5-30 m
Needs: Advanced
Very high reliability
Beqa Lagoon (Shark Reef Marine Reserve)
Fiji · Bull shark
Peak Year-round · 15-30 m
Needs: Open Water
Very high reliability
Sipadan (Barracuda Point)
Malaysia · Chevron barracuda
Peak Year-round · 15-30 m
Needs: Advanced
Very high reliability
Revillagigedo: The Boiler, San Benedicto
Mexico · Giant oceanic manta ray
Peak Nov-May · 10-30 m
Needs: Experienced
Very high reliability
Cod Hole, Ribbon Reef #10, GBR
Australia · Giant potato cod (potato grouper)
Peak Year-round · 12-25 m
Needs: Open Water
Very high reliability
San Ignacio Lagoon, BCS
Mexico · Gray whale
Peak Feb-Mar · n/a
No certification needed
Very high reliability
Laguna Ojo de Liebre, BCS
Mexico · Gray whale
Peak Feb-Mar · n/a
No certification needed
Very high reliability
Magdalena Bay, BCS
Mexico · Gray whale
Peak Feb-Mar · n/a
No certification needed
Very high reliability
Fakarava South Pass (Tumakohua)
French Polynesia · Grey reef shark
Peak Jun-Jul · 15-30 m
Needs: Experienced
Very high reliability
Osprey Reef, North Horn
Australia (Coral Sea) · Grey reef shark
Peak Year-round · 15-35 m
Needs: Experienced
Very high reliability
Silver Bank (liveaboard)
Dominican Republic · Humpback whale
Peak Jan-Mar · Surface
No certification needed
Very high reliability
Samana Bay
Dominican Republic · Humpback whale
Peak Jan-Mar · n/a
No certification needed
Very high reliability
Banderas Bay (Puerto Vallarta)
Mexico · Humpback whale
Peak Dec-Mar · n/a
No certification needed
Very high reliability
Tromso / Skjervoy fjords
Norway · Killer whale (orca)
Peak Nov-Jan · Surface
No certification needed
Very high reliability
Monad Shoal, Malapascua
Philippines · Pelagic thresher shark
Peak Year-round · 20-30 m
Needs: Advanced
Very high reliability
Kona, Big Island (Manta Night Dive)
USA (Hawaii) · Reef manta ray
Peak Year-round · 8-12 m
Needs: Open Water
Very high reliability
Fish Rock Cave, South West Rocks
Australia · Sand tiger / grey nurse / ragged-tooth shark
Peak Jun-Nov · 18-30 m
Needs: Advanced
Very high reliability
Darwin & Wolf Islands, Galapagos
Ecuador · Scalloped hammerhead
Peak Jun-Nov · 15-30 m
Needs: Experienced
Very high reliability
West coast (Roseau)
Dominica · Sperm whale
Peak Nov-Mar · n/a
No certification needed
Very high reliability
Kaikoura Canyon
New Zealand · Sperm whale
Peak Year-round · n/a
No certification needed
Very high reliability
Tiger Beach (West End)
Bahamas · Tiger shark
Peak Nov-Mar · 5-15 m
Needs: Advanced
Very high reliability
Cenderawasih Bay (Nabire), West Papua
Indonesia · Whale shark
Peak Year-round · Surface-15 m
No certification needed
Very high reliability
Oslob, Cebu
Philippines · Whale shark
Peak Year-round · Surface-5 m
No certification needed
Very high reliability
South Ari Atoll (Dhigurah / Maamigili)
Maldives · Whale shark
Peak Nov-May · Surface-30 m
No certification needed
High reliability
Isla Mujeres / Isla Contoy
Mexico · Atlantic sailfish
Peak Jan-Mar · Surface
No certification needed
High reliability
White Sand Ridge / Bimini
Bahamas · Atlantic spotted dolphin
Peak May-Sep · 5-10 m
No certification needed
High reliability
Mirissa (south coast)
Sri Lanka · Blue whale
Peak Dec-Apr · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Loreto Bay, Sea of Cortez
Mexico · Blue whale
Peak Jan-Mar · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Gulf of Corcovado / Chiloe
Chile · Blue whale
Peak Jan-Apr · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Upper Gulf of Thailand (Samut Sakhon / Samut Songkhram / Phetchaburi)
Thailand · Bryde's (Eden's) whale
Peak Sep-Dec · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo
Mexico · Bull shark
Peak Nov-Mar · 20-30 m
Needs: Advanced
High reliability
Protea Banks (Shelly Beach)
South Africa · Bull shark
Peak Year-round · 25-40 m
Needs: Experienced
High reliability
Sipadan (Barracuda Point, South Point)
Malaysia · Bumphead parrotfish
Peak Year-round · 15-30 m
Needs: Advanced
High reliability
Kaikoura
New Zealand · Dusky dolphin
Peak Year-round · Surface
No certification needed
High reliability
Catalina Islands, Guanacaste
Costa Rica · Giant oceanic manta ray
Peak Jan-Apr · 10-25 m
Needs: Open Water
High reliability
Cocos Island (Isla del Coco)
Costa Rica · Giant oceanic manta ray
Peak Year-round · 15-35 m
Needs: Experienced
High reliability
Ticao Island (Manta Bowl), Masbate
Philippines · Giant oceanic manta ray
Peak Dec-Apr · 10-25 m
Needs: Advanced
High reliability
Tofo Reef & Giant's Castle, Inhambane
Mozambique · Giant oceanic manta ray
Peak Year-round · 15-30 m
Needs: Open Water
High reliability
Central California coast (Monterey / Point Reyes)
USA · Gray whale
Peak Dec-Apr · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Bimini
Bahamas · Great hammerhead
Peak Dec-Mar · 3-10 m
Needs: Open Water
High reliability
Neptune Islands, South Australia
Australia · Great white shark
Peak Jun-Oct · Surface-5 m
No certification needed
High reliability
Gansbaai / Dyer Island (Shark Alley)
South Africa · Great white shark
Peak May-Sep · Surface-5 m
No certification needed
High reliability
Maui / Lahaina
USA (Hawaii) · Humpback whale
Peak Jan-Mar · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Tromso / Skjervoy fjords
Norway · Humpback whale
Peak Nov-Jan · Surface
No certification needed
High reliability
Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands
Japan · Humpback whale
Peak Feb-Apr · Surface-10 m
No certification needed
High reliability
Kerama Islands, Okinawa
Japan · Humpback whale
Peak Jan-Mar · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Antarctic Peninsula
Antarctica · Humpback whale
Peak Feb-Mar · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Bay of Islands / Hauraki Gulf
New Zealand · Killer whale (orca)
Peak Year-round · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Bremer Canyon, Western Australia
Australia · Killer whale (orca)
Peak Jan-Apr · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Grundarfjordur / Snaefellsnes
Iceland · Killer whale (orca)
Peak Oct-Mar · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Jupiter & Palm Beach, Florida
USA · Lemon shark
Peak Dec-Mar · 15-30 m
Needs: Open Water
High reliability
Little Cayman (West End Point)
Cayman Islands · Nassau grouper
Peak Jan-Feb · 25-40 m
Needs: Advanced
High reliability
Ari Atoll manta points (Dhigurah, Rangali)
Maldives · Reef manta ray
Peak Year-round · 5-20 m
Needs: Open Water
High reliability
Komodo NP: Karang Makassar & Manta Alley
Indonesia · Reef manta ray
Peak Year-round · 5-20 m
Needs: Advanced
High reliability
Raja Ampat (Dampier Strait): Manta Sandy, Arborek jetty
Indonesia · Reef manta ray
Peak Oct-Apr · 3-18 m
Needs: Open Water
High reliability
Nusa Penida & Lembongan (Manta Point / Bay), Bali
Indonesia · Reef manta ray
Peak Apr-Nov · 3-20 m
Needs: Open Water
High reliability
Ningaloo Reef (Coral Bay / Exmouth)
Australia · Reef manta ray
Peak Apr-Nov · Surface-20 m
No certification needed
High reliability
Lady Elliot Island, Southern GBR
Australia · Reef manta ray
Peak Jun-Oct · 5-20 m
Needs: Open Water
High reliability
Manta Ridge & Mill Channel, Yap
Micronesia (Yap) · Reef manta ray
Peak Dec-Apr · 8-25 m
Needs: Open Water
High reliability
German Channel & Blue Corner
Palau · Reef manta ray
Peak Nov-Apr · 5-25 m
Needs: Open Water
High reliability
Raja Ampat (Dampier Strait): Manta Ridge
Indonesia · Reef manta ray
Peak Oct-Apr · 5-25 m
Needs: Advanced
High reliability
Raja Ampat: Four Kings & deep sites, Misool
Indonesia · Reef sharks & pelagic schooling fish (mixed)
Peak Oct-Apr · 15-35 m
Needs: Experienced
High reliability
Cocos Island (Dirty Rock / Alcyone)
Costa Rica · Scalloped hammerhead
Peak Jun-Nov · 20-35 m
Needs: Experienced
High reliability
Malpelo Island
Colombia · Scalloped hammerhead
Peak Dec-Apr · 20-40 m
Needs: Experienced
High reliability
Roca Partida & Socorro (Revillagigedo)
Mexico · Scalloped hammerhead
Peak Nov-May · 20-35 m
Needs: Experienced
High reliability
Sha'ab Samadai (Dolphin House), Marsa Alam
Egypt · Spinner dolphin
Peak Year-round · Surface
No certification needed
High reliability
Kona Coast
USA (Hawaii) · Spinner dolphin
Peak Year-round · 3-20 m
No certification needed
High reliability
Donsol, Sorsogon
Philippines · Whale shark
Peak Feb-Apr · Surface
No certification needed
High reliability
Bahia de La Paz, Baja California Sur
Mexico · Whale shark
Peak Nov-Feb · Surface
No certification needed
High reliability
Mafia Island
Tanzania · Whale shark
Peak Oct-Feb · Surface
No certification needed
High reliability
Praia do Tofo, Inhambane
Mozambique · Whale shark
Peak Oct-Mar · Surface-20 m
No certification needed
High reliability
Gulf of Tadjoura
Djibouti · Whale shark
Peak Nov-Jan · Surface
No certification needed
Moderate reliability
Galapagos: Isabela & Punta Vicente Roca
Ecuador · Giant oceanic manta ray
Peak Jun-Nov · 10-30 m
Needs: Advanced
Moderate reliability
Koh Bon, Koh Tachai & Richelieu Rock (Similan / Surin, Andaman)
Thailand · Giant oceanic manta ray
Peak Feb-Apr · 15-30 m
Needs: Advanced
Moderate reliability
Raja Ampat (Dampier Strait): Blue Magic, Mansuar
Indonesia · Giant oceanic manta ray
Peak Oct-Apr · 10-30 m
Needs: Experienced
Moderate reliability
Hin Daeng & Hin Muang, Koh Lanta (Andaman Sea)
Thailand · Giant oceanic manta ray
Peak Feb-Apr · 15-40 m
Needs: Advanced
Moderate reliability
Stewart Island (Rakiura)
New Zealand · Great white shark
Peak Dec-Apr · Surface-5 m
No certification needed
Moderate reliability
Revillagigedo (Socorro)
Mexico · Humpback whale
Peak Jan-Apr · 10-30 m
Needs: Experienced
Moderate reliability
Antarctic Peninsula
Antarctica · Killer whale (orca)
Peak Dec-Mar · n/a
No certification needed
Moderate reliability
Similan & Surin Islands (Andaman Sea)
Thailand · Leopard (zebra) shark
Peak Oct-May · 15-30 m
Needs: Advanced
Moderate reliability
Elphinstone Reef (Marsa Alam)
Egypt · Oceanic whitetip shark
Peak Oct-Dec · 20-40 m
Needs: Experienced
Moderate reliability
Rasdhoo Madivaru (Hammerhead Point)
Maldives · Scalloped hammerhead
Peak Jan-Apr · 25-40 m
Needs: Experienced
Moderate reliability
Rangiroa: Tiputa Pass
French Polynesia · Scalloped hammerhead
Peak Jan-Apr · 20-40 m
Needs: Experienced
Moderate reliability
Baja California Sur (Magdalena Bay / Cabo)
Mexico · Striped marlin
Peak Oct-Dec · Surface
No certification needed
Moderate reliability
Oahu North Shore
USA (Hawaii) · Tiger shark
Peak Year-round · Surface-5 m
No certification needed
Moderate reliability
Aliwal Shoal (Umkomaas)
South Africa · Tiger shark
Peak Dec-Apr · 15-30 m
Needs: Advanced
Moderate reliability
St Helena, South Atlantic
St Helena (UK) · Whale shark
Peak Jan-Mar · Surface-20 m
Needs: Open Water
Low reliability
Koh Tao: Chumphon Pinnacle & Sail Rock
Thailand · Bull shark
Peak Year-round · 18-40 m
Needs: Advanced
Low reliability
Raja Ampat / Misool region
Indonesia · Devil rays (Mobula spp.)
Peak Oct-Dec · 5-25 m
Needs: Advanced
Low reliability
Raja Ampat (Dampier Strait / Misool)
Indonesia · Whale shark
Peak Jan-Mar · Surface-25 m
Needs: Open Water
Low reliability
Richelieu Rock, Surin / Similan (Andaman Sea)
Thailand · Whale shark
Peak Feb-Apr · 15-35 m
Needs: Advanced
Low reliability
Hin Daeng & Hin Muang, Koh Lanta (Andaman Sea)
Thailand · Whale shark
Peak Feb-Apr · 15-40 m
Needs: Advanced
Other months
Explore it on the globe
Pick a species, a month or a certification level and see every real encounter site plotted live, ranked by how likely you are to actually see it.
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