Best diving in September
78 dive sites are at peak season in September, across 30 species and 31 countries. The most reliable is Pico & Faial, Portugal (Azores), for blue shark — very high reliability, 10-30 m. Another 25 sites are a realistic shoulder-season bet this month, listed below the peak set.
- Sites
- 103
- Species
- 34
- No-certification sites
- 56
- Most-represented country
- Australia
40 countries
snorkel or freedive
Where to go, best first
Very high reliability
Pico & Faial
Portugal (Azores) · Blue shark
Peak Jul-Sep · 10-30 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
Cod Hole, Ribbon Reef #10, GBR
Australia · Giant potato cod (potato grouper)
Peak Year-round · 12-25 m
Needs: Open Water
Very high reliability
Guadalupe Island, Baja California
Mexico · Great white shark
Peak Aug-Oct · Surface-10 m
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
Vava'u
Tonga · Humpback whale
Peak Aug-Oct · Surface-10 m
No certification needed
Very high reliability
Hervey Bay, Queensland
Australia · Humpback whale
Peak Aug-Oct · n/a
No certification needed
Very high reliability
Ile Sainte-Marie
Madagascar · Humpback whale
Peak Jul-Sep · n/a
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
Peninsula Valdes
Argentina · Southern right whale
Peak Aug-Oct · n/a
No certification needed
Very high reliability
Hermanus / Walker Bay
South Africa · Southern right whale
Peak Aug-Oct · n/a
No certification needed
Very high reliability
Head of Bight, South Australia
Australia · Southern right whale
Peak Jun-Oct · n/a
No certification needed
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
Isla Mujeres / Isla Holbox (Afuera)
Mexico · Whale shark
Peak Jun-Sep · Surface
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
White Sand Ridge / Bimini
Bahamas · Atlantic spotted dolphin
Peak May-Sep · 5-10 m
No certification needed
High reliability
Isle of Coll & Tiree, Hebrides
UK (Scotland) · Basking shark
Peak Jun-Aug · Surface
No certification needed
High reliability
Churchill, Manitoba
Canada · Beluga whale
Peak Jul-Aug · Surface
No certification needed
High reliability
Penzance, Cornwall
UK · Blue shark
Peak Jul-Sep · Surface
No certification needed
High reliability
Monterey Bay / Channel Islands, California
USA · Blue whale
Peak Jul-Oct · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Dili (Ombai Strait)
Timor-Leste · Blue whale
Peak Oct-Nov · 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
Bat Islands (Islas Murcielago)
Costa Rica · Bull shark
Peak Jun-Nov · 15-30 m
Needs: Experienced
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
Cocos Island (Isla del Coco)
Costa Rica · Giant oceanic manta ray
Peak Year-round · 15-35 m
Needs: Experienced
High reliability
Tofo Reef & Giant's Castle, Inhambane
Mozambique · Giant oceanic manta ray
Peak Year-round · 15-30 m
Needs: Open Water
High reliability
Jupiter, Florida (wrecks)
USA · Goliath grouper
Peak Aug-Oct · 15-40 m
Needs: Advanced
High reliability
Tofino, Vancouver Island
Canada · Gray whale
Peak Mar-Apr,Jun-Sep · n/a
No certification needed
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
Moorea & Rurutu
French Polynesia · Humpback whale
Peak Aug-Sep · Surface-10 m
No certification needed
High reliability
Reunion Island
Reunion (France) · Humpback whale
Peak Aug-Sep · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Ningaloo Reef (Exmouth)
Australia · Humpback whale
Peak Aug-Oct · Surface-10 m
No certification needed
High reliability
Tofo / Inhambane
Mozambique · Humpback whale
Peak Jul-Oct · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
SE Alaska (Juneau / Sitka)
USA (Alaska) · Humpback whale
Peak May-Sep · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Husavik (Skjalfandi Bay)
Iceland · Humpback whale
Peak May-Aug · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Stellwagen Bank, Massachusetts
USA · Humpback whale
Peak May-Sep · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Puerto Lopez (Machalilla)
Ecuador · Humpback whale
Peak Jul-Sep · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Nuqui / Bahia Solano (Pacific)
Colombia · Humpback whale
Peak Jul-Oct · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Abrolhos / Bahia
Brazil · Humpback whale
Peak Aug-Oct · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Vancouver Island (Johnstone Strait)
Canada · Killer whale (orca)
Peak Jul-Sep · 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
Grundarfjordur / Snaefellsnes
Iceland · Killer whale (orca)
Peak Oct-Mar · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Nusa Penida (Crystal Bay) & Lembongan, Bali
Indonesia · Ocean sunfish (Mola mola)
Peak Jul-Oct · 20-40 m
Needs: Advanced
High reliability
Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll
Maldives · Reef manta ray
Peak Jun-Nov · Surface
No certification needed
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
German Channel & Blue Corner
Palau · Reef manta ray
Peak Nov-Apr · 5-25 m
Needs: Open Water
High reliability
Yasawa Islands (Manta Ray Island)
Fiji · Reef manta ray
Peak May-Oct · Surface-15 m
No certification needed
High reliability
Ishigaki (Manta Scramble), Okinawa
Japan · Reef manta ray
Peak Jul-Oct · 5-20 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
Wolf Rock, Rainbow Beach, Queensland
Australia · Sand tiger / grey nurse / ragged-tooth shark
Peak Jun-Oct · 25-40 m
Needs: Experienced
High reliability
North Carolina wrecks (Graveyard of the Atlantic)
USA · Sand tiger / grey nurse / ragged-tooth shark
Peak Jul-Oct · 25-40 m
Needs: Experienced
High reliability
Aliwal Shoal: Raggie Cave
South Africa · Sand tiger / grey nurse / ragged-tooth shark
Peak Jul-Oct · 15-30 m
Needs: Advanced
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
Santa Catarina (Imbituba / Praia do Rosa)
Brazil · Southern right whale
Peak Aug-Oct · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Pico & Faial
Portugal (Azores) · Sperm whale
Peak Jun-Sep · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Andenes (Andoya)
Norway · Sperm whale
Peak Jun-Aug · n/a
No certification needed
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
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
Darwin & Wolf Islands, Galapagos
Ecuador · Whale shark
Peak Jun-Nov · 10-40 m
Needs: Experienced
Moderate reliability
Rhode Island (Newport)
USA · Blue shark
Peak Jul-Sep · Surface
No certification needed
Moderate reliability
Trincomalee (east coast)
Sri Lanka · Blue whale
Peak Apr-Aug · n/a
No certification needed
Moderate reliability
Gulf of St Lawrence (Tadoussac / Mingan)
Canada · Blue whale
Peak Jul-Oct · n/a
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
Raja Ampat (Dampier Strait): Blue Magic, Mansuar
Indonesia · Giant oceanic manta ray
Peak Oct-Apr · 10-30 m
Needs: Experienced
Moderate reliability
Catalina Island, California
USA · Giant sea bass
Peak Jul-Sep · 15-35 m
Needs: Advanced
Moderate reliability
False Bay (Seal Island)
South Africa · Great white shark
Peak May-Sep · n/a
No certification needed
Moderate reliability
San Juan Islands, Washington
USA · Killer whale (orca)
Peak May-Sep · n/a
No certification needed
Moderate reliability
Espiritu Santo / La Paz, Baja California Sur
Mexico · Munk's devil ray
Peak Jun-Oct · Surface-20 m
Needs: Open Water
Moderate reliability
Galapagos: Punta Vicente Roca
Ecuador · Ocean sunfish (Mola mola)
Peak Jun-Nov · 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
Protea Banks (Shelly Beach)
South Africa · Scalloped hammerhead
Peak Jun-Nov · 25-40 m
Needs: Experienced
Moderate reliability
Daedalus Reef (Red Sea)
Egypt · Scalloped hammerhead
Peak Jun-Sep · 20-40 m
Needs: Experienced
Moderate reliability
Princess Alice Bank
Portugal (Azores) · Sicklefin devil ray
Peak Jul-Sep · 15-40 m
Needs: Experienced
Moderate reliability
Oahu North Shore
USA (Hawaii) · Tiger shark
Peak Year-round · Surface-5 m
No certification needed
Moderate reliability
Bahia de los Angeles, Sea of Cortez
Mexico · Whale shark
Peak Aug-Oct · Surface
No certification needed
Moderate reliability
Mahe (Beau Vallon)
Seychelles · Whale shark
Peak Aug-Oct · Surface-20 m
No certification needed
Moderate reliability
Utila, Bay Islands
Honduras · Whale shark
Peak Mar-Apr · Surface-25 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
Koh Tao: Chumphon Pinnacle & Southwest Pinnacle (Gulf of Thailand)
Thailand · Whale shark
Peak Mar-May · 15-45 m
Needs: Advanced
Low reliability
Koh Tao: Sail Rock (Gulf of Thailand)
Thailand · Whale shark
Peak Mar-May · 5-40 m
Needs: Open Water
Low reliability
Koh Tao: Shark Island (shore-accessible)
Thailand · Whale shark
Peak Mar-Jun · Surface
No certification needed
Other months
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