Best time to dive Chuuk Lagoon
The world's greatest wreck dive: a Japanese fleet sunk in 1944. Diveable year-round at 27–30 °C; December–April is drier with calmer seas and the best visibility (up to ~25 m); typhoon risk is low.
Peak season: year-round
Book a Chuuk Lagoon LiveaboardUpcoming departures on DivebookerOverall diving, month by month
Balanced scoring · forecasts include the 2026/27 El Niño outlook
Confidence: Nov high · Dec high · Jan medium · Feb medium · Mar medium · Apr medium · May medium · Jun medium · Jul medium · Aug medium · Sep medium · Oct low · Nov low · Dec low
What's good when
Each attribute scored 0–10 for every month
| Nov2026 | Dec | Jan2027 | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelagic & big animals | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Macro life | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Coral & reef health | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Visibility | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| Water temperature | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Weather & sea state | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| Operations & access | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Wreck diving | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Climate outlook
How this year's forecast differs from a typical year
- Coral & reef health -1.8 · Bleaching risk in the year after a strong El Niño (Palau 1998) (Nov 2026 – December 2027)
Water temperature & visibility
| Month | Water | Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 15–25 m |
| December 2026 | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 15–25 m |
| January 2027 | 28.0 °C (82 °F) | 15–25 m |
| February 2027 | 28.0 °C (82 °F) | 20–25 m |
| March 2027 | 28.0 °C (82 °F) | 20–25 m |
| April 2027 | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 15–25 m |
| May 2027 | 29.0 °C (84 °F) | 12–20 m |
| June 2027 | 29.0 °C (84 °F) | 12–20 m |
| July 2027 | 29.0 °C (84 °F) | 12–20 m |
| August 2027 | 29.0 °C (84 °F) | 12–20 m |
| September 2027 | 29.0 °C (84 °F) | 12–20 m |
| October 2027 | 29.0 °C (84 °F) | 12–20 m |
| November 2027 | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 15–25 m |
| December 2027 | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 15–25 m |
Marine life calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| grey reef shark | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
Peak = best odds · ● = regularly seen · blank = unlikely. Calendar months, every year.
About the diving
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Current strength
- 1 / 5
- Luxury level
- 3 / 5
- Typical depth
- 10–50 m
- Max depth of interest
- 60 m
- Dive styles
- Liveaboard, Resort
- Suggested certification
- Advanced Open Water + wreck (deep wrecks: technical)
- Nearest airport
- TKK
- Snorkelling
- Limited
- Known for
- grey reef shark, WWII Japanese fleet, soft corals
Famous sites: Fujikawa Maru · Shinkoku Maru · San Francisco Maru · Nippo Maru
Season notes & sources
- The world's greatest wreck dive: a Japanese fleet sunk in 1944. Diveable year-round at 27–30 °C; December–April is drier with calmer seas and the best visibility (up to ~25 m); typhoon risk is low.