Best time to dive Halmahera
Best March to October/November; strong trade winds bring big waves to Weda Bay in July–August. Hammerheads are seen at seamounts such as Tifore, but no source gives them a clear season. Liveaboards often pass through on Raja Ampat–Sulawesi repositioning trips.
Peak season: March–June
Book a Halmahera LiveaboardUpcoming departures on DivebookerOverall diving, month by month
Balanced scoring · forecasts include the 2026/27 El Niño outlook
Confidence: Nov low · Dec low · Jan low · Feb low · Mar low · Apr low · May low · Jun low · Jul low · Aug low · Sep low · 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 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Macro life | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Coral & reef health | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Visibility | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| Water temperature | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Weather & sea state | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| Operations & access | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
Climate outlook
How this year's forecast differs from a typical year
- Weather & sea state +1 · El Niño makes the wet season drier (Nov 2026 – April 2027)
- Water temperature -0.8 °C · Indonesian seas run cooler during El Niño (Nov 2026 – April 2027)
- Coral & reef health -1 · El Niño sea-level drop and heat stress damage shallow reefs (Nov 2026 – December 2027)
Water temperature & visibility
| Month | Water | Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | 28.3 °C (83 °F) | 20–30 m |
| December 2026 | 28.2 °C (83 °F) | 15–25 m |
| January 2027 | 27.8 °C (82 °F) | 15–25 m |
| February 2027 | 27.9 °C (82 °F) | 15–25 m |
| March 2027 | 28.6 °C (83 °F) | 20–30 m |
| April 2027 | 29.2 °C (85 °F) | 20–30 m |
| May 2027 | 29.3 °C (85 °F) | 20–30 m |
| June 2027 | 28.9 °C (84 °F) | 15–25 m |
| July 2027 | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 15–25 m |
| August 2027 | 28.1 °C (83 °F) | 15–25 m |
| September 2027 | 28.1 °C (83 °F) | 20–30 m |
| October 2027 | 28.7 °C (84 °F) | 20–30 m |
| November 2027 | 29.2 °C (85 °F) | 20–30 m |
| December 2027 | 29.2 °C (85 °F) | 15–25 m |
Marine life calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| reef manta | ● | ● | Peak | Peak | Peak | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| scalloped hammerhead | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||
| halmahera walking shark | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| pygmy seahorse | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
Peak = best odds · ● = regularly seen · blank = unlikely. Calendar months, every year.
About the diving
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Current strength
- 3 / 5
- Luxury level
- 4 / 5
- Typical depth
- 5–30 m
- Max depth of interest
- 40 m
- Dive styles
- Liveaboard, Resort
- Suggested certification
- Advanced Open Water
- Nearest airport
- TTE
- Snorkelling
- Good
Famous sites: Tifore · Patinti Strait · Weda Reef · Boo Rock
Season notes & sources
- Best March to October/November; strong trade winds bring big waves to Weda Bay in July–August. Hammerheads are seen at seamounts such as Tifore, but no source gives them a clear season. Liveaboards often pass through on Raja Ampat–Sulawesi repositioning trips.
- Mantas year-round but most common March–May; hammerheads at Tifore peak April–June (one operator's report).