Scuba diving in the Indo-Pacific
38 dive regions in the Indo-Pacific, each scored month by month for marine life, coral health, visibility, water temperature, currents and weather. Taken together, the diving here is at its best in year-round, but every region has its own season, so check the grid below before you book.
Countries: Australia · Indonesia · Japan · Micronesia · Papua New Guinea · Philippines · Thailand · United States
Best time to dive in the Indo-Pacific, region by region
Sorted by each region's best month
| Nov2026 | Dec | Jan2027 | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banda SeaIndonesia | 8.3 | 6.8 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 7.2 | 7.6 | 7.0 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 6.2 | 8.0 | 8.7 | 8.2 | 6.8 |
| PalauPalau | 8.4 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 7.9 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.8 | 8.2 | 8.3 |
| Tubbataha ReefsPhilippines | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 8.2 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| French Polynesia (Tuamotus)French Polynesia | 7.8 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 8.1 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 8.0 |
| Raja AmpatIndonesia | 8.3 | 8.4 | 8.3 | 8.2 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 7.4 | 6.6 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 6.7 | 7.6 | 8.2 | 8.3 |
| Sipadan & SempornaMalaysia | 7.9 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 8.3 | 8.2 | 7.8 | 7.8 |
| Cenderawasih BayIndonesia | 7.6 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 7.4 | 7.6 | 8.2 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 7.5 | 4.0 |
| AlorIndonesia | 7.5 | 6.9 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.9 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 8.1 | 7.8 | 7.4 | 6.9 |
| YapMicronesia | 7.8 | 8.0 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 7.9 | 7.4 | 7.3 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 7.9 |
| KomodoIndonesia | 7.6 | 7.5 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.5 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.4 |
| Kona (Big Island)United States | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.9 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 7.9 | 8.0 | 7.9 | 7.8 | 7.7 |
| Nusa PenidaIndonesia | 7.2 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.8 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 7.6 | 7.2 | 6.8 |
| FijiFiji | 7.7 | 7.6 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 7.8 | 7.7 | 7.6 |
| Northern GBR & Coral SeaAustralia | 7.2 | 7.0 | 6.4 | 6.2 | 6.3 | 6.8 | 7.2 | 7.7 | 7.9 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.2 | 7.0 |
| Southern GBRAustralia | 6.9 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 7.7 | 7.9 | 7.8 | 7.6 | 7.0 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.5 |
| HalmaheraIndonesia | 7.0 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 7.5 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.3 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 6.8 |
| Triton BayIndonesia | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.5 | 6.7 | 5.9 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.9 | 7.1 | 7.7 | 7.7 |
| Kimbe BayPapua New Guinea | 7.6 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.3 |
| MalapascuaPhilippines | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| New CaledoniaNew Caledonia | 7.0 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.7 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.2 | 6.9 | 6.6 |
| Tonga (Vava'u)Tonga | 5.8 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 6.2 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 5.7 | 5.3 |
| WakatobiIndonesia | 7.4 | 7.2 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.1 |
| YonaguniJapan | 6.3 | 6.9 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 6.5 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 6.3 | 6.9 |
| MoalboalPhilippines | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands | 7.1 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.0 |
| Koh TaoThailand | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.7 | 6.1 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 6.4 | 6.2 | 5.2 | 5.2 |
| Milne BayPapua New Guinea | 6.9 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 6.5 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 6.8 |
| Okinawa & Kerama IslandsJapan | 6.6 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.6 | 6.4 |
| BunakenIndonesia | 6.5 | 6.3 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 6.3 |
| Dauin & Apo IslandPhilippines | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.2 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.3 | 6.3 |
| Vanuatu (Espiritu Santo)Vanuatu | 6.2 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 6.2 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 5.8 |
| AnilaoPhilippines | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 5.7 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| Poor Knights IslandsNew Zealand | 5.6 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 5.7 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.1 | 5.3 | 5.6 | 5.9 |
| Puerto GaleraPhilippines | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 6.0 | 5.9 |
| Chuuk LagoonMicronesia | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.7 |
| Tulamben & AmedIndonesia | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 5.7 |
| Lembeh StraitIndonesia | 5.9 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 5.6 |
| CoronPhilippines | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.1 | 5.5 | 5.6 |
Overall score out of 10 with balanced priorities, from the current forecast.
Dive regions in the Indo-Pacific
- Banda SeaIndonesia
Peak season: October–November · Intermediate · Liveaboard, Resort
Known for scalloped hammerhead, sea snakes, dolphins, mandarinfish
- PalauPalau
Peak season: November–April · Intermediate · Liveaboard, Day boat, Resort
Known for grey reef shark, reef manta, napoleon wrasse, bumphead parrotfish
- Tubbataha ReefsPhilippines
Peak season: March–June · Intermediate · Liveaboard
Known for grey reef shark, whitetip reef shark, hawksbill turtle, manta ray, whale shark
- French Polynesia (Tuamotus)French Polynesia
Peak season: June–August, December–March · Advanced · Resort, Liveaboard, Day boat
Known for grey reef shark, great hammerhead, marbled grouper spawning, bottlenose dolphin
- Raja AmpatIndonesia
Peak season: November–April · Intermediate · Liveaboard, Resort, Day boat
Known for oceanic manta, reef manta, wobbegong, pygmy seahorse, walking shark
- Sipadan & SempornaMalaysia
Peak season: March–October · Intermediate · Resort, Day boat
Known for green turtle, barracuda tornado, bumphead parrotfish, grey reef shark
- Cenderawasih BayIndonesia
Peak season: June–October · Beginner · Liveaboard
Known for whale shark, endemic reef fish, hard coral gardens
- AlorIndonesia
Peak season: April–October · Advanced · Liveaboard, Resort
Known for rhinopias, frogfish, dolphins, pilot whales, mola mola
- YapMicronesia
Peak season: November–April · Intermediate · Resort, Day boat
Known for reef manta, grey reef shark, mandarinfish
- KomodoIndonesia
Peak season: March–November · Advanced · Liveaboard, Day boat, Resort
Known for reef manta, grey reef shark, frogfish, nudibranchs
- Kona (Big Island)United States
Peak season: year-round · Beginner · Day boat, Shore
Known for reef manta, spinner dolphin, green turtle, blackwater night dives
- Nusa PenidaIndonesia
Peak season: July–October · Advanced · Day boat, Resort
Known for mola mola, reef manta, turtles
- FijiFiji
Peak season: year-round · Intermediate · Resort, Liveaboard, Day boat
Known for bull shark, tiger shark, grey reef shark, soft corals
- Northern GBR & Coral SeaAustralia
Peak season: June–October · Beginner · Liveaboard, Day boat
Known for dwarf minke whale, potato cod, grey reef shark, manta ray
- Southern GBRAustralia
Peak season: May–August · Beginner · Resort, Day boat
Known for reef manta, green turtle, humpback whale, leopard shark
- HalmaheraIndonesia
Peak season: March–June · Intermediate · Liveaboard, Resort
Known for halmahera walking shark, reef manta, scalloped hammerhead, pygmy seahorse
- Triton BayIndonesia
Peak season: November–April · Intermediate · Liveaboard, Resort
Known for whale shark, triton walking shark, frogfish, soft corals
- Kimbe BayPapua New Guinea
Peak season: year-round · Intermediate · Resort, Liveaboard
Known for schooling barracuda, reef sharks, sea fans
- MalapascuaPhilippines
Peak season: year-round · Intermediate · Resort, Day boat
Known for pelagic thresher shark, whitetip reef shark, mandarinfish
- New CaledoniaNew Caledonia
Peak season: April–October · Intermediate · Day boat, Resort, Liveaboard
Known for manta ray, grey reef shark, sea snakes, dugong
- Tonga (Vava'u)Tonga
Peak season: July–October · Beginner · Resort, Day boat
Known for humpback whale, spinner dolphin, turtles
- WakatobiIndonesia
Peak season: year-round · Beginner · Resort, Liveaboard
Known for pygmy seahorse, hawksbill turtle, ghost pipefish, schooling fish
- YonaguniJapan
Peak season: December–March · Advanced · Day boat
Known for scalloped hammerhead, Yonaguni Monument
- MoalboalPhilippines
Peak season: year-round · Beginner · Shore, Day boat, Resort
Known for sardine bait ball, green turtle, frogfish
- Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands
Peak season: year-round · Intermediate · Liveaboard, Resort
Known for grey reef shark, barracuda, manta ray, WWII wrecks
- Koh TaoThailand
Peak season: March–May, September · Beginner · Day boat, Resort
Known for whale shark, batfish, barracuda, blacktip reef shark
- Milne BayPapua New Guinea
Peak season: September–June · Intermediate · Liveaboard, Resort
Known for frogfish, pygmy seahorse, nudibranchs, manta ray
Peak season: year-round · Beginner · Day boat, Shore
Known for green turtle, humpback whale, nudibranchs
- BunakenIndonesia
Peak season: year-round · Beginner · Resort, Day boat
Known for green turtle, hawksbill turtle, napoleon wrasse, reef sharks
- Dauin & Apo IslandPhilippines
Peak season: year-round · Beginner · Shore, Day boat, Resort
Known for flamboyant cuttlefish, mimic octopus, seahorses, frogfish, green turtle
- Vanuatu (Espiritu Santo)Vanuatu
Peak season: May–November · Intermediate · Shore, Day boat, Resort
- AnilaoPhilippines
Peak season: October–June · Beginner · Resort, Day boat
Known for nudibranchs, frogfish, blue-ringed octopus, mimic octopus
- Poor Knights IslandsNew Zealand
Peak season: November–April · Intermediate · Day boat
Known for short-tail stingray, orca, nudibranchs, subtropical fish
- Puerto GaleraPhilippines
Peak season: year-round · Intermediate · Resort, Day boat
Known for frogfish, nudibranchs, whitetip reef shark, ghost pipefish
- Chuuk LagoonMicronesia
Peak season: year-round · Intermediate · Liveaboard, Resort
Known for grey reef shark, WWII Japanese fleet, soft corals
- Tulamben & AmedIndonesia
Peak season: year-round · Beginner · Shore, Resort
Known for bumphead parrotfish, pygmy seahorse, garden eels, barracuda
- Lembeh StraitIndonesia
Peak season: year-round · Beginner · Resort, Day boat
Known for mimic octopus, hairy frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus, rhinopias
- CoronPhilippines
Peak season: November–May · Intermediate · Day boat, Resort, Liveaboard