Underwater Photography

Top 7 December Dive Destinations

December and January are two of the busiest months for holiday travel, especially in North America where temperatures start to drop and folks start to crave sunshine and warm waters. But what are the best destinations for SCUBA diving during these months? Weather in different parts of the tropics and elsewhere can vary widely, as do high and low seasons for dive travel. So, we put together a list of our seven favorite dive destinations for December and January. Did we miss any? Let us know!

1. Maldives

photo source: Caradonna Dive Adventures – caradonna.com

The Maldives are a popular destination year round, but December and January are a particularly special time. Sharks like hammerheads, tigers, and silky sharks frequent many areas, especially the southern atolls, and manta rays are abundant.

Thanks to the monsoon seasons, December offers the best visibility and currents that bring plankton attract filter feeders including whale sharks.

As for the reefs, a diverse array of hard and soft corals are present throughout the Maldives, especially in the less-frequented southern reefs. However, be advised that currents are quite strong during this season, and divers should be aware of this and plan accordingly.

Liveaboards are a great option for diving the Maldives during this time of year – most boats travel to Vaavu, Meemu, Thaa and Laamu Atolls, while a few touch Huvadhu and Addu Atolls.

2.  Mexico – Socorro Islands

photo credit: Scott Gietler

Located off the coast of Mexico, the  Socorro Islands are famous for the big stuff. Schooling hammerheads,  tiger sharks, Galapagos sharks, silky sharks, manta rays, and dolphins all are common. And, occasionally, you may see a whale shark, or even a humpback!

Socorro Island is only reachable by liveaboard. The diving season is from November to May; from November through early January, water temperatures range from 23 to 26° C (73-79° F) and a cooler 21-23° C (70-73° F) from late January to early April. Visibility is usually excellent, averaging 30 meters.

3. Indonesia – Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat is one of the most famous diving destinations in the world, and for good reason. And, if you’re planning a holiday dive trip, you’re in luck – Raja Ampat is at its best from October to April, and December and January are two of the best months to visit.

photo credit: befreetour.com

Thanks to its remote location, diving Raja Ampat is a bit more complicated to get to, but divers are rewarded by some of the most diverse coral reefs in the world. Liveaboard is the way to go

Macro lovers will find myriad critters to photograph in the sediment, while megafauna fans will not be disappointed by the sharks, mantas, and even occasional whales.

4. Norway

Get in the water in Norway, in January?? You must be crazy!

It does sound a little crazy, we admit – but there’s a reason ocean enthusiasts flock to Norway between October and February. That reason is the pods of orcas and humpbacks that frequent the area during this time, creating unbelievable snorkeling opportunities for those brave enough to test the waters.

These whales follow the herring track along the Kaldfjord, a sheltered area outside of Tromso. After Christmas, they head out to sea, making encounters much more rare.

In general, the Norwegian coastline offers some of the best cold water diving in the world, offering a new perspective for divers used to seeing reefs or more tropical realms.

Orca and whale encounters are best on snorkel, because diver bubbles tend to scare off these animals. And, be prepared to completely commit to a drysuit! Liveaboards are once more the way to go for Norway dive and snorkel adventures.

5. Red Sea

The author of this article is biased on this one, because he’s spent most of the last three years diving constantly in the Red Sea.

But, having said that, the Red Sea is a gem in the desert, brimming with incredible reefs on both coasts. In December and January (and into February and March), the weather is considerably cooler and less humid (less camera fogging!). The water temperatures are also a bit cooler, down to 25 or 26 C in a lot of places and even cooler in some areas. This can be a lot more pleasant than summer temps in the mid 30’s.

A Saudi Arabian Red Sea reef at sunset.

Most divers head to Egypt to experience Red Sea coral reefs, which can also include some nice encounters with megafauna like oceanic white tips sharks, reef sharks, etc. Many dive resorts operate up and down the Egyptian coastline, with popular spots in Hurghada and Sharm el Sheik.

Camels and coral? It’s possible in the Red Sea!

Another option becoming more and more accessible is Saudi Arabia. I’ve spent a lot of time diving along the Saudi Arabian coastline, which is now open to tourist visas. Jeddah and Yanbu are my favorite dive destinations on this coastline – and, as a bonus, a lot of reefs are mostly undiscovered by dive tourists.

The downside in comparison to the Egyptian (or even better, the more dangerous and less accessible Sudanese) coastline is a lack of larger reef predators like sharks and big reef fish, but the reefs are fantastic. Occasionally, you may also encounter whale sharks, but it is rare except for in Al Lith and usually in the spring.

6. Micronesia

Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon in the Federated States of Micronesia is one of the world’s best wreck diving destinations, and is best visited in December. Chuuk Lagoon is a reef-protected lagoon, making for easy dives, but it is nonetheless stunning beneath the surface.

Siren in Truk Lagoon

The reason for the incredible array of wreck dives in Chuuk Lagoon stems from World War II, when more than 200 aircraft and 60 ships were sunk during an allied attack on the Japanese naval base.

Today, this represents a Japanese memorial, which is open to scuba divers.

During the peak season (including December), conditions are dry and the water is warm – only a 2 or 3mm wetsuit is needed. Outside of the peak season, diving in this area is still excellent.

There are a variety of liveaboards and resorts that facilitate diving in Chuuk Lagoon, but they fill up quickly, especially in December. Plan ahead!

7. Palau

Palau is another bucket list dive destination for a lot of people – for good reason. With more than 1400 species of fish, 500 species of coral, and a large population of pelagic megafauna, Palau offers incredible diving experiences that are hard to find elsewhere.

And, the island landscapes are truly breathtaking – even for non-divers.

The best time to dive Palau is the dry season, from October to April; December and January are right in the middle of the peak season.

Did we miss any of your favorite winter dive destinations? Let us know in the comments!

Morgan Bennett-Smith

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