Where to Dive in January
The best scuba diving destinations with excellent conditions this month
Excellent Diving
Highlights: Crystal clear water, excellent for cave diving exploration.
Bonne Terre Mine
United StatesHighlights: Stable temperature, exceptional visibility
Lighthouse Reef Atoll
BelizeHighlights: Exceptional visibility, famous for the Great Blue Hole. Whale shark sightings possible.
Grand Cayman
Cayman IslandsHighlights: World-renowned Stingray City, excellent visibility for reef diving.
Porto Marie
CuraçaoHighlights: Exceptional visibility, known for its healthy coral gardens and diverse fish life.
Mushroom Forest
CuraçaoHighlights: Unique coral formations resembling mushrooms, abundant reef fish.
Sint Maarten Marine Park
Saint MartinHighlights: Peak dry season, excellent visibility and calm seas. Ideal for exploring shipwrecks and coral reefs.
French Marine Reserves
Saint MartinHighlights: Exceptional visibility, abundant coral formations and diverse fish populations.
Charlotteville, Tobago
Trinidad and TobagoHighlights: Excellent visibility, known for the 'Sisters' and 'London Bridge' dive sites.
Grace Bay
Turks and Caicos IslandsHighlights: Excellent visibility, humpback whale migration begins.
St. John
U.S. Virgin IslandsHighlights: Exceptional visibility in the National Park waters, abundant marine life
Galápagos Islands
EcuadorHighlights: Warm season, excellent visibility, abundant marine life including hammerheads and sea lions.
Los Roques Archipelago
VenezuelaHighlights: Excellent visibility, abundant coral reefs and fish
Socorro Island
MexicoHighlights: Humpback whale season begins, potential for sightings.
Banco Chinchorro
MexicoHighlights: Whale shark sightings possible, good visibility
Florida Keys
United StatesHighlights: Good visibility, potential for whale shark sightings offshore.
Channel Islands
United StatesHighlights: Good visibility, kelp forests are vibrant, potential for whale sightings.
Turneffe Atoll
BelizeHighlights: Whale shark sightings possible, good visibility.
Glovers Reef Atoll
BelizeHighlights: Good visibility, diverse reef structures, potential for whale shark sightings.
Cocos Island
Costa RicaHighlights: Hammerhead shark season begins, good for large schools
Caño Island
Costa RicaHighlights: Good visibility, possibility of humpback whales offshore
Catalina Islands
Costa RicaHighlights: Dry season, good visibility, possibility of humpback whales
Gulf of Papagayo
Costa RicaHighlights: Good visibility, potential for humpback whales offshore.
Drake Bay
Costa RicaHighlights: Dry season, excellent visibility for spotting marine life in Caño Island Biological Reserve.
Roatán
HondurasHighlights: Dry season, excellent visibility, potential for whale sharks
Cayos Cochinos
HondurasHighlights: Calm seas, good for exploring the coral gardens
Corn Islands
NicaraguaHighlights: Good visibility, potential for whale shark sightings early in the season.
Coiba National Park
PanamaHighlights: Dry season, excellent visibility, whale sharks possible
Gulf of Chiriqui
PanamaHighlights: Good visibility, chance of humpback whales offshore
San Blas Islands
PanamaHighlights: Clear waters, good visibility for exploring reefs and shipwrecks.
Sandy Ground
AnguillaHighlights: Clear waters, good for exploring shipwrecks and reefs.
Shoal Bay
AnguillaHighlights: Clear waters, good for exploring shallow reefs and seagrass beds.
Prickly Pear Cays
AnguillaHighlights: Calm seas, good for exploring shallow reefs
North Coast of Antigua
Antigua and BarbudaHighlights: Whale shark sightings possible
Barbuda
Antigua and BarbudaHighlights: Excellent visibility, abundant marine life
South Coast of Aruba
ArubaHighlights: Good visibility, calm seas, possibility of seeing turtles.
West Coast of Aruba
ArubaHighlights: Calm waters, excellent visibility. Ideal for beginners and macro photography.
Northern Aruba
ArubaHighlights: Good visibility, potential for whale shark sightings offshore.
Grand Bahama Island
BahamasHighlights: Shark diving season (tiger sharks, hammerheads).
Nassau
BahamasHighlights: Excellent visibility for wreck diving and reef exploration.
Eleuthera
BahamasHighlights: Excellent visibility for shark diving and reef exploration
Carlisle Bay
BarbadosHighlights: Good visibility for shipwrecks and sea turtles
The West Coast
BarbadosHighlights: Good visibility, potential for sea turtle sightings.
Folkestone Marine Park
BarbadosHighlights: Protected marine park, abundant fish life and coral formations.
Tortola and Surrounding Waters
British Virgin IslandsVirgin Gorda and Neighboring Sites
British Virgin IslandsHighlights: Good visibility, potential for whale sightings offshore.
Cooper Island
British Virgin IslandsHighlights: Calm seas, good for exploring reefs.
Anegada
British Virgin IslandsHighlights: Good visibility, ideal for exploring the Horseshoe Reef.
Norman Island
British Virgin IslandsHighlights: Good chance of seeing large schools of fish
Salt Island
British Virgin IslandsHighlights: Good visibility, potential for whale shark sightings early in the year.
Cayman Brac
Cayman IslandsHighlights: Excellent visibility, known for the wreck of the MV Captain Keith Tibbetts.
Little Cayman
Cayman IslandsHighlights: Good chance of seeing eagle rays and turtles.
Jardines de la Reina
CubaHighlights: Excellent for sharks (reef, bull, tiger) and large groupers. Cooler water.
Isla de la Juventud
CubaHighlights: Humpback whale sightings possible offshore.
Bay of Pigs
CubaHighlights: Calm waters, good for beginners and exploring cenotes.
East Point
CuraçaoHighlights: Good chance of seeing turtles and schooling fish.
Playa Kalki
CuraçaoHighlights: Good chance of seeing turtles and various reef fish.
Tugboat
CuraçaoHighlights: The wreck of the Tugboat is a popular spot, good for macro photography.
Soufriere Scotts Head Marine Reserve
DominicaHighlights: Good chance of seeing large pelagics
The Cabrits Dive Centre Zone
DominicaHighlights: Good visibility, potential for whale sharks passing through.
Pointe Michel
DominicaHighlights: Good visibility, known for its healthy coral gardens and diverse fish life.
Toucari Bay
DominicaHighlights: Calm waters, excellent for beginners and exploring the shallow reefs.
Punta Cana and Bavaro
Dominican RepublicHighlights: Humpback whale sightings begin offshore
La Romana
Dominican RepublicHighlights: Whale shark sightings possible, good visibility.
Samaná Peninsula
Dominican RepublicHighlights: Humpback whale season begins, excellent for whale watching and diving in calmer waters.
Moliniere Point
GrenadaHighlights: The Underwater Sculpture Park is vibrant with marine life.
Carriacou
GrenadaHighlights: Excellent visibility for exploring the diverse reefs and wrecks.
Grenada's Atlantic Side
GrenadaHighlights: Good visibility, potential for whale sharks offshore.
Cote des Arcadins
HaitiHighlights: Calm seas, good visibility for exploring reefs.
Cap-Haitien and Labadee
HaitiHighlights: Clear waters, good for exploring the reefs and underwater formations.
Ile a Vache
HaitiHighlights: Calm seas and excellent visibility, perfect for exploring the shallow reefs.
Montego Bay Marine Park
JamaicaHighlights: Clear waters, good for spotting reef fish.
Ocho Rios
JamaicaHighlights: Good visibility, potential for humpback whale sightings offshore.
Runaway Bay
JamaicaHighlights: Excellent visibility, ideal for exploring shipwrecks and reefs.
Northwest Montserrat
MontserratHighlights: Good visibility, potential for whale sightings offshore.
Rendezvous Bay
MontserratHighlights: Calm waters, good for beginners and exploring shallow reefs.
La Parguera
Puerto RicoHighlights: Good visibility, calm waters, potential for whale shark sightings.
Isla de Mona
Puerto RicoHighlights: Excellent visibility, ideal for exploring caves and overhangs.
Desecheo Island
Puerto RicoHighlights: Clear waters, good for spotting larger marine life like dolphins and turtles.
Colombier Bay
Saint BarthélemyHighlights: Good visibility, calm waters, possibility of seeing turtles.
Pain de Sucre
Saint BarthélemyHighlights: Calm waters, good for beginners, vibrant coral formations.
Anse des Cayes
Saint BarthélemyHighlights: Calm seas, good visibility for exploring reefs.
Basseterre, St. Kitts
Saint Kitts and NevisHighlights: Clear waters, good for exploring shipwrecks near the coast.
Frigate Bay, St. Kitts
Saint Kitts and NevisHighlights: Calm waters, good for beginners and exploring shallow reefs.
Sandy Point, St. Kitts
Saint Kitts and NevisHighlights: Good visibility, potential for whale sightings offshore.
Charlestown, Nevis
Saint Kitts and NevisHighlights: Calm seas, good visibility for exploring reefs.
Oualie Beach, Nevis
Saint Kitts and NevisHighlights: Calm waters, good for beginner divers and snorkeling.
Nisbet Plantation Beach, Nevis
Saint Kitts and NevisHighlights: Humpback whale sightings possible offshore
Soufriere Marine Management Area (SMMA)
Saint LuciaHighlights: Good visibility, potential for seeing pelagic species
Anse Cochon
Saint LuciaHighlights: Clear waters, good for spotting smaller reef fish
Marigot Bay
Saint LuciaHighlights: Calm seas, good visibility for exploring reefs and wrecks.
Rodney Bay
Saint LuciaHighlights: Calm seas, excellent visibility for exploring the reefs and wrecks in the bay.
Man of War Shoal Marine Park
Saint MartinHighlights: Good visibility, potential for whale sightings offshore.
Bequia
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesHighlights: Clear waters, good for spotting larger pelagics
Mustique
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesHighlights: Calm seas and good visibility, ideal for exploring reefs
Tobago Cays
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesHighlights: Good visibility, potential for whale sharks early in the season.
Canouan
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesHighlights: Clear waters, good for exploring reefs and marine life.
Mayreau
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesHighlights: Calm seas and excellent visibility, great for exploring reefs.
Union Island
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesHighlights: Good visibility, potential for whale shark sightings.
Man of War Shoal Marine Park
Sint MaartenHighlights: Good visibility, potential for whale shark sightings offshore.
Dawn Beach
Sint MaartenHighlights: Good visibility, calm seas, possibility of seeing turtles.
Speyside, Tobago
Trinidad and TobagoHighlights: Excellent visibility, calm seas. Good for spotting turtles and rays.
Crown Point, Tobago
Trinidad and TobagoHighlights: Good visibility, possibility of seeing turtles and rays.
Southwest Tobago
Trinidad and TobagoHighlights: Good visibility, potential for seeing dolphins and various reef fish.
Store Bay, Tobago
Trinidad and TobagoHighlights: Good visibility, potential for whale sharks passing through.
Mt. Irvine, Tobago
Trinidad and TobagoHighlights: Good visibility, potential for whale sharks passing through.
Northwest Point
Turks and Caicos IslandsHighlights: Potential for whale shark sightings
St. Thomas
U.S. Virgin IslandsHighlights: Whale shark sightings possible, good visibility
St. Croix
U.S. Virgin IslandsHighlights: Excellent visibility, ideal for exploring the wall dives and wrecks
Buck Island, St. Croix
U.S. Virgin IslandsHighlights: Good visibility, calm seas, potential for whale sightings offshore.
Villa Traful
ArgentinaHighlights: Clear lake waters, good for exploring submerged landscapes
Fernando de Noronha
BrazilHighlights: Dry season, excellent visibility, good for spotting dolphins
Highlights: Humpback whale calves starting to be seen
Maragogi
BrazilHighlights: Good visibility, warm waters, potential for whale shark sightings further offshore.
Easter Island
ChileHighlights: Warmest water, good for exploring statues and marine life.
Highlights: Summer, good visibility and marine life.
Punta de Choros
ChileHighlights: Summer, good for seeing Humboldt penguins and sea lions.
San Andres and Providencia
ColombiaHighlights: Calm seas, excellent visibility for exploring reefs.
Rosario Islands
ColombiaHighlights: Clear waters, ideal for exploring coral gardens and shipwrecks.
Malpelo Island
ColombiaHighlights: Start of hammerhead shark season, large schools are common.
Taganga
ColombiaHighlights: Good visibility, calm seas, possibility of seeing turtles.
San Cristobal Island
EcuadorHighlights: Sea lion pups are active, good chance to see hammerhead sharks.
Cape Pembroke
Falkland IslandsHighlights: Good visibility, potential for seeing seals and various seabirds.
Jason Islands
Falkland IslandsHighlights: Remote location with pristine kelp forests and abundant fish.
Mochima National Park
VenezuelaHighlights: Clear waters, good for exploring reefs and wrecks
Morrocoy National Park
VenezuelaHighlights: Clear waters, good for spotting marine life
Isla Margarita
VenezuelaHighlights: Clear waters, good for spotting marine life
Cayo Sal
VenezuelaHighlights: Good visibility, calm seas, potential for whale shark sightings.