Diving in December: our favorite destinations
Although it is winter in Europe and the water is cold, you can still enjoy great diving elsewhere in the world. In fact, some destinations are at their best just in December. In this article you will discover our favorite places to dive in December, including the reasons why these destinations are so special.
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1. Truk Lagoon, Micronesia
As one of the best wreck diving destinations in the world, December is an excellent month to visit Truk Lagoon. This lagoon houses the wrecked heritage of World War II: more than 200 aircraft and 60 ships were sunk here during an Allied attack on the Japanese naval base. Today, more than 50 wrecks are accessible to divers, making Truk a unique diving experience.
December is ideal because it falls within the peak season from October to April. The weather is dry, the water is pleasantly warm and conditions are calm, allowing you to fully enjoy wrecks full of coral, fish and historical details. These liveaboard trips combine history, adventure and top conditions, making Truk Lagoon a must for any serious wreck diver.
2. Dahab, Egypt
Dahab on the Red Sea in December is a wonderful destination for those who want quiet diving in pleasant conditions. The air temperature is around 22-25°C, the sea water is slightly cooler at 22-23°C, but still comfortable to dive in. It is also the perfect time to take a new course: for example, you can learn technical diving, do a specialty such as side-mount or take a rescue course. Although the water temperature did drop, we still find it a nice destination during this period. It is a lot quieter and also the prices of airline tickets are lower.
Dahab is known for its unique mix of shallow reefs and deep dive sites. Popular dive sites include Blue Hole, the iconic deep hole that empties into the ocean; Canyon, with narrow crevices and colorful coral; and Lighthouse, a relatively calm site with abundant fish and reef life. Currents are usually mild, making these sites suitable for both novice and experienced divers. December also offers calmer conditions than in summer, allowing you to fully enjoy the reefs, turtles and colorful fish.
3. The Maldives
In December, the southwest monsoon season ends and the period of calmer weather and better visibility begins. This makes the Maldives one of the best choices for a diving trip in this month. The atolls each have their own character: Vaavu Atoll is known for its reef sharks, Ari Atoll for whale sharks and Baa Atoll for manta rays.
Diving in the Maldives means varied conditions – from sheltered coral gardens to current dives in channels and along steep walls. A reef hook comes in handy, as the currents can be brisk at times. In return, you get impressive encounters with sharks, large schools of fish and pelagic species like manta rays. The combination of tropical waters, colorful coral and rich marine life makes December a perfect month to explore the atolls, whether from a liveaboard or a resort.
4. Similan Islands, Thailand
The Similan Islands are among Thailand’s best diving destinations, but are only open to tourists from November to April. During this period, you often see algal blooms and an abundance of polyp fish, which attracts large marine animals such as manta rays and whale sharks to dive sites like Koh Bon and Richelieu Rock.
For divers, December is ideal: the water is calm, the weather clear and the underwater conditions excellent. The Similans can only be reached by liveaboard, but that doesn’t mean it has to be expensive. Liveaboards range from short two-day trips to full week-long itineraries and are relatively affordable. So those looking for a festive yet adventurous diving trip in December are in the right place.
5. Socorro, Mexico
Socorro is one of the top destinations for adventurous divers looking for big marine life in December. The diving season here runs from November to May, making December perfect: the water is warm and conditions are calm.
Socorro is known for its impressive pelagic fauna, including manta rays, whale sharks, hammerhead sharks and dolphins. The dive sites consist of volcanic reefs and steep walls in the middle of the ocean, making for spectacular drift dives and encounters with large marine animals. Socorro is only accessible by
6. Belize
Thanks to its location near the equator, Belize is also a wonderful diving destination in December. It falls in the dry season then, so the weather is stable and the sea calm – ideal for exploring the underwater world at your leisure.
During this period, you can witness an extraordinary phenomenon: around the full moon, thousands of Nassau groupers gather at Glover’s Reef to spawn. This is a rare sight seen in only a few places worldwide. Because the reef is remote, a liveaboard is the best way to enjoy this to the fullest. In addition to this unique event, Belize offers stunning coral reefs full of life, from schools of barracudas and sharks to turtles and sometimes even whale sharks.
7. Bimini, Bahamas
December is an excellent month to visit Bimini because the season for the famous Great Hammerhead Sharks has just begun. These impressive sharks gather annually around the Bahamas, and Bimini is one of the best places in the world to see them up close.
The water is still pleasant in December, around 24°C, and the weather is calm, making conditions ideal for several dives a day. For this unique experience, a liveaboard is perfect: you stay close to the dive sites and can take full advantage of shark season several days in a row. During the dives, you visit relatively shallow sandy bottoms where the hammerhead sharks swim by and have the chance to have unforgettable encounters with large marine life.
This destination is not only spectacular but also relatively quiet during this time, making December one of the best months to combine Bimini with a liveaboard adventure.
8. Oman
Oman is a surprisingly fine diving destination in December. The air temperature is around 26-28°C and the sea water is still lovely and warm at 24-26°C. December falls outside the hot summer season, so the sea is calm and visibility is often excellent.
Along the coast, especially around the Daymaniyat Islands, you will find colorful coral gardens, schools of reef fish, turtles and eagle rays regularly. Whale sharks are also sometimes sighted in the fall. The reefs there are healthy and varied, with soft corals and sponges attracting lots of small life.
A liveaboard is the ideal way to explore this part of Oman, as many dive sites can only be reached by boat. December is calm, the weather stable and the underwater world alive – perfect for those looking for a lesser-known but impressive destination to end the year diving.
Other diving destinations in December
Of course, there are a lot of other destinations also possible in December. Some destinations are even great for diving all year round. Check out all the December departure destinations we offer here.