Reef Explorers

Where to dive in February

36 destinations are at their best in February, and 47 more are good. Seasons come from published sources, month by month.

Best in February

Destinations rated as their best season in February.

Muelle harbour, Puerto Galera

Puerto Galera

Philippines

Best Dec–May

9 Open Water, 16 Advanced, 11 Experienced+

Andrea II dive site, Bonaire

Bonaire

Best Dec–Jun

13 Open Water, 12 Advanced, 4 Experienced+

Entrance to the Dos Ojos cenote

Riviera Maya & Cenotes

Mexico

Best Nov–Apr

11 Open Water, 10 Advanced, 3 Experienced+

Beach and lagoon on Malapascua Island

Malapascua

Philippines

Best Dec–May

9 Open Water, 9 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Granite boulders and clear water, Similan Islands

Similan Islands & Khao Lak

Thailand

Best Feb–Apr

6 Open Water, 13 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Lagoons and karst cliffs of Coron Island

Coron

Philippines

Best Dec–Apr

4 Open Water, 12 Advanced, 3 Experienced+

Aerial view of Guraidhoo island and reef, Maldives

Maldives

Best Dec–May

2 Open Water, 11 Advanced, 5 Experienced+

Goat Cay, Exuma, Bahamas

Bahamas

Best Jun–Mar

10 Open Water, 5 Advanced

Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman

Cayman Islands

Best Dec–Apr

10 Open Water, 7 Advanced

Limestone cliffs and turquoise water at Koh Phi Phi

Phuket & Koh Lanta

Thailand

Best Nov–Apr

9 Open Water, 3 Advanced, 4 Experienced+

Dumaguete, Dauin & Apo Island

Philippines

Best Jan–May

5 Open Water, 7 Advanced, 3 Experienced+

Mactan (Cebu)

Philippines

Best Feb–May

5 Open Water, 5 Advanced, 5 Experienced+

Karst islands of Piaynemo in turquoise water, Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat

Indonesia

Best Oct–Apr

2 Open Water, 10 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Panglao Island from the air

Bohol & Panglao

Philippines

Best Jan–May

5 Open Water, 7 Advanced

Aerial view of Palau's Rock Islands

Palau

Best Dec–Apr

2 Open Water, 5 Advanced, 5 Experienced+

Sri Lanka West & South (Colombo to Unawatuna)

Sri Lanka

Best Nov–Mar

5 Open Water, 4 Advanced, 3 Experienced+

Andaman Islands (Havelock & Neil)

India

Best Dec–Mar

4 Open Water, 4 Advanced, 3 Experienced+

Cancún & Isla Mujeres

Mexico

Best Nov–Feb, Jun–Sep

5 Open Water, 4 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Aerial view of a pass into Chuuk Lagoon

Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon

Micronesia

Best Oct–Apr

6 Advanced, 5 Experienced+

El Nido

Philippines

Best Nov–May

2 Open Water, 7 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Kona (Big Island)

United States

Good all year

8 Open Water, 3 Advanced

Recife & Pernambuco Wrecks

Brazil

Best Dec–Mar

2 Open Water, 9 Advanced

Phú Quốc

Vietnam

Best Nov–Apr

6 Open Water, 3 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Subic Bay

Philippines

Best Jan–Jun

2 Open Water, 6 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Curaçao

Best Jan–Sep

6 Open Water, 2 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Green sea turtle on the reef at Moalboal

Moalboal

Philippines

Best Jan–May

5 Open Water, 4 Advanced

Archway Island, Poor Knights Islands

Poor Knights Islands

New Zealand

Best Dec–Apr

3 Open Water, 2 Advanced, 4 Experienced+

Siquijor

Philippines

Best Feb–May

3 Open Water, 4 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Grand Anse Beach, Grenada

Grenada

Best Dec–May

2 Open Water, 3 Advanced, 3 Experienced+

Netrani Island (Murudeshwar)

India

Best Dec–Feb

3 Open Water, 3 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Stockholm Archipelago & Dalarö

Sweden

Best Sep–May

3 Open Water, 3 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Salish Sea (Vancouver, Victoria & Nanaimo)

Canada

Best Sep–May

3 Open Water, 3 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Pondicherry

India

Best Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov

1 Open Water, 2 Advanced, 3 Experienced+

Abrolhos Marine Park

Brazil

Best Dec–Mar

1 Open Water, 2 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Clear spring water at Ginnie Springs, Florida

Florida Springs

United States

Good all year

4 Advanced

Aerial view of an island in the Revillagigedo Archipelago

Socorro (Revillagigedo)

Mexico

Best Nov–May

4 Advanced

Also good in February

Beach in Wakatobi National Park

Wakatobi

Indonesia

Best Mar–Dec

17 Open Water, 24 Advanced, 4 Experienced+

Broken Bay sea arch, Nusa Penida

Bali & Nusa Penida

Indonesia

Best Apr–Oct

10 Open Water, 15 Advanced, 3 Experienced+

Hawksbill turtle on the reef at Ras Mohammed National Park

Sharm El Sheikh & Ras Mohammed

Egypt

Best Sep–Nov

8 Open Water, 15 Advanced, 3 Experienced+

Anilao

Philippines

Best Nov–Dec, Apr–May

13 Open Water, 6 Advanced, 3 Experienced+

Beach on the east coast of Cozumel

Cozumel

Mexico

Best May–Aug

6 Open Water, 11 Advanced, 5 Experienced+

Pink Beach on Padar Island, Komodo National Park

Komodo

Indonesia

Best Apr–Oct

5 Open Water, 10 Advanced, 5 Experienced+

Sipadan Island seen from the sea

Sipadan & Semporna

Malaysia

Best Apr–Oct

3 Open Water, 14 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef (Cairns & Port Douglas)

Australia

Best May–Aug

9 Open Water, 8 Advanced

Lembeh Island across the strait from Bitung

Lembeh Strait

Indonesia

Best Aug–Dec

1 Open Water, 15 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Desert mountains meeting the Red Sea at Dahab's Blue Hole

Dahab

Egypt

Best Sep–Dec, Mar–Jun

9 Open Water, 7 Advanced

Mango Bay, Koh Tao

Koh Tao

Thailand

Best Mar–May, Sep–Oct

10 Open Water, 6 Advanced

Hanauma Bay, Oahu

Oahu

United States

Best May–Oct

2 Open Water, 13 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Furuzamami Beach, Zamami Island, Kerama Islands

Okinawa & Yonaguni

Japan

Best Apr–May

6 Open Water, 8 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Giftun Island seen across the sea off Hurghada

Hurghada

Egypt

Best Apr–May, Oct–Nov

8 Open Water, 6 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

West Bay beach, Roatán

Roatán & Bay Islands

Honduras

Best Mar–Sep

2 Open Water, 10 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Elphinstone Reef dive site, Marsa Alam

Marsa Alam & the Brothers

Egypt

Best Jun–Oct

8 Open Water, 3 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Umkomaas river mouth and coast from the air, launch point for Aliwal Shoal

Aliwal Shoal & Protea Banks

South Africa

Best May–Nov

3 Open Water, 9 Advanced

Fernando de Noronha

Brazil

Best Mar–Jul, Oct

5 Open Water, 5 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Florida Keys

United States

Best May–Aug

8 Open Water, 2 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Gili Islands

Indonesia

Best Apr–Oct

7 Open Water, 5 Advanced

Koh Samui & Koh Phangan

Thailand

Best Mar–Apr, Jun–Aug

10 Open Water, 2 Advanced

Trincomalee & East Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Best Mar–Sep

7 Open Water, 3 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Kicker Rock (León Dormido) rising from the sea, Galápagos

Galápagos

Ecuador

Best Jun–Nov

1 Open Water, 8 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Gulen (Western Norway)

Norway

Diveable all year

3 Open Water, 3 Advanced, 5 Experienced+

Southeast Florida (Palm Beach to Miami)

United States

Best May–Sep

5 Open Water, 5 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Southern Leyte (Sogod Bay)

Philippines

Best Apr–May, Oct

1 Open Water, 8 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Tofo beach, Mozambique

Tofo

Mozambique

Best Apr–Nov

2 Open Water, 6 Advanced, 3 Experienced+

Maui

United States

Best Mar–Oct

6 Open Water, 4 Advanced

Small island off the coast of Taveuni, Fiji

Taveuni & Rainbow Reef

Fiji

Best Apr–Oct

4 Advanced

Rocky islet off Cocos Island, Costa Rica

Cocos Island

Costa Rica

Best Jun–Nov

7 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Jetty over the lagoon at Rotoava, Fakarava

Fakarava & Rangiroa

French Polynesia

Best Jun–Jul

5 Advanced, 4 Experienced+

Romblon

Philippines

Diveable all year

3 Open Water, 4 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Utila

Honduras

Best Mar–May

6 Open Water, 3 Advanced

Argyll Sea Lochs (Loch Fyne & Loch Long)

United Kingdom

Diveable all year

1 Open Water, 7 Advanced

Aerial view of the Great Blue Hole, Belize

Belize

Best Mar–Jun

2 Open Water, 5 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Sodwana Bay beach with a humpback whale offshore

Sodwana Bay

South Africa

Best Apr–Sep

5 Open Water, 3 Advanced

Nha Trang

Vietnam

Best Apr–Aug

4 Open Water, 2 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Coast and reef at Ningaloo, Western Australia

Ningaloo Reef

Australia

Best Mar–Oct

2 Open Water, 3 Advanced

Utah inland dives (Bonneville Seabase & Homestead Crater)

United States

Diveable all year

2 Open Water, 1 Advanced

Bonne Terre Mine dive site, Missouri

Bonne Terre Mine

United States

Diveable all year

1 Advanced

Eyjafjörður (Strýtan)

Iceland

Diveable all year

1 Advanced

Diver above a shark sculpture in Kreidesee Hemmoor

Hemmoor Chalk Lake

Germany

Diveable all year

1 Advanced

Lago di Capo d'Acqua

Italy

Diveable all year

1 Advanced

Plura Cave (Pluragrotta)

Norway

Diveable all year

1 Experienced+

The Christ of the Abyss statue, San Fruttuoso

Portofino & San Fruttuoso

Italy

Diveable all year

1 Open Water

Sundhäuser See

Germany

Best Jun–Aug

1 Open Water

Susami Bay

Japan

Diveable all year

1 Open Water

Photo credits