Where to dive in October

35 destinations are at their best in October, and 58 more are good. Seasons come from published sources, month by month.

Best in October

Destinations rated as their best season in October.

Wakatobi

Indonesia

Best Mar–Dec

17 Open Water, 24 Advanced, 4 Experienced+

Malta, Gozo & Comino

Malta

Best Apr–Oct

6 Open Water, 20 Advanced, 13 Experienced+

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+

Azores

Portugal

Best Jul–Oct

4 Open Water, 8 Advanced, 8 Experienced+

Komodo

Indonesia

Best Apr–Oct

5 Open Water, 10 Advanced, 5 Experienced+

Sipadan & Semporna

Malaysia

Best Apr–Oct

3 Open Water, 14 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Bahamas

Best Jun–Mar

10 Open Water, 5 Advanced

Lembeh Island across the strait from Bitung

Lembeh Strait

Indonesia

Best Aug–Dec

1 Open Water, 15 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Dahab

Egypt

Best Sep–Dec, Mar–Jun

9 Open Water, 7 Advanced

Koh Tao

Thailand

Best Mar–May, Sep–Oct

10 Open Water, 6 Advanced

Oahu

United States

Best May–Oct

2 Open Water, 13 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Hurghada

Egypt

Best Apr–May, Oct–Nov

8 Open Water, 6 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Marsa Alam & the Brothers

Egypt

Best Jun–Oct

8 Open Water, 3 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Raja Ampat

Indonesia

Best Oct–Apr

2 Open Water, 10 Advanced, 1 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+

Gili Islands

Indonesia

Best Apr–Oct

7 Open Water, 5 Advanced

Plymouth & South Cornwall

United Kingdom

Best Jul–Oct

4 Open Water, 7 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon

Micronesia

Best Oct–Apr

6 Advanced, 5 Experienced+

Farne Islands & St Abbs

United Kingdom

Best Aug–Oct

7 Open Water, 3 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Galápagos

Ecuador

Best Jun–Nov

1 Open Water, 8 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Kona (Big Island)

United States

Good all year

8 Open Water, 3 Advanced

Southern Leyte (Sogod Bay)

Philippines

Best Apr–May, Oct

1 Open Water, 8 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Tofo

Mozambique

Best Apr–Nov

2 Open Water, 6 Advanced, 3 Experienced+

Dorset (Portland & Swanage)

United Kingdom

Best May–Oct

6 Open Water, 3 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Maui

United States

Best Mar–Oct

6 Open Water, 4 Advanced

Taveuni & Rainbow Reef

Fiji

Best Apr–Oct

4 Advanced

Cocos Island

Costa Rica

Best Jun–Nov

7 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+

Ningaloo Reef

Australia

Best Mar–Oct

2 Open Water, 3 Advanced

Clear spring water at Ginnie Springs, Florida

Florida Springs

United States

Good all year

4 Advanced

Port Hardy & God's Pocket

Canada

Best Apr–May, Sep–Oct

2 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

What you can see in October

Marine life with a documented season this month.

Sharks: Aliwal Shoal & Protea Bankspeak Azorespeak Bahamaspeak Cocos Islandpeak Galápagospeak Malapascuapeak Marsa Alam & the Brotherspeak Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon Fakarava & Rangiroa Maldives Palau Raja Ampat Socorro (Revillagigedo)
Whale sharks: Galápagospeak Koh Taopeak Maldivespeak
Manta rays: Kona (Big Island)peak Maldivespeak Okinawa & Yonagunipeak Socorro (Revillagigedo)peak Bali & Nusa Penida Cocos Island Fakarava & Rangiroa Galápagos Great Barrier Reef (Cairns & Port Douglas)Komodo Ningaloo Reef Raja Ampat
Rays: Azorespeak
Turtles: Aliwal Shoal & Protea Banks Bonaire Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon Dumaguete, Dauin & Apo Island Gili Islands Maldives Okinawa & Yonaguni Palau Pondicherry Puerto Galera Taveuni & Rainbow Reef
Whales: Abrolhos Marine Parkpeak Aliwal Shoal & Protea Bankspeak Ningaloo Reefpeak Sodwana Baypeak Tofopeak Azores Fakarava & Rangiroa
Dolphins, seals and sea lions: Farne Islands & St Abbspeak Salish Sea (Vancouver, Victoria & Nanaimo)peak Aliwal Shoal & Protea Banks Azores Fakarava & Rangiroa Finistère (Brest, Crozon & Glénan)Hurghada Ningaloo Reef Pondicherry
Big schools and pelagics: Bali & Nusa Penidapeak Moalboalpeak Bohol & Panglao Galápagos Maldives Palau Sipadan & Semporna
Macro life: Dumaguete, Dauin & Apo Islandpeak Lembeh Straitpeak Anilao Pondicherry

Also good in October

Puerto Galera

Philippines

Best Dec–May

9 Open Water, 16 Advanced, 11 Experienced+

Bonaire

Best Dec–Jun

13 Open Water, 12 Advanced, 4 Experienced+

Riviera Maya & Cenotes

Mexico

Best Nov–Apr

11 Open Water, 10 Advanced, 3 Experienced+

Anilao

Philippines

Best Nov–Dec, Apr–May

13 Open Water, 6 Advanced, 3 Experienced+

Cozumel

Mexico

Best May–Aug

6 Open Water, 11 Advanced, 5 Experienced+

Malapascua

Philippines

Best Dec–May

9 Open Water, 9 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Coron

Philippines

Best Dec–Apr

4 Open Water, 12 Advanced, 3 Experienced+

Maldives

Best Dec–May

2 Open Water, 11 Advanced, 5 Experienced+

Cayman Islands

Best Dec–Apr

10 Open Water, 7 Advanced

Great Barrier Reef (Cairns & Port Douglas)

Australia

Best May–Aug

9 Open Water, 8 Advanced

Furuzamami Beach, Zamami Island, Kerama Islands

Okinawa & Yonaguni

Japan

Best Apr–May

6 Open Water, 8 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

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+

Roatán & Bay Islands

Honduras

Best Mar–Sep

2 Open Water, 10 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Bohol & Panglao

Philippines

Best Jan–May

5 Open Water, 7 Advanced

Crete

Greece

Best Jul–Sep

7 Open Water, 1 Advanced, 4 Experienced+

Finistère (Brest, Crozon & Glénan)

France

Best Jun–Sep

3 Open Water, 7 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Florida Keys

United States

Best May–Aug

8 Open Water, 2 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Koh Samui & Koh Phangan

Thailand

Best Mar–Apr, Jun–Aug

10 Open Water, 2 Advanced

Mallorca

Spain

Good May–Oct

6 Open Water, 5 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Narvik & Lofoten

Norway

Best Jul–Aug

4 Open Water, 3 Advanced, 5 Experienced+

Palau

Best Dec–Apr

2 Open Water, 5 Advanced, 5 Experienced+

Scapa Flow (Orkney)

United Kingdom

Best Jun–Sep

3 Open Water, 3 Advanced, 6 Experienced+

Tobermory (Fathom Five)

Canada

Best Jul–Aug

7 Open Water, 4 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Trincomalee & East Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Best Mar–Sep

7 Open Water, 3 Advanced, 2 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+

El Nido

Philippines

Best Nov–May

2 Open Water, 7 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Gulen (Western Norway)

Norway

Diveable all year

3 Open Water, 3 Advanced, 5 Experienced+

Recife & Pernambuco Wrecks

Brazil

Best Dec–Mar

2 Open Water, 9 Advanced

Southeast Florida (Palm Beach to Miami)

United States

Best May–Sep

5 Open Water, 5 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Phú Quốc

Vietnam

Best Nov–Apr

6 Open Water, 3 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Curaçao

Best Jan–Sep

6 Open Water, 2 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Jetty over the lagoon at Rotoava, Fakarava

Fakarava & Rangiroa

French Polynesia

Best Jun–Jul

5 Advanced, 4 Experienced+

Poor Knights Islands

New Zealand

Best Dec–Apr

3 Open Water, 2 Advanced, 4 Experienced+

Romblon

Philippines

Diveable all year

3 Open Water, 4 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Siquijor

Philippines

Best Feb–May

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

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+

Pembrokeshire & Skomer

United Kingdom

Best Jun–Sep

5 Open Water, 1 Advanced, 2 Experienced+

Sodwana Bay

South Africa

Best Apr–Sep

5 Open Water, 3 Advanced

Lundy Island

United Kingdom

Best May–Sep

3 Open Water, 3 Advanced

Conception Bay & Bell Island (Newfoundland)

Canada

Best Jun–Sep

1 Open Water, 1 Advanced, 3 Experienced+

Abrolhos Marine Park

Brazil

Best Dec–Mar

1 Open Water, 2 Advanced, 1 Experienced+

Utah inland dives (Bonneville Seabase & Homestead Crater)

United States

Diveable all year

2 Open Water, 1 Advanced

Baia (Bay of Naples)

Italy

Best Jun–Jul, Sep

1 Open Water

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

SS Yongala (Townsville)

Australia

Best Jun–Sep

1 Advanced

Sundhäuser See

Germany

Best Jun–Aug

1 Open Water

Susami Bay

Japan

Diveable all year

1 Open Water

Usually closed in October

Qiandao Lake (Lion City), Socorro (Revillagigedo), Tubbataha, Verzasca River (Lavertezzo).

Match destinations to your level in October ← September November →

Photo credits

Beach in Wakatobi National Park, Jenny from Taipei, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cliffs of Dwejra Bay, Gozo, Felix König, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Broken Bay sea arch, Nusa Penida, Georgi Kovachev, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Hawksbill turtle on the reef at Ras Mohammed National Park, Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Coastline of Faial island, Azores, JopkeB, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pink Beach on Padar Island, Komodo National Park, Devagonal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sipadan Island seen from the sea, Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Goat Cay, Exuma, Bahamas, DrGvago, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Lembeh Island across the strait from Bitung, Sakurai Midori, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
Desert mountains meeting the Red Sea at Dahab's Blue Hole, Petar Milošević, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mango Bay, Koh Tao, ScorpioZZ, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Hanauma Bay, Oahu, ErgoSum88, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Giftun Island seen across the sea off Hurghada, user:vberger, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Elphinstone Reef dive site, Marsa Alam, Dereck Keats, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Karst islands of Piaynemo in turquoise water, Raja Ampat, peter harris, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Umkomaas river mouth and coast from the air, launch point for Aliwal Shoal, Noelmcdonogh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Aerial view of a pass into Chuuk Lagoon, Flickr user Matt Kieffer, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Kicker Rock (León Dormido) rising from the sea, Galápagos, Xxchangwoo0120xx, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Tofo beach, Mozambique, Erik Cleves Kristensen, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Small island off the coast of Taveuni, Fiji, Mike's Birds from Riverside, CA, US, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Rocky islet off Cocos Island, Costa Rica, Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía del Gobierno de Costa Rica, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Coast and reef at Ningaloo, Western Australia, W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Clear spring water at Ginnie Springs, Florida, (WT-de) Mistoffeles, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Muelle harbour, Puerto Galera, Ralff Nestor Nacor, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Andrea II dive site, Bonaire, LASZLO ILYES from Cleveland, Ohio, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Entrance to the Dos Ojos cenote, Dag Lindgren, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Beach on the east coast of Cozumel, Ricraider, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Beach and lagoon on Malapascua Island, Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Lagoons and karst cliffs of Coron Island, Nicko Melendres, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Aerial view of Guraidhoo island and reef, Maldives, Luka Peternel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, Coolcaesar, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef, Ank Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Furuzamami Beach, Zamami Island, Kerama Islands, Hashi photo, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Limestone cliffs and turquoise water at Koh Phi Phi, Luxure, CC BY 3.0 au, via Wikimedia Commons
West Bay beach, Roatán, Westbrowncanada, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Panglao Island from the air, Patrickroque01, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Aerial view of Palau's Rock Islands, Luka Peternel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Jetty over the lagoon at Rotoava, Fakarava, Frédéric Jacquot (deelight@poulet.org), CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
Archway Island, Poor Knights Islands, Pseudopanax at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Grand Anse Beach, Grenada, dpursoo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sodwana Bay beach with a humpback whale offshore, FinlayCox143, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bonne Terre Mine dive site, Missouri, Serge Melki from Indianapolis, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Diver above a shark sculpture in Kreidesee Hemmoor, Dr. W. Strickling, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Christ of the Abyss statue, San Fruttuoso, Lucianoro1, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Yongala dive site, Australia, Orin Optiglot, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons