There are a million amazing places to SCUBA dive in this world, but nearly all of them are seasonal. One amazing location in February, might be a murky nightmare in August, and so on.
One should always know the best times to go to places, to make sure they get the very best dives possible, and take full advantage of their scuba holiday.
with this in mind, we are putting together a 12 part series, listing the best places to scuba dive each month of the year. This way, you can plan your dream trip, and not worry about bad conditions locally!
Where to Scuba Dive in January 2018
It should be noted that there are a lot more locations around the world that are great in January, but since we can’t list them all, here are our top picks where you can’t go wrong.
1. Florida
We knew Florida would be on one of these months/lists, but had to decide which one. The fact is, that scuba diving Florida is great year round with clear and warm waters.
The reason we chose January is because the summer months tend to be when most people take their vacation times, and this is when Florida is the most crowded. So this said, maybe the off-season is the best time to plan a scuba trip.
Well, whether you choose January or the more crowded summer months, you really can’t go wrong.
2. Philippines
Scuba diving Philippines is one of the best experiences a dive traveler can have. Even so, being in the tropics, Philippines does has its typhoon and rainy seasons to avoid.
Rainy season is June to October, with some typhoons thrown in, and even though you can still have some good diving in some locations, it would be better to hit the dry season.
November to May is dry season, and you are going to get some epic diving, and January is right in that mix. We highly recommend scuba diving Malapascua and Dauin.
3. Raja Ampat, Indonesia
January is right in the middle of the best season to head to eastern Indonesia of Raja Ampat in Western Papua. This is the time of year you will get the greatest visibility and calmest waves.
You might have noticed that we didn’t just list Indonesia in general here. Indonesia is so big and spread out, that the east and west have different seasons. The dry season in Raja Ampat isn’t exactly the best season in Bali or further west.
If you are heading to Raja Ampat, your mind is going to be blown away at dive sites with names like Melissa’s Garden and Blue Magic. Don’t miss them or Misool!
4. Trinidad & Tobago
The scuba diving in T&T is world class, and is a lesser known gem or the Caribbean. This island nation is far to the south in the Caribbean, just above Venezuela, and is popular for not just diving, but Carnival as well.
The dry season is from January to May, so head there during this time to explore some great dive sites, some a favorite of the one an only Jaques Cousteau.
Dont sut dive about Trinidad either, head to the opposite island of Tobago, for more great dives and a more laid back vibe.
5. Palau
For the more adventurous scuba travelers who want to venture far off the beaten path, head to the Pacific island nation of Palau.
Palau is more known for its big critters, drift and wall dives, other than macro critters, and is by far the less-visited country on this list.
You can basically visit all year round, but the best season for scuba diving Palau is from December to March, where you will get less rain and calmer seas. You will not regret wandering this far out to hop in the ocean.
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As I said, there are so many more cool locations where you can scuba dive in January, but with our recommendations above, you seriously can’t go wrong. In any one of these locations, you are nearly guaranteed to leave with no regrets.
Whats our number one recommendation? If I had a gun to my head, and had to choose just one, I suppose I’d have to choose Philippines. Philippines has never disappointed me, and I recommend it to anyone who will listen. If you want to know more we put together a comprehensive guide to scuba diving Philippines!
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