Whether because we have to or simply because it is the time of year that we like the most, we usually (especially in the northern hemisphere) take a large part of our summer vacation, mainly July and August. It is true that it is a trend that is changing but we know well, because of the many requests we receive for trips in August, both individual and group quotes, that many divers decide to make their expected annual diving trip during these months. We tend to believe that between monsoons in the Indian Ocean and heavy rains in Asia or extreme heat in such popular areas as the Red Sea, the options are few… but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, summer is the best time of the year to dive in some of the best destinations in the world!
These 5 destinations are the first part of «The best diving destinations in summer» post:
1. Galapagos (Ecuador)
Yes, we know that any time is good for diving in Galapagos, we get it. But if want to dive with the biggest whale sharks in the ocean, it is from June on when you have to consider your scuba diving trip to Galapagos.
In Galapagos we have two diving seasons, the wet and the dry. During the dry season, more or less from June to December, the Humbolt current runs from the Antarctic bringing cooler water but loaded with nutrients and plankton passing directly through Galapagos Islands. That’s what whale sharks have known for millions of years, they go to binge and save reserves during this time.
Although the water temperatures are cold (between 19 and 23 ºC) and the sky may be cloudy, in summer there are more chances to find spectacular schools of hammerhead sharks. In this video you can see this glorious whale shark passing through the Galapagos during the month of July, by the way.
One thing we always advise is to book your diving trip to Galapagos at least 6 months in advance to find the best life boats on board and get the cheapest plane tickets.
You can find all-inclusive diving trips to Galapagos by diving travel agencies from around € 6,000. You can also organize flights on your own and book online your liveaboard in Galapagos PADI website from only € 3,700. No, it is not a cheap destination, but it is the best place in the world to dive with big fish! View liveaboard deals in Galapagos
2. Azores (Portugal)
Azores is a near destination (for Europeans, of course), budget and exciting, able to offer diving with blue or mako sharks, mobulas and the possibility of interesting excursions, both on land and sea in search of cetaceans. Also you can take with you your family or non-divers companions as there are many interesting things to do for them.
Summer, it is the only time of the year in which diving can be done in good conditions in Azores. From June to October will be when diving centers (here there is only one liveaboard in Azores) will take you to the seamounts of Princess Alice, Condor Bank or Dollabarat to dive with sharks and jacks near the island of Faial, or take you from Santa Maria in search of the mobulas. And if you are very, very lucky you will have the opportunity to spot whale sharks followed by large schools of tunas.
There are several agencies with which we collaborate that are offering diving trips to both Faial and Santa Maria for about € 1,300 per person final price.
3. Komodo (Indonesia)
Although we can consider April as the best time to dive in Komodo, just after the rainy season, during the summer months, from June to August, there is a greater concentration of plankton in Komodo which attracts manta rays and dight dives are even more spectacular. The night dives in Komodo are specially beautiful this time of the year, when your torch will reveal how the waters of Komodo, especially in the south, become a soup loaded with microscopic animals that feed the ocean. Macro diving during summer time is very interesting in Komodo with lots of amazing critters like frog fish, flamboyant cuttlefish, orangutan crabs…
In summer the visibility is reduced slightly by that amount of food and the currents, already strong in Komodo anytime of the year, intensify, but the experience of diving with dozens of huge manta rays in areas such as Manta Alley is priceless. During the summer months the rain is almost non-existent which also allows to make super interesting excursions to, among other places, the National Park to visit the Komodo dragons.
In Komodo you can find many liveaboards in many different routes. We have dived Komodo in the Mermaid II and is highly recommended.View liveaboards availability and prices in Komodo
4. Bali (Indonesia)
Following with Indonesia, ideal country as you see to dive in summer (the Lembeh Strait is also a good option), Bali is another perfect destination to include in this article, especially if you look for destination for August.
Very suitable for those who prefer to dive from shore, stay in a resort and avoid liveaboards, Bali is one of those places where you can dive all year round but where the best conditions are from April to August. During the dry season in areas such as Tulamben, where lies one of the best wrecks in the world, the USAT Liberty, in summer you can have up to 40 meters of visibility and in Bali it is at this time of the year when you can find more pelagic creatures find such as manta rays, sharks and the famous giant sunfish in diving spots around Bali like Crystal Bay.
5. Cocos Island (Costa Rica)
Unlike in Galapagos, summer is the wet season in Cocos Island and its waters are also more loaded with nutrients than usual, attracting manta rays and the largest schools of hammerhead sharks that you can find throughout the year. Also dolphins, white tip sharks and whale sharks can be spotted in summer although in smaller size and quantity than in Galapagos.
The water is quite cold at this time, the visibility is somewhat worse (especially in July and August) but mainly because of the large amount of nutrients that call the largest pelagic creatures of the ocean. Sea conditions for navigation can be somewhat heavy at this time but the reward is extraordinary as you can see here:
As it happens in Galapagos, it is a very demanded destination and the liveaboards of Cocos are usually fully booked months before departure, here you can see availability of liveaboards in Cocos in the coming months.
