Best Places to Scuba Dive in June

Top Picks for June

The highest-rated dive destinations at their peak this month

Galapagos Islands

4.9/5

Ecuador — Advanced — Luxury

The ultimate big-animal diving destination - Darwin and Wolf await

Vis20m

Temp22°C

Cost$400

Cocos Island

4.8/5

Costa Rica — Advanced — Luxury

The Island of Sharks - hammerhead schools so dense they block out the sun

Vis25m

Temp25°C

Cost$450

Komodo National Park

4.8/5

Indonesia — Advanced — Mid-Range

The wild heart of the Coral Triangle - where dragons meet dragons of the deep

Vis25m

Temp27°C

Cost$180

Where to Dive in June for Clear Water, Manta Rays and Sharks

16 destinations are at their peak this month. These three shortlists rank them by the conditions most divers plan a trip around — how far you can see, and how reliable the big animals are.

Best visibility

Best for manta rays

Best for sharks

Visibility is the average figure for the season and shark and manta scores are our own five-point rating — both are the same numbers each destination's own guide page uses.

Diving Conditions in June

What to expect underwater this month, from water temperature and visibility to marine life activity and seasonal patterns.

June is mola mola (oceanic sunfish) season in Bali and the start of the Galapagos whale shark season. The Similans close for monsoon, while the Red Sea hits 26-28°C with outstanding visibility. Mediterranean diving comes alive with warm water and calm seas. The Great Barrier Reef offers dry-season conditions. Raja Ampat tapers through early June. Hammerhead action peaks at Cocos Island. This is a great month for Europe-based divers — the Azores deliver their best pelagic encounters now.

Marine Life in June

What you're most likely to encounter this month worldwide

W

Whale sharks

Peak encounter season

M

Mola mola

Peak encounter season

T

Turtles

Peak encounter season

Best Destinations by Region

Where to go in June, organized by continent

Asia-Pacific (6 destinations)

4.8

Komodo National Park

Indonesia — Vis 25m — Advanced

4.8

Tubbataha Reefs

Philippines — Vis 35m — Intermediate

4.7

Sipadan

Malaysia — Vis 30m — Intermediate

4.6

Lembeh Strait

Indonesia — Vis 10m — Beginner

4.5

Wakatobi

Indonesia — Vis 30m — Beginner

4.2

Bali

Indonesia — Vis 20m — Beginner

Europe (2 destinations)

4.3

Azores

Portugal — Vis 20m — Intermediate

4.2

Silfra Fissure

Iceland — Vis 100m — Intermediate

North America & Caribbean (3 destinations)

4.8

Cocos Island

Costa Rica — Vis 25m — Advanced

4.6

Bonaire

Bonaire — Vis 25m — Beginner

4.4

Belize Barrier Reef

Belize — Vis 25m — Beginner

South America (1 destinations)

4.9

Galapagos Islands

Ecuador — Vis 20m — Advanced

Oceania (4 destinations)

4.7

Rangiroa

French Polynesia — Vis 40m — Advanced

4.6

Kimbe Bay

Papua New Guinea — Vis 25m — Beginner

4.5

Fiji

Fiji — Vis 30m — Beginner

4.5

Great Barrier Reef

Australia — Vis 25m — Beginner

June at a Glance

Best destinations this month vs destinations to avoid

Best This Month (16)

Galapagos Islands Ecuador — ★4.9 Cocos Island Costa Rica — ★4.8 Komodo National Park Indonesia — ★4.8 Tubbataha Reefs Philippines — ★4.8 Rangiroa French Polynesia — ★4.7 Sipadan Malaysia — ★4.7 Bonaire Bonaire — ★4.6 Kimbe Bay Papua New Guinea — ★4.6 Lembeh Strait Indonesia — ★4.6 Fiji Fiji — ★4.5 Great Barrier Reef Australia — ★4.5 Wakatobi Indonesia — ★4.5 Belize Barrier Reef Belize — ★4.4 Azores Portugal — ★4.3 Bali Indonesia — ★4.2

Avoid This Month (11)

Raja Ampat Indonesia — ★4.9 Palau Palau — ★4.8 Chuuk Lagoon Micronesia — ★4.7 Fernando de Noronha Brazil — ★4.7 Maldives Maldives — ★4.7 Malapascua Philippines — ★4.5 Anilao Philippines — ★4.4 Poor Knights Islands New Zealand — ★4.4 Cozumel Mexico — ★4.3 Ras Mohammed Egypt — ★4.3 Similan Islands Thailand — ★4.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the best scuba diving in June?

Mola mola (oceanic sunfish) season in Bali. Galapagos whale sharks arrive.

Which dive destinations have the best visibility in June?

Among the 16 destinations at their peak in June, the clearest water is Silfra Fissure (100m), Rangiroa (40m), Tubbataha Reefs (35m), Sipadan (30m). Those are average figures for the season, so a storm day can still fall short of them.

Where can I see manta rays in June?

Manta sightings rate highest in June at Cocos Island (5/5), Komodo National Park (5/5), Galapagos Islands (4/5), Tubbataha Reefs (4/5), on our five-point marine-life scale. Clean-water cleaning stations are where they show up most reliably.

Where can I see sharks in June?

Shark action rates highest in June at Galapagos Islands (5/5), Cocos Island (5/5), Komodo National Park (5/5), Tubbataha Reefs (5/5), on our five-point marine-life scale. Passes and channel currents between islands are the usual places to wait for them.

What marine life can I see in June?

In June, divers can commonly encounter: Whale sharks, Mola mola, Turtles. Specific encounters depend on the destination and local conditions.

Should I avoid any dive destinations in June?

Yes — 11 destinations in our database are outside their best season in June. These include Raja Ampat, Palau, Chuuk Lagoon, Fernando de Noronha, Maldives. Visibility and conditions may be below peak, but many sites remain diveable year-round.