Best Places to Scuba Dive in August

Top Picks for August

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 August for Clear Water, Manta Rays and Sharks

14 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 August

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

August continues Northern Hemisphere high season. Bali and Komodo offer the year's best mola mola encounters, and the Red Sea remains superb. The Great Barrier Reef is in spring bloom with dry-season visibility. Caribbean hurricane risk peaks this month, though southern sites like Bonaire and Roatan remain viable with careful planning. Turtle hatchings begin across the tropics. The Mediterranean is at its warmest and busiest. This is a good month to target Indonesia and the Pacific for reliable conditions.

Marine Life in August

What you're most likely to encounter this month worldwide

M

Mola mola

Peak encounter season

T

Turtles hatching

Peak encounter season

D

Dolphins

Peak encounter season

Best Destinations by Region

Where to go in August, organized by continent

Asia-Pacific (4 destinations)

4.8

Komodo National Park

Indonesia — Vis 25m — Advanced

4.7

Sipadan

Malaysia — Vis 30m — Intermediate

4.6

Lembeh Strait

Indonesia — Vis 10m — 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 (2 destinations)

4.8

Cocos Island

Costa Rica — Vis 25m — Advanced

4.6

Bonaire

Bonaire — Vis 25m — Beginner

South America (2 destinations)

4.9

Galapagos Islands

Ecuador — Vis 20m — Advanced

4.7

Fernando de Noronha

Brazil — Vis 30m — Intermediate

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

August at a Glance

Best destinations this month vs destinations to avoid

Best This Month (14)

Galapagos Islands Ecuador — ★4.9 Cocos Island Costa Rica — ★4.8 Komodo National Park Indonesia — ★4.8 Fernando de Noronha Brazil — ★4.7 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 Azores Portugal — ★4.3 Bali Indonesia — ★4.2 Silfra Fissure Iceland — ★4.2

Avoid This Month (13)

Raja Ampat Indonesia — ★4.9 Palau Palau — ★4.8 Tubbataha Reefs Philippines — ★4.8 Chuuk Lagoon Micronesia — ★4.7 Maldives Maldives — ★4.7 Malapascua Philippines — ★4.5 Wakatobi Indonesia — ★4.5 Anilao Philippines — ★4.4 Belize Barrier Reef Belize — ★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 August?

Bali and Komodo mola mola continue. Mediterranean diving peaks. Turtle hatchings begin.

Which dive destinations have the best visibility in August?

Among the 14 destinations at their peak in August, the clearest water is Silfra Fissure (100m), Rangiroa (40m), Fernando de Noronha (30m), 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 August?

Manta sightings rate highest in August at Cocos Island (5/5), Komodo National Park (5/5), Galapagos Islands (4/5), Fernando de Noronha (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 August?

Shark action rates highest in August at Galapagos Islands (5/5), Cocos Island (5/5), Komodo National Park (5/5), Rangiroa (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 August?

In August, divers can commonly encounter: Mola mola, Turtles hatching, Dolphins. Specific encounters depend on the destination and local conditions.

Should I avoid any dive destinations in August?

Yes — 13 destinations in our database are outside their best season in August. These include Raja Ampat, Palau, Tubbataha Reefs, Chuuk Lagoon, Maldives. Visibility and conditions may be below peak, but many sites remain diveable year-round.