Where to dive in January 2026
In season this month: 48 curated locations, 4 bucket-list encounters and the top dive sites where January’s conditions and wildlife align. Rankings come from documented seasonality and operator continuity — not marketing calendars.
In-season locations
Anse Chastanet
Saint Lucia
Apo Reef
Philippines
Ari Atoll
Maldives
Bangaram
India
Bianca C Wreck
Grenada
Bloody Bay Wall
Cayman Islands
Blue Corner
Palau
Bonaire National Marine Park
Bonaire
Catalina Islands
Costa Rica
Chuuk Lagoon
Federated States of Micronesia
Coiba National Park
Panama
Cozumel
Mexico
Dahlak Archipelago
Eritrea
Exuma Cays
Bahamas
Fujairah
United Arab Emirates
Gulf of Tadjoura
Djibouti
Havelock Island
India
Hikkaduwa
Sri Lanka
Jardines de la Reina
Cuba
Jeddah Reefs
Saudi Arabia
Julian Rocks
Australia
Koh Rong
Cambodia
Los Roques
Venezuela
Malapascua
Philippines
Manta Ridge
Federated States of Micronesia
Mergui Archipelago
Myanmar
Milford Sound
New Zealand
Mnemba Atoll
Tanzania
Moalboal
Philippines
North Male Atoll
Maldives
Providencia
Colombia
Raja Ampat
Indonesia
Richelieu Rock
Thailand
Riviera Maya Cenotes
Mexico
Rock Islands
Palau
Saba Marine Park
Saba
Salt Island
British Virgin Islands
Shaab Rumi
Sudan
Silver Bank
Dominican Republic
Similan Islands
Thailand
Socorro Islands
Mexico
Speyside
Trinidad and Tobago
St. Eustatius Marine Park
Sint Eustatius
Stingray City
Cayman Islands
Tiger Beach
Bahamas
Watamu Marine Park
Kenya
Westpunt
Curaçao
Yonaguni
Japan
In-season encounters
Filter by certification
Thermal stress this month
Some reefs are currently under NOAA Coral Reef Watch bleaching alert. If you’re flexible, skip stressed reefs and steer toward locations whose latest survey looks better. See in-season sites with current reef condition →
Methodology
How we picked “in season”
A location, encounter or site is “in season” for January when its curated bestMonths array includes month 1. Best-months come from operator calendars, climatological reanalysis, and (where applicable) the sighting-occurrence-cluster methodology for species. Reef condition framing follows reef-health-aims-noaa.