The Best Time Of Year And Where To Find The Best Spots – DesertDivers (2023)

FAQs

What is the best time of year to dive the Galapagos? ›

In summary, the best time to dive in the Galapagos is between June and October because you can see the big wildlife, whale sharks, and big schools of hammerheads.

Plan your trip between March and May or September and November for the best all-around experience. These months offer a perfect balance between excellent diving conditions, fewer tourists, and once-in-a-lifetime wildlife sightings.

The weather in Komodo is at its best between April and November, with the best time to dive falling between May and October. During the wet season - December to March - the weather can get very windy, with a lot of rain, causing rough surface conditions.

Most morning divers are treated to ocean conditions without wind, waves, current, and visibility is also noticeably better earlier in the day. This means easier dives, lower air consumption, longer dives, and more to see!

There are two distinct seasons in the Galapagos: the warm & wet season (January to June) and the cool & dry season (June to December). The seasons are mostly determined by the trade winds, which in turn affect the ocean currents, which in turn affect the weather.

If you get cold extremely easily, you might want a wetsuit even this time of year, however. Cold Season in the Galapagos: The Galapagos Islands waters have the Humboldt Current's influence that brings cold waters, especially during the mist or Garua season (cool, dry weather) from late May/June to December.

Gorgeously Mild Weather

Meanwhile, the water is a warm and comfortable 72°F (22° C)—perfect for swimming and snorkeling throughout the day. If you want that mild tropical weather you've been dreaming about, July is a wonderful time to enjoy it in the Islands.

The better diving season is consider to be May through to November with the best vis towards the end of the cooler season before the rains hit and river run-off affects visibility.

The Red Sea offers great diving all year round but every season brings its own advantages. While the winter months might generally be considered the 'low season' to many, they do offer significant plusses to both divers and more general tourists.

What is the best time of year to dive in Egypt? ›

Diving in Egypt is year-round, but the best time of year to visit is from late July to early December, depending on location, with water temperature rising to over 30°C in August and September.

August-December is when you'll find little wind and calm seas. Most of the pelagic species found during the rainy season leave Costa Rica's coast and are replaced by a variety of fish and macro species. It is also the best time to dive in Costa Rica for beginner divers who prefer easy, colorful diving.

October – December: End of dry season and early of rainy season. If you miss your chance to visit Komodo on April – June, we'd recommend October – December. Less tourist and lots of chance to spot Komodo dragon.

Under most circumstances, diving at high tide yields the best visibility because it brings with it clear, offshore water. If you think current may be a factor in your dive plan, the ideal time to enter the water is around what's termed a slack tide.

Most divers are obsessed with seeing as much as possible underwater, so clear visibility is always a high priority. The best dive conditions for clear visibility are cold water and minimal current. The colder the water is, the more oxygen gets trapped in it, and this can increase the visibility.

The truth is that it doesn't matter what the weather is like outside, you can still go scuba diving, you are going to get wet any way. As long as the weather is within one of the PADI guidelines (from sunny and calm to windy and rainy) then you can still get wet and dive.

The Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC), located at Naval Support Activity Panama City, Florida, is the largest diving facility in the world. NDSTC trains military divers from all services.

Visitors must have a current passport valid for more than three months, adequate funds to support themselves and a return ticket. Be sure to bring your C-card or proof of certification. There are also some requirements to enter the Galapagos Islands.

The only way for travelers to get to the Galapagos Islands is by air. Travelers must fly from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos Island. It is not possible to cruise from mainland on a tourist-class ship, and there is no road or ferry service.

Is it expensive to go to the Galapagos Islands? ›

Galapagos is not a cheap place to visit (but so worth it). Due to their location, the challenges of sustainable tourism there, and the need to support local development, the Galapagos Islands are more expensive than the mainland of Ecuador. While budget travel is feasible, the trip can still cost you a lot.

Wetsuit Insulation

Now whilst neoprene will insulate you from this cold water it is not 100% efficient insulator and some of your body heat (and the heat contained in the thin layer of water around you) will pass through the neoprene and attempt to warm the water outside.

The range of 50 to 78 degrees is therefore the ideal range for using a wetsuit. Any warmer, and the swimmer may actually overheat due to the wetsuit's insulative qualities. Truth be told, we think it is pretty easy to get too warm inside a wetsuit even in the 74-77 degree range.

Generally speaking, anytime the water temp is below 70 degrees, a wetsuit can feel pretty good. And anytime the water temp is below 65, a wetsuit might actually be advised in order to keep the swimmer from having a reaction to the cold.

The tap water on the Galapagos Islands is not safe to drink so only drink bottled water, which is readily available on board cruise boats. It's wise to avoid ice cubes in drinks, and salads, which may have been washed in unhygienic water.

The very short answer: It is not ultimately necessary to wear a wetsuit when swimming or snorkeling in Galapagos, but for the most enjoyable experience we stongly recommend you use one. The longer answer: Snorkeling is one of the top activities that passengers look for during a Galapagos Cruise, and rightfully so!

In the protected areas in Galápagos this is not allowed. You can drink alcohol and smoke a cigarette in the urban area (near the bars) but definitely not while you are on a tour or a main attraction.

Scuba diving is a popular activity enjoyed by many people all year round. However, diving in the winter can offer a unique and exciting experience different from diving in the warmer seasons.

The best time to dive is during fall when visibility is the best as it is not as windy as during spring. The average water temperatures go up to 68 F (20 C ) during the summer and during the winter staying between 57 to 59 F ( 14 to 15 C ).

Diving in Hawaii can be enjoyed year-round, with average water temperature between 75-80°F (24-27°C) which reach their peak in September. A 3mm wetsuit is preferred in the winter whilst a 1mm rash vest is suffice for the summer.

Do you get sharks in the Red Sea? ›

Grey reef sharks are the most commonly spotted species in Egypt's Red Sea, along with black and whitetip reef sharks which are also often seen. Grey reef sharks are shy reef dwellers, have a stocky build, and grow to a maximum length of around two metres.

As a general rule, diving in water below 60 degrees fahrenheit is considered cold water diving. At these temperatures, divers must increase exposure protection to defend against hypothermia, and will often adjust other pieces of gear to cater to the specific cold water environment.

Choose the correct wetsuit

If you're unsure, ask your PADI® Divemaster or Instructor to make a recommendation for you. Most importantly, make sure your suit fits you properly. Wetsuits work by trapping a layer of water between your body and the suit and using your body heat to warm it.

When to go to Sharm El Sheikh. Diving here is available year-round, although there is some variation in water temperature. The high diving season is considered to be from the end of March to the end of November. The water temperature is at least 24-25C+/75-77F+, and the chance of storms is relatively low.

Red Sea, Egypt

Although the water and weather have turned cooler in the Northern Hemisphere during the month of December, it's a great month for shark action in the Egyptian Red Sea. Oceanic whitetips and hammerheads love the cooler temperatures, so be sure to keep your eyes looking into the blue.

Make a Safety Stop

When is a safety stop required? Divers should make a safety stop at the end of every dive at a depth of 15 feet for three to five minutes. Safety stop diving gives your body extra time to release excess nitrogen that builds up in your system during the dive.

If you're being attacked and fighting back, try to avoid the dangerous mouth and go for the gills behind the mouth near the pectoral fins. A good shot to the gills can also do the job: “The gills are very sensitive – giving a shark a whack in the gills isn't a bad idea.” Are you carrying anything with you?

She continues: "What you'd actually want to do is not splash, turn around and face the animal, and maintain eye contact. With tiger sharks, you can place your hand on top of their head, push down gently and that will redirect them away from you."

Compared to other Central American countries like Nicaragua or El Salvador, Costa Rica is generally more on the expensive side. It's pretty well-developed and has a thriving tourism industry, so things do cost more.

Avoid drinking to excess anytime, but particularly before diving or while on a diving vacation. Avoid alcohol for at least 8 hours before diving (the same rule the FAA imposes on pilots). If you drank the night before, avoid diving if you feel a hangover, as you're likely to be significantly dehydrated.

What are the best months for diving in Costa Rica? ›

July and August are some of the best times to scuba dive in Costa Rica because it is the humpback whale and turtle season.

Komodo dragons are also excellent swimmers with the ability to travel from island to island. On top of swimming, they can also run at speeds of 13 miles per hour!

The dragons can take up a few hours on one day, but you can spend the rest of the time exploring Komodo National Park by swimming, snorkelling, diving, hiking or sailing your way around – which is, honestly, incredible and has become a highlight of all my trips to Indonesia!

The only accommodation on Komodo Island itself is a collection of bungalows that are owned and operated by the National Park. They are usually reserved for special guests and film crews. As such, most visitors to the area spend the night on nearby Flores (usually in Labuan Bajo).

Florida: Dive Capital of the World

A must-visit area for many divers is the underwater playground of the Florida Keys. Described as the dive capital of the world, these islands hold the world's third-largest barrier reef, thousands of mangrove-fringed islands and extensive seagrass beds.

The Blue Hole is popular for freediving because of the depth directly accessible from shore and the lack of current. The dive site is reputed to have the most diver fatalities in the world with estimates of between 130 and 200 fatalities in recent years.

Despite Colorado being a landlocked state, the Centennial State is said to have the most certified scuba divers per capita in the country.

Key Largo, Florida is known as the scuba diving capital of the world. This is because there is a very large amount of dive sites easily accessible to divers. The Florida Keys is located along the 3rd largest barrier reef in the world.

Every Sailor earns off the same scale. SEALs qualify for a number of special pays, including jump, dive, demo, etc.

Do Navy divers go to buds? ›

All Navy SEALs graduate from Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) school, located in Coronado, CA. Naval Special Warfare Group One is headquartered at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, CA, whose divers deploy as squadrons from SEAL teams 1. 3.

Pass a physical examination required for divers. Be 30 years of age or younger. Must be a U.S. citizen and eligible for security clearance.

The American Red Cross recommends a minimum of 9 feet of water depth for head first dives including dives from pool decks. Results for a comprehensive study of diving injuries are presented in "Diving Injuries: The Etiology of 486 Case Studies with Recommendations for Needed Action" edited by Dr.

1 The Blue Hole

There are blue holes, substantial marine sinkholes where otherwise clear waters quickly fall into crushing depths and darkness, all over the world. Many have gained notorious reputations from divers, but none more so than the blue hole off the coast of Dahab, Egypt.

The most difficult dive to perform, for the record, is the reverse 1½ somersault with 4½ twists off the 3-meter board. It has a 3.7 degree of difficulty.

Officially, there is no upper age limit, but diving is an extreme sport and therefore we must take into consideration the aspects of physical health and mental ability that may change as we get older. Diving is a strenuous activity, especially before and after the dive when hauling heavy equipment around.

Basic scuba diving safety is that your respiratory and circulatory systems must be in good working order. A person with heart trouble, a current cold or congestion, epilepsy, asthma, a severe medical problem should not dive. Another time not to dive is if your ears or nose are not clear.

Diving prices are going to range depending on the area and your location. As a generalization, a good rule of thumb to consider is to tip $5USD to $10USD per dive (per tank). When you break that down that is roughly leaving a tip of 10 to 20 percent based on the service provided and your overall experience.