Diving in September
Where to dive in September
61 destinations worth considering in September, based on the season and what marine life is around. Sightings are likelihoods, not promises — each destination page shows the full month-by-month picture and its honest tradeoffs.
At their peak in September
Destinations in season
Indonesia
Alor
Liveaboard, Land based · Moderate to reach
Timor-Leste
Atauro Island & the Dili Coast (Ombai Strait)
Land based, Shore dive, Day trip · Moderate to reach
Portugal
Azores
Land based, Day trip · Moderate to reach
Maldives
Baa Atoll
Liveaboard, Land based, Day trip · Moderate to reach
Indonesia
Bali
Land based, Day trip, Shore dive · Moderate to reach
Indonesia
Banda Sea
Liveaboard · Demanding to reach
Indonesia
Bangka Island
Land based, Day trip, Shore dive · Easy to reach
Fiji
Beqa Lagoon & Pacific Harbour
Land based, Day trip · Moderate to reach
Fiji
Bligh Water & Vatu-i-Ra
Land based, Day trip, Liveaboard · Moderate to reach
Bonaire
Bonaire
Shore dive, Land based, Day trip · Easy to reach
Indonesia
Bunaken
Land based, Day trip, Shore dive · Easy to reach
Australia
Byron Bay & Julian Rocks
Land based, Day trip · Easy to reach
Mexico
Cabo Pulmo
Land based, Day trip · Moderate to reach
Australia
Cairns & Outer Great Barrier Reef
Day trip, Liveaboard, Land based · Moderate to reach
Indonesia
Cenderawasih Bay
Liveaboard, Land based, Day trip · Moderate to reach
Mexico
Cenotes (Riviera Maya)
Land based, Day trip · Easy to reach
Costa Rica
Cocos Island
Liveaboard · Demanding to reach
Egypt
Dahab
Land based, Day trip, Shore dive · Easy to reach
Egypt
Deep South: St John’s & Fury Shoals
Liveaboard, Land based, Day trip · Moderate to reach
Indonesia
Derawan Archipelago (Derawan, Sangalaki, Kakaban, Maratua)
Land based, Liveaboard, Day trip, Shore dive · Moderate to reach
French Polynesia
Fakarava
Land based, Day trip, Liveaboard · Moderate to reach
Ecuador
Galápagos
Liveaboard, Land based, Day trip · Demanding to reach
Indonesia
Gili Islands
Land based, Day trip, Shore dive · Moderate to reach
Egypt
Hurghada & Giftun Islands
Land based, Day trip, Liveaboard · Easy to reach
Fiji
Kadavu & Great Astrolabe Reef
Land based, Day trip, Liveaboard · Moderate to reach
United States
Kauaʻi & Niʻihau
Land based, Day trip, Shore dive · Moderate to reach
Thailand
Koh Tao
Land based, Day trip · Moderate to reach
Indonesia
Komodo
Liveaboard, Land based, Day trip · Moderate to reach
United States
Kona & Hawaiʻi Island
Land based, Day trip, Shore dive · Easy to reach
Mexico
La Paz & Espíritu Santo
Land based, Day trip · Moderate to reach
Indonesia
Lembeh Strait
Land based · Moderate to reach
Mexico
Los Cabos & Gordo Banks
Land based, Day trip · Moderate to reach
Malaysia
Mabul & Kapalai
Land based, Day trip, Shore dive · Moderate to reach
Malta
Malta & Gozo
Land based, Day trip · Easy to reach
Egypt
Marsa Alam, Elphinstone & Abu Dabbab
Land based, Day trip, Shore dive, Liveaboard · Easy to reach
United States
Maui, Molokini & Lānaʻi
Land based, Day trip, Shore dive · Easy to reach
Indonesia
Morotai
Land based, Day trip, Shore dive · Moderate to reach
Maldives
North and South Malé Atolls
Liveaboard, Land based, Day trip, Shore dive · Easy to reach
Indonesia
Nusa Penida
Land based, Day trip · Easy to reach
United States
Oʻahu
Land based, Day trip, Shore dive · Easy to reach
Australia
Osprey Reef & Coral Sea
Liveaboard · Demanding to reach
Malaysia
Perhentian Islands
Land based, Day trip, Shore dive · Moderate to reach
Australia
Port Lincoln & Neptune Islands
Day trip, Liveaboard, Land based · Moderate to reach
Indonesia
Pulau Weh
Land based, Day trip, Shore dive · Moderate to reach
Malaysia
Redang Island
Land based, Day trip, Shore dive · Moderate to reach
Australia
Ribbon Reefs & Cod Hole
Liveaboard · Moderate to reach
Egypt
Safaga & Brothers Islands
Land based, Day trip, Liveaboard · Moderate to reach
Fiji
Savusavu & Namena
Land based, Day trip, Liveaboard · Moderate to reach
Egypt
Sharm el-Sheikh, Ras Mohammed & Tiran
Liveaboard, Land based, Day trip, Shore dive · Easy to reach
Iceland
Silfra
Day trip, Shore dive · Easy to reach
Australia
Southern Great Barrier Reef
Land based, Day trip · Moderate to reach
Australia
SS Yongala & Townsville
Day trip, Land based, Liveaboard · Easy to reach
Indonesia
Sumbawa, Moyo & Sangeang
Liveaboard, Land based, Day trip · Moderate to reach
Australia
Sydney
Land based, Day trip, Shore dive · Easy to reach
Fiji
Taveuni & Rainbow Reef
Land based, Day trip, Liveaboard · Moderate to reach
Malaysia
Tenggol Island
Land based, Day trip, Shore dive · Easy to reach
Malaysia
Tioman Island
Land based, Day trip, Shore dive · Moderate to reach
Mozambique
Tofo
Land based, Day trip · Moderate to reach
Indonesia
Togian Islands
Land based, Day trip, Shore dive, Liveaboard · Moderate to reach
Tonga
Vava'u
Land based, Day trip · Moderate to reach
Indonesia
Wakatobi
Land based, Liveaboard, Shore dive · Moderate to reach