Top Winter Scuba Diving Destinations for 2026

As I look out my window here in the Finger Lakes Region of New York, I see the colorful canvas that nature has painted in the state forest. The trees are a mixture of reds, oranges, and yellows, with a little bit of green still scattered around. Soon, my view will be bleak as the trees become bare and then covered in snow. Migratory geese and ducks are already heading south with snowbirds (humans who flee the northeast’s harsh winters to warmer places) getting ready for their migration. We have already experienced a night of freezing temperatures, and the water temperature has dropped 20°F from its summer high of 74°F, way below my preferred comfort range. Looking out my window, my thoughts turn to which top winter scuba diving destination I will visit this winter.

While I am not a snowbird, I do try to spend at least a month away from the cold each winter. Top Winter Scuba Diving Destinations are generally where I head. Over the years, these winter getaways have taken me to the Philippines, Thailand, the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Grand Cayman, Mexico, and other warm-water destinations. I have not made my final plans yet; however, I do have my short list. This is written from a North American viewpoint, still the destinations are for anyone.

Top Winter Scuba Diving Destinations For Those With A Limited Time and/or Budget

One of the first steps in planning any vacation is setting your budget, determining how long the trip will be, and when you will go. You will need to take in travel time, time to fly restrictions, and possibly recovery time for long international trips. If you are not an experienced long-haul traveler, do not expect to get off the plane and scuba dive the next day. Your body will be out of sync, you will likely be very tired and possibly dehydrated. Jet lag is real, treat it with respect.

These suggestions might not be the least expensive places to scuba dive, but the lower airfare balances out when compared to destinations such as Australia, Thailand, or the Philippines. Travel time is likely manageable, allowing you to enjoy more of your vacation. While I list these destinations for those with a limited budget, upscale accommodations are readily available, as well as gourmet dining.

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• Florida: I was looking over some old dive logs recently and discovered to my surprise that excluding local dives (local at the time of the dives) Florida is my most dived destination. I found that there were several “mini dive vacations”, dive trips where I left for the airport directly after work before an extended 3-day to 4-day weekend. Depending on your work policies and flight schedules, you could do such a trip with little impact on your vacation schedule. I also enjoy taking cruises; most cruises I have taken from Florida included a day or two of diving before the cruise. We have done several dive destination reports on Florida diving. Fort Lauderdale is an excellent choice. Boat dives and shore dives opportunities abound. Shore diving is inexpensive and outstanding.  Key Largo is also an outstanding choice with easy access to Miami Airport; however, it has fewer lower-cost places to stay. The tourism industry in 2025 has not been normal. Florida has seen an increase in domestic tourists, however, the number of international tourists has drastically declined. Research your trip carefully, and you may see lower airfare and hotel costs.

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• Cancun/Cozumel, Mexico: Marking the upper portion of the Mesoamerican reef system, Cancun, on the Yucatan Peninsula, and Cozumel, an offshore island, are some of the most dived waters in the world. Both locations offer reasonably priced diving and a range of places to stay that will fit all budgets. Airfare to the Cancun airport is similar to flights to Florida, with frequent flights. The Cozumel airport has fewer flights and services; however, flying into Cancun is the most frequently used airport for Cozumel visitors. It only takes a few hours by bus and ferry to travel from Cancun Airport to Cozumel.

Moderate Budget and Limited Vacation Time Winter Scuba Diving Destinations

Divers looking for a winter scuba diving destination with a more flexible budget may consider Cayman Islands and Belize as potential sites.

• Belize: While there are some inexpensive destinations in Belize, many of the best sites are remote, which raises the average daily cost of diving. Additionally, since food must be imported to remote islands, prices are higher. Still, this is a must-visit destination. Winter divers should experience the grouper spawning that happens here each winter.

• Cayman Islands: The birthplace of recreational scuba diving is one of the best places to scuba dive in the world. There are as many dive sites as there are days of the year.  The Cayman Islands are just a short flight from the United States and offer a wide range of activities in addition to scuba diving. The beaches are some of the best in the world.

Top Winter Scuba Diving Destinations with A Moderate Budget and a Longer Vacation

If you are able to have an extended vacation or can-do remote work, then Thailand or the Philippines should be high on your list of possible destinations, or travel to both. Travel from North America to either of these countries can take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours depending on the number of connections and layovers. Airfares can be substantial depending on when you travel and when you book your airfare. However, you can find airfares from North America for January and February with lower fares. The best months to visit the Philippines and Thailand are January and February, which offer the most pleasant, cooler, and dry weather, ideal for beach activities and sightseeing. This is during the high tourist season, however, schools are still in session, so local tourism has not peaked. Scuba Diving costs in both Thailand and the Philippines are among the lowest in the world. The local cuisine is both incredible and inexpensive, especially if you take in some of the amazing street food options. You can choose from inexpensive hotels and Airbnb to luxury resorts. Those who can visit for a month or longer should visit both countries. Flight time between the two counties is only a few hours.

• Thailand: In the winter months the  Andaman Sea (West Coast) is the better destination in Thailand. The seas are at their calmest and the visibility is great. This area has the highest number of scuba certifications in the world. If you are looking to add a scuba certification, this may be the best place to add one. The coral reefs are generally in great condition. The national government closes parts of the National Parks each year to allow the reefs to rest and regenerate.  The Gulf of Thailand dive sites are good, however, they are at their peak in the spring. The winter sees days of rough seas and low visibility.

•  The Philippines: Twenty years ago, the scuba diving industry was small and struggling. There were maybe four scuba diving destinations, about a dozen dive operators, and only two liveaboards available. The Department of Tourism started an initiative to expand tourism offerings with a focus of each local government office determining what they could offer tourist. At the same time, the Philippine Commission on Sports SCUBA Diving (PCSSD) was attached to the Department of Tourism. PCSSD developed standards of operations/safety and helped identify areas where the scuba diving industry could be expanded. Today, there are over 20 dive destinations within the Philippines and about 300 dive operators.  There are well over a dozen liveaboards, some seasonal and some year-round. A number of these destinations rank among the best in the world.  December sees many Filipinos who work overseas returning home, and many companies close for Christmas to New Year's. So keep that in mind.

Winter Scuba Diving Dream Vacations

Thinking of a dream vacation this winter, two locations come to my mind. Australia and Palau would be my two top recommendations.

• Great Barrier Reef Australia: I think the Great Barrier Reef is a destination everyone in the world should have on their bucket list, especially divers and those interested in Planet Earth. Cairns is the leading location for scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef. Located in the far north of Queensland, the area is called the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. This is a tropical region of Australia with warm weather year-round. North America's winter months are Australia's summer. Access to the Barrier Reef can be easily done by day boats, and there are also several overnight trips available. Brisbane and the Whitsunday Islands are also known for outstanding scuba diving.

• Palau: Palau's dive sites often make the list of the best dive sites in the world. The country takes its conservation measures very seriously, and it has resulted in great reefs to explore. It is a laid-back destination where water sports and local culture are the primary focus.  Day trips will let you dive many of the best dive sites; however, if you can, it's best to combine a land-based and liveaboard vacation to truly experience the diving.

Tropical vs Cold Water Winter Scuba Diving Destinations

While I am not one of them, there are many scuba divers who enjoy diving in cold water and even under the ice. I saw a survey a few years ago that questioned divers from around the world. The country with the highest percentage of divers who stated that they dive year-round locally was none other than Austria. A country that is landlocked, mountainous and with deep lakes. If you enjoy cold-weather diving and are looking for destinations for a vacation, we have done some destination articles that featured locations that have outstanding diving in the winter.

• Southern California: Not everyone will consider Southern California a cold-water destination. The water temperature during the winter will generally be in the 57–59°F (14–15°C) range, which is not much different from the summer temperature of around 72°F (22°C). Still in a wet suit and normal equipment range. The winter months bring the best visibility, fewer divers, and the lowest prices. Biodiversity is the highest during the winter months.

• British Columbia, Canada: BC’s water does not ever get that warm. The best time to scuba dive BC is in the winter. The water is generally crystal clear, leading to good visibility. The summer often have serious algae blooms impacting visibility. The coldest month is February with an average water temperature of 44.2°F / 6.8°C. The warmest water temperature is in August with an average of 52.3°F / 11.3°C.

• Iceland: You can experience two unique diving environments in Iceland. Diving in glacier waters and diving in hot springs.  While the air temperature does have an impact on your diving, the water temperature difference between seasons is negligible in glacier waters.  The world-famous Silfa Fissure stays between 2 and 4°C year-round (35-40°F). Strýtan, Iceland's unique hydrothermal chimneys, will also be in this temperature range in winter unless you are close to the thermal vent. Visibility is best in the winter.

What Will Your Winter Diving Be?

I hope you will see some inspiration in this list. Work out where you want to go, consider some new equipment, such as a case for that new iPhone you've been dropping hints to Santa for, and maybe a new mask.