Where to Dive in April: 9 Best Destinations

Diver swimming alongside a sea turtle over the reef in Komodo National Park, Indonesia — Diver and sea turtle in Komodo National Park — photo courtesy of Divers Paradise Komodo.

The best places to dive in April are Komodo (the dry season begins), Sipadan in Malaysia (high season from April), Tubbataha Reefs in the Philippines (liveaboard season), and the Maldives, Raja Ampat and Thailand's Andaman Sea, which are all at the very end of their dry seasons. Bali is a good all-round pick as the rains fade.

April is a handover month. The northeast monsoon finishes in the Maldives, Raja Ampat and the Andaman Sea, while the dry season starts in Komodo and Bali and Borneo's Sipadan enters its high season. Easter and Songkran can make some destinations busy, so book boats and dive centers early.

April Dive Destinations at a Glance

Destination	Why April	Water temp (°C)	Visibility	Level	Book
Komodo, Indonesia	Dry season begins; calmer seas, liveaboards return from Raja Ampat	26–28	10–25 m	Intermediate to advanced	Komodo diving, Komodo liveaboards
Sipadan, Malaysia	High season starts; barracuda tornado, turtles, reef sharks	28–30	15–30 m	Advanced Open Water+	Sipadan guide
Tubbataha Reefs, Philippines	Mid-March to mid-June liveaboard window; walls, sharks, big schools	27–29	20–40 m	Advanced	Philippines liveaboards
Maldives	Final weeks of the dry season; South Ari whale sharks and mantas	28–30	20–30 m	All levels; advanced for channels	Maldives diving, Dhigurah
Raja Ampat, Indonesia	Final month of the Oct–Apr season	28–30	15–30 m	Intermediate	Raja Ampat liveaboards
Thailand: Krabi, Phi Phi, Similan Islands	End of Andaman Sea high season; Similan liveaboards still run	29–30	15–30 m	All levels	Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, Similan liveaboards
Bali, Indonesia	Dry season approaching; Nusa Penida mantas, Tulamben wreck	26–28	10–30 m	All levels	Bali diving, Bali Open Water course
Red Sea, Egypt	Water starts to warm; Brothers and Daedalus liveaboards, reef sharks	23–25	25–40 m	All levels	Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Red Sea liveaboards
Cebu, Philippines	Dry season; Moalboal sardine run and turtles	27–29	15–30 m	All levels	Cebu diving

Water temperatures and visibility are typical ranges and vary by site and year.

Komodo in April

April marks the start of the dry season in Komodo, and liveaboards begin returning from Raja Ampat. The north of the park is generally calm and conditions are settling, with the stronger season for the northern sites running from June to September. Water in the south is cooler, so bring a thicker suit. More in our Komodo season guide and Komodo dive spots.

Sipadan in April

Sipadan, off the coast of Borneo, is dived from Mabul, Kapalai and Semporna and is limited by a daily permit system. The high season runs from April through December, with calmer seas and better visibility. Expect turtles, schooling barracuda and reef sharks. See the Sipadan guide.

Scuba diver swimming beside a tornado of schooling barracuda at Sipadan, Malaysia — A diver alongside a barracuda tornado at Sipadan — photo courtesy of Roach Reefs Tours.

Tubbataha Reefs in April

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is a liveaboard-only destination open from about mid-March to mid-June. The park is known for vertical walls, sharks, turtles and big schools of fish. Trips depart from Puerto Princesa and are usually for divers with some experience. See the Philippines overview.

Maldives in April

April is the last month of the northeast monsoon window, with generally calm seas and good visibility before the rainier southwest monsoon begins in May. South Ari Atoll has whale sharks that can be seen in every month. See the Maldives season guide and the Dhigurah guide.

Raja Ampat in April

April is the final month of the October to April season. Seas are still generally calm, and many liveaboards begin repositioning toward Komodo, so availability is tighter than in the peak months. Read the Raja Ampat season guide.

Thailand's Andaman Sea in April

The Andaman Sea is at the end of its dry season and conditions are generally calm, with Similan Islands liveaboards running until the park closes for the monsoon. On the Gulf side, Koh Tao diving is good and getting busier. See the Thailand dive guide and Koh Tao dive spots.

Bali in April

The rains fade in April and Bali moves into its dry season. Nusa Penida has manta rays, and the Tulamben wreck and Amed are easy shore dives for all levels. See the Bali dive guide.

Diver with a reef manta ray over the coral reef at Nusa Penida, Bali — Reef manta ray at Nusa Penida — photo courtesy of Pure Dive Resort Nusa Penida.

Red Sea in April

The northern Red Sea begins to warm, with water at roughly 23–25°C, so a 5 mm suit is usually comfortable. Offshore liveaboard routes to Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone are running. Read the Red Sea season guide.

Cebu and the Philippines in April

The Moalboal sardine run can be seen from the shore-entry reef year-round, often alongside sea turtles. See dive spots in Cebu.

Scuba diver swimming beside the Moalboal sardine bait ball, Cebu, Philippines — The Moalboal sardine run, a swirling bait ball just off Panagsama Beach, Cebu — photo courtesy of Amigos Dive Center.

Liveaboards in April

A April liveaboard works best in these regions:

Komodo: the dry season begins. Browse Komodo liveaboards.
Philippines (Tubbataha): the liveaboard window is open. M/Y Stella Maris Explorer lists Apo Reef to Tubbataha transition trips on Be Underwater, with departures from March 2027 to June 2027. Browse Philippines liveaboards.
Red Sea: warming water, offshore routes. M/Y Golden Imperial lists a Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone trip with departures from April 2027 (Advanced Open Water, 50 logged dives). Browse Red Sea liveaboards.
Raja Ampat: the final weeks of the season. Browse Raja Ampat liveaboards.

Be Underwater is a marketplace: trip pages list dates, cabin availability and mandatory extras, and the operator runs the trip. Read the first liveaboard guide if this is your first one.

FAQ: Where to Dive in April

Where is the best diving in April?

Komodo, Sipadan and Tubbataha are the strongest picks, and the Maldives, Raja Ampat and the Andaman Sea are still good at the very end of their seasons.

Is April a good time to dive Komodo?

April is the start of the dry season and a good time to go as liveaboards return from Raja Ampat. The main northern season runs from June to September.

Is April a good time to dive Sipadan?

Yes. The high season runs from April through December, with calmer seas and better visibility. Diving is limited by a daily permit system, so book early.

Is April a good time to dive in Thailand?

On the Andaman Sea side it is the end of the dry season and still good, with Similan Islands liveaboards running. The Gulf side, including Koh Tao, is also in a good period.

Can beginners dive in April?

Yes. Thailand, Bali, Cebu and the Maldives have beginner-friendly sites and instructors. Komodo, Raja Ampat, Tubbataha and Sipadan suit divers with some experience.