Where to Dive in March: 9 Best Destinations

Reef manta rays gliding over the coral reef near Dhigurah, South Ari Atoll, Maldives — Reef manta rays over the coral at South Ari Atoll, near Dhigurah — photo courtesy of Fari Dive Center.

The best places to dive in March are the Maldives (end of the dry season, with calm seas and South Ari whale sharks and mantas), Raja Ampat (the last month of its October to April season), Thailand's Andaman Sea and Tubbataha Reefs in the Philippines, which opens to liveaboards in mid-March. The Red Sea is still cool but quiet, and Galapagos is in its warm season.

March sits between seasons for much of the world. The northeast monsoon is winding down across the Maldives, the Andaman Sea and the Philippines, so seas are generally calm and water is warm, while the Red Sea begins to warm slowly and the Caribbean is in its drier months. It is a good moment to catch the tail end of the Asian winter season before the rains start.

March Dive Destinations at a Glance

Destination	Why March	Water temp (°C)	Visibility	Level	Book
Maldives	End of dry season; South Ari whale sharks and mantas, calm seas	28–30	20–30 m	All levels; advanced for channels	Maldives diving, Dhigurah, Fuvahmulah
Raja Ampat, Indonesia	Last month of the Oct–Apr season; mantas and dense fish life	28–30	15–30 m	Intermediate	Raja Ampat liveaboards
Thailand: Krabi, Phi Phi, Similan Islands	Andaman Sea dry season; calm and warm	29–30	20–30 m	All levels	Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, Similan liveaboards
Tubbataha Reefs, Philippines	Opens to liveaboards from mid-March; walls, sharks and big schools	27–29	20–40 m	Advanced	Philippines liveaboards
Cebu, Philippines	Dry season; Moalboal sardine run and turtles	27–29	15–30 m	All levels	Cebu diving, Philippines
Red Sea, Egypt	Cool water, quiet reefs, Brothers and Daedalus liveaboards	22–24	25–40 m	All levels; cold-water gear	Sharm El Sheikh, Marsa Alam, Red Sea liveaboards
Galapagos, Ecuador	Warm season; calmer surface, warmer water, hammerheads at Wolf and Darwin	24–27	10–25 m	Advanced	Galapagos liveaboards guide
Playa del Carmen and Cozumel, Mexico	Dry season; last of the bull shark season, cenotes, Cozumel drifts	25–27	25–30+ m	All levels	Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Belize	Dry season; Great Blue Hole and Lighthouse Reef	26–28	20–30 m	Open Water+	Belize liveaboards

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

Maldives in March

March is the tail end of the northeast monsoon, so seas are generally calm and visibility is among the best of the year. South Ari Atoll has resident whale sharks that can be seen in every month, and Dhigurah is a popular base. Fuvahmulah, a single-island atoll in the south, is known for tiger sharks and other large pelagics.

See the Maldives season guide and our Dhigurah and Fuvahmulah guides.

Raja Ampat in March

March is the last full month of the October to April window, when seas are generally calm. Expect manta rays, schooling fish on current-swept points and macro life on the shallower reefs. Boats thin out toward April as many move to Komodo. Read the Raja Ampat season guide.

Phinisi liveaboard Dewi Nusantara sailing through Raja Ampat, Indonesia — Dewi Nusantara sailing Raja Ampat — photo courtesy of Dewi Nusantara.

Thailand's Andaman Sea in March

The Andaman Sea is still in its dry season, with calm water around Krabi, Phi Phi and the Similan Islands. It is an easy trip for beginners and a good base for Open Water courses, and liveaboards to the Similans run through the season. See the Similan Islands liveaboard guide and the Thailand dive guide.

Tubbataha Reefs in March

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in the Sulu Sea can only be dived by liveaboard, and only from about mid-March to mid-June. The park is known for vertical walls, sharks, turtles and big schools of fish. Trips run from Puerto Princesa and are usually for divers with some experience. See the Philippines overview.

Cebu and the Philippines in March

March is part of the dry season, and 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.

Red Sea in March

Winter water in the northern Red Sea is still around 22–24°C, so a thicker wetsuit or a drysuit is smart. In return you get quiet reefs and excellent visibility, and the offshore liveaboard routes to Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone are running. Read the Red Sea season guide.

Galapagos in March

The Galapagos warm season runs roughly from the start of the year to May, with warmer water and calmer surface conditions than the rest of the year. The northern islands of Wolf and Darwin are known for hammerhead sharks. Trips are liveaboard-based and need advanced experience for the currents. See the Galapagos liveaboard guide and where to see hammerhead sharks.

Playa del Carmen and Cozumel in March

The Riviera Maya is in its dry season. Bull sharks can be seen off Playa del Carmen until about March, Cozumel has easy drift dives, and the cenotes stay a constant temperature. See the cenote dive guide.

Divers descending through shafts of sunlight into a cenote cavern near Playa del Carmen, Mexico — Sunlight streaming into a cenote cavern in the Riviera Maya — photo courtesy of A. c. divers.

Belize in March

March is in Belize's drier months, with calm seas and good visibility. The Great Blue Hole and Lighthouse Reef are popular as multi-day liveaboard trips. See also the Belize dive guide.

Liveaboards in March

A March liveaboard works best in these regions:

Raja Ampat: the end of the season, with calm seas. Browse Raja Ampat liveaboards.
Philippines (Tubbataha): the window opens in mid-March. M/Y Stella Maris Explorer lists a 6 to 7 night Apo Reef to Tubbataha transition trip on Be Underwater, with departures from March 2027. Browse Philippines liveaboards.
Red Sea: cooler water and quiet reefs. M/Y Topaz lists a Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone trip with departures from March 2027 (Advanced Open Water, 50 logged dives). Browse Red Sea liveaboards.
Maldives: the last weeks of the dry season. Browse Maldives 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 March

Where is the best diving in March?

The Maldives, Raja Ampat, Thailand's Andaman Sea and the Philippines are the strongest choices in March, and Tubbataha opens to liveaboards in mid-March. The Red Sea is cooler but quiet, with excellent visibility.

Is March a good time to dive Raja Ampat?

Yes. March is the last full month of the October to April season, when seas are generally calm. Availability thins out toward April as boats relocate.

When does Tubbataha open?

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is open to liveaboards from about mid-March to mid-June. It cannot be dived from the shore.

Where can I see whale sharks in March?

South Ari Atoll in the Maldives has whale sharks that can be seen year-round. Our whale shark guide lists other destinations and their seasons.

Can beginners dive in March?

Yes. Thailand, the Maldives, Cebu, Playa del Carmen and Belize all have beginner-friendly sites and instructors. Raja Ampat, Tubbataha and Galapagos suit divers with some experience.