Where to Dive in May: 9 Best Destinations

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.

The best places to dive in May are Komodo (dry season, calm seas and manta activity), Sipadan in Malaysia, Bali with Nusa Penida mantas, Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand and Tubbataha in the Philippines, which stays open to liveaboards until mid-June. In Europe, Malta and Gozo open their season, and the Red Sea is warming up.

May is when the Asian map flips. The Maldives and the Andaman Sea move into the southwest monsoon, while Komodo, Bali, Sipadan and the Gulf of Thailand are in good conditions. In the Mediterranean the diving season is starting, though the water is still cool, so bring a proper wetsuit.

May Dive Destinations at a Glance

Destination	Why May	Water temp (°C)	Visibility	Level	Book
Komodo, Indonesia	Dry season; calm seas, liveaboards back from Raja Ampat	26–28	10–25 m	Intermediate to advanced	Komodo diving, Komodo liveaboards
Sipadan, Malaysia	High season; barracuda tornado, turtles, reef sharks	28–30	15–30 m	Advanced Open Water+	Sipadan guide
Bali, Indonesia	Dry season; Nusa Penida mantas, Tulamben wreck	26–28	10–30 m	All levels	Bali diving, Bali Open Water course
Koh Tao, Thailand	Gulf of Thailand season; calm seas, easy courses	29–30	10–25 m	All levels	Koh Tao diving, Koh Tao Open Water course
Tubbataha Reefs, Philippines	Liveaboard window open until about mid-June	27–29	20–40 m	Advanced	Philippines liveaboards
Red Sea, Egypt	Water warming; reef sharks, wrecks, Brothers and Daedalus	24–26	25–40 m	All levels	Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Red Sea liveaboards
Malta and Gozo	Season opens; wrecks, caves and the Blue Hole	16–19	20–40 m	All levels; thick wetsuit or semi-dry	Malta diving, Malta Open Water course
Maldives	Southwest monsoon begins; plankton-rich west side, mantas and whale sharks	29–30	15–30 m	All levels; advanced for channels	Maldives diving, Dhigurah
Tenerife, Canary Islands	Calm Atlantic, rays and angel sharks, no long flight from Europe	19–21	15–30 m	All levels	Tenerife diving

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

Komodo in May

May is a good balance in Komodo, with dry-season weather and calm water, and many liveaboards that worked Raja Ampat have returned to the park. The main northern season runs 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 May

Sipadan is in its high season from April through December, with calmer seas and better visibility. Expect turtles, schooling barracuda and reef sharks. Access is limited by a daily permit system, so book early. See the Sipadan guide.

Bali in May

May is in the dry season. Nusa Penida has reef manta rays, and the Tulamben wreck, Amed and Padang Bai are easy dives for all levels. Boats to Nusa Penida can be affected by swell, so keep a buffer day. 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.

Koh Tao in May

The Gulf of Thailand side is in a good period in May, with warm, generally calm water, and Koh Tao is one of the most popular places in the world to learn to dive. The Andaman Sea side moves into its wetter period around now. See Koh Tao dive spots and the Thailand dive guide.

Scuba diver swimming through a large school of fish near Koh Tao, Thailand — A diver moves through a school of fish off Koh Tao — photo courtesy of Chalok Reef Divers Koh Tao.

Tubbataha Reefs in May

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park can only be dived by liveaboard, and the season runs from about mid-March to mid-June. The park is known for vertical walls, sharks, turtles and big schools of fish. See the Philippines overview.

Red Sea in May

The Red Sea is warming, with water around 24–26°C, and reefs and wrecks are very diveable. Offshore routes to Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone run in spring. Read the Red Sea season guide.

Split-level shot of a shallow coral reef and the Sharm El Sheikh coastline, Red Sea, Egypt — A shallow reef off Sharm El Sheikh — photo courtesy of Aqua Sharm Diving College.

Malta and Gozo in May

The Mediterranean season starts in May. Water is still cool at roughly 16–19°C, so a thick wetsuit or a semi-dry suit is wise, but crowds are small and the wrecks, caves and the Blue Hole are all open. See the Malta dive guide.

Maldives in May

May is the start of the southwest monsoon, which brings more rain and some chop but also plankton-rich water that feeds manta rays and whale sharks. Feeding aggregations at Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll are snorkel-only and peak later, from June to October. South Ari whale sharks can be seen all year. See the Maldives season guide.

Tenerife in May

Tenerife offers year-round diving without a long flight. The water is about 19–21°C, so bring a 5–7 mm wetsuit or a semi-dry suit. Dive centers run beginner-friendly sites on the south and west coasts. See the Tenerife dive guide.

Liveaboards in May

A May liveaboard works best in these regions:

Komodo: dry season, calm seas. Naga Biru lists Komodo trips with departures into June 2027, and Moana lists a 5 night Komodo trip on May 1. Browse Komodo liveaboards.
Philippines (Tubbataha): open until about mid-June. M/Y Stella Maris Explorer lists Apo Reef to Tubbataha transition trips on Be Underwater. Browse Philippines liveaboards.
Red Sea: warming water, offshore routes. M/Y Golden Imperial and M/Y Topaz list Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone trips (Advanced Open Water, 50 logged dives). Browse Red Sea 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 May

Where is the best diving in May?

Komodo, Sipadan, Bali and Koh Tao are in good conditions in May, and Tubbataha is open to liveaboards until about mid-June. In Europe, Malta and Gozo are opening for the season.

Is May a good time to dive Komodo?

Yes. May is dry season with calm seas, and it is considered a good balance of conditions. The peak northern season runs from June to September.

Is May a good time to dive in Thailand?

On the Gulf side, including Koh Tao, yes. The Andaman Sea side, including the Similan Islands, is moving into its wetter period.

Is the Mediterranean warm enough to dive in May?

It is diveable but cool. Malta and Gozo are around 16–19°C in May, so a thick wetsuit or semi-dry suit is recommended.

Can beginners dive in May?

Yes. Koh Tao, Bali, Malta, Tenerife and the Maldives have beginner-friendly sites and instructors. Komodo, Tubbataha and Sipadan suit divers with some experience.