Although much of Europe and North America experience excellent weather in September, it can be challenging to find a great scuba diving destination during this late summer month. Several areas are in between seasons or experiencing ‘shoulder’ seasons, and destinations like the Caribbean and Thailand may experience strong storms. However, many other dive locations around the world remain blissfully beautiful. Here are our top picks for the best scuba diving destinations in September.
If you’d like more information about any of the destinations below, feel free to contact our scuba diving experts via the live chat on the PADI Travel page, Dive Travel Facebook group or email. We’re ready to answer any questions you may have! We also always recommend following travel guidelines in your local area and any destination you are interested in visiting ahead of time to ensure that you are well prepared and don’t encounter any unexpected ‘surprises’ along the way!
1. Egypt
The best time to dive the Red Sea in Egypt is from March to May and September to November. September, in particular, provides a balance of not-too-hot air temperatures, calm sea conditions, and an abundance of marine species. September is also a big ‘back-to-school’ month across Europe so you’ll often find there are fewer divers and fewer tourists in general during this month. Most importantly, the ninth month is the best time to spot thresher sharks in the Red Sea.
Egypt, well known for its historical wrecks, is additionally a destination for lovers of big marine life. Apart from grey, white and black tip reef sharks, oceanic whitetips, hammerheads, tigers and thresher sharks can also be encountered. Whale sharks, manatees and dolphins make an occasional appearance. The reef life is also astounding. There are over 800 species of fish with at least 10% of these found nowhere else in the world.
While Egypt certainly has a well-equipped scuba diving infrastructure, diving by liveaboard is recommended. In this way, you’ll be able to travel to more remote dive sites and spend more time there. In addition, September can be quite busy on some of the shores of the Red Sea. With a liveaboard, you’ll be able to dive the popular sites before or after day trippers get in the water.
If you are keen to find out more about diving in Egypt and the Red Sea, take a look at our Egypt and Red Sea Blog, here.
2. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
One of the most dreamed about diving destinations on Earth, a holiday in the Galapagos Islands is an ideal option in September. This late summer month is a great time to swim alongside whale sharks and find the elusive mola mola (also known as the oceanic sunfish). From June to December each year, dry season descends on the Galapagos. During these dry months, the temperature is colder both in terms of the air and the water. Under the sea, you can expect temperatures of about 19-23°C (66-73°F) with frequent thermoclines. While it might sound less comfortable for humans, these temperatures are perfect for whale sharks, penguins and mola mola – three of the most sought-after marine life encounters in the region! (If you’ve never heard of mola mola, read all about them in our mola mola dedicated Blog!) Plus, once you’ve kitted up in a decent 7mm wetsuit and a hood, you’ll enjoy ideal conditions at nearly all of the dive sites in the Galapagos.
Here you will see most of the unique creatures you are craving, as well as some whimsical geologic formations. El Arco is renowned as one of the best dives in the world, so be sure to add it to your to-do list. On Isabela Island, you can swim with sea lions and penguins in a stunning environment. The adventure doesn’t stop there – allow some time for exploring on land to see some of the region’s endemic species including iguanas and the Galapagos giant tortoise.
Whether you are most interested in seeing whale sharks or the weird and wonderful mola mola, September is a great month for diving these islands of Ecuador. Just keep in mind, much of the Galapagos is best dived by liveaboard.
View All Liveaboards in the Galapagos
3. Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia
Whale shark lovers should strongly consider a liveaboard trip in Cenderawasih Bay during the month of September. Whale shark sightings in the area are nearly guaranteed due to the unique feeding habits of the sharks. From July to September, the winds are strong across Raja Ampat, creating untrustworthy sea conditions.
This island chain boasts a wide variety of underwater environments such as easy reef dives, deep dives and high-speed drifts. The star of the show, however, is the diversity of tropical fish. The highest diversity of marine life on Earth exists in Raja Ampat, and the area holds the record for the highest number of species found on a single dive.
If liveaboards from the region don’t make the trip to Komodo, they most likely can be found in the sheltered waters of Cenderawasih Bay. Luckily, Cenderawasih Bay has some of the best dive sites for seeing whale sharks and you can find sharks in the bay all year-round. Do keep in mind that the Cenderawasih Bay liveaboard season is short, so it’s best to schedule your trip for July to September if this is a destination you’d like to explore. Planning (and booking) ahead is essential as the number of boats is limited in this remote region.
View All Liveaboards in Cenderawasih Bay
4. Hawaii, USA
A favorite among seasoned liveaboard divers, Hawaii in the United States is great to dive at any time of the year. However, surface conditions tend to become choppier during the winter months and temperatures drop slightly. For this reason, we recommend visiting the 50th state from April to October. Most divers will want to head to Kona, where liveaboard diving can result in off-the-beaten-path dive sites that are packed with interesting marine life.
Inward currents and plankton-rich water attract megafauna in high numbers. There are migrating whale sharks as well as a nightly symphony of manta rays. Night diving with these impressive gentle giants as they perform an underwater ballet is not to be missed. Sea turtles, stingrays, sharks and colorful fish round out an impressive array of marine life. While diving is great during September in the paradise of Hawaii, you will miss out on the yearly humpback whale migration that takes place from November to March – a good reason to come back!
View All Liveaboards in Hawaii
5. Fiji
Fiji is one of the best places to dive in the South Pacific, and it happens to be a great option for September, especially for lovers of manta rays. For starters, late summer is the perfect time to dive with manta rays in Fiji. The season lasts from June to October, so the earlier the better. Visit Yasawas, Kadavu, the Namena Marine Reserve, Wakaya or Taveuni where 200 to 300 individuals populate the waters – for wide angle underwater photographers, this is a dream come true!
In addition, Fiji has some of the best soft corals in the world and hosts an abundance of tropical marine species. You might also be able to dive with a number of sharks around the islands. During the month of September, you’ll enjoy dry but cooler weather during this “high season.” Most of the time, visibility is amazing. Remember that there are approximately 300 islands to dive around in Fiji, so it’s best to book a liveaboard for this South Pacific destination to ensure you get to dive and experience as much of it as possible.
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