Sometimes, it’s better to visit a destination in the low season if you want to save money and avoid crowds.
Here’s a list of 10 destinations that are worth considering for a low season dive vacation.
Some of these destinations are just so much cheaper in the low season. Others have really interesting dive experiences during the cooler or wetter months.
This is by no means a comprehensive list!
But, if you’re trying to save money on your next dive vacation, or if you’re sick and tired of crowded dive sites, then hopefully this list will give you some vacation ideas.
1. Bali
Low Season: January – March, October – November
Indonesia’s most famous island gets busy during the peak months, as millions of tourists descend upon the island.
During the high season, the island’s most famous dive site — the USAT Liberty wreck — has a line of scuba divers waiting to enter the famous cargo hull. The wreck gets cluttered and you don’t get as much time to poke around.
We did a site inspection in February, in the middle of the low season, and we had nearly the entire dive site to ourselves.
Another reason to visit Bali in the low season: it’s so much easier to get around the island.
There are no major highways in Bali — only narrow winding roads between villages — and the high season traffic jams can be annoying.
There’s less traffic in the low season, so it’s much easier to work your way around the island. You can visit Nusa Penida in the south, Amed in the east, and even Menjangan Island in the north (a hidden gem).
Note: The water is cooler in the low season and you may need a 3mm or 5mm wetsuit, depending on your cold tolerance.
2. Belize
Low Season: May – November
If you visit in the shoulder months of May and June, you still have a strong likelihood of spotting whale sharks — and there’s a better chance they won’t be surrounded and harassed by crowds of snorkelers. Dive sites like the Blue Hole won’t have as many boats, and you can enjoy better rates.
From June to September, Belize gets hammerhead sharks and dugongs (!!), which makes this one of the more intriguing low season dive vacations.
3. Bonaire
Low Season: April – October
Bonaire is one of the most popular dive destinations in the Caribbean, and for that reason you might want to visit in the low season.
The low season will afford you better rates and fewer crowds. As you hop from one shore dive to the next, you won’t have to worry so much about congested dive sites. You have more flexibility to dive where you want to, when you want to.
There are few, if any cruise ships during the hurricane season. Not that you have to worry about that; Bonaire conveniently lies outside the hurricane belt and is a rather arid island that doesn’t get too much rain, even during the “wet” season.
In our opinion, this makes Bonaire one of the best low-season dive vacations.
4. Cayman Islands
Low Season: June – October
The Cayman Islands are another super-popular dive destination, and they’re very pricey — especially in the high season.
If you’re trying to keep your costs down, you can plan your dive vacation in the low season to get better rates.
August and September are your best bet; storms and hurricanes are less likely, and excellent diving conditions are not uncommon.
Expect winds to be stronger, especially at Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, but that won’t necessarily keep you from diving the Bloody Bay Wall and other famous dive sites.
5. Cozumel
Low Season: June – October
Cozumel is busiest in the winter, but ironically that’s when the diving conditions are most unpredictable. In December and January, the “norte” winds can stifle dive operations on one or both sides of the island.
Cozumel gets the best water conditions during the low season, especially from June to September.
You could even visit during the shoulder month of May, when there’s nesting loggerhead turtles and whale shark sightings.
6. Curaçao
Low Season: May – November
Like Bonaire, Curaçao is part of the ABC islands and lies outside the hurricane belt, making this another excellent low-season dive vacation.
The “wet season” is rather arid with little rainfall, and you will enjoy better rates, less crowded dive sites, and fewer tourists.
Curaçao has mild trade winds, but they only ruffle the surface of the water and have no impact on the underwater visibility.
7. Maldives
Low Season: May – November
Here’s another destination that’s on this list primarily because of cost.
Liveaboard prices are not going to fluctuate too much from one season to the next, but you can definitely get cheaper airfare.
Want to start or end your trip with a 2-night stay in a beautiful water bungalow? You’ll get better rates in the low season.
We performed a site inspection in August, right smack in the middle of the low season. Seas were occasionally rough, but we still had a great time and had good visibility at most of the dive sites.
8. Red Sea
Low Season: December – February
The Egyptian Red Sea has two low seasons: the winter and the middle of summer, when it’s scorching hot.
Winter is probably better.
There’s cooler temperature and cooler water, but it’s by no means uncomfortable. The cool water actually creates better visibility, and you’ll have some, if not most of the dive sites to yourself.
The winter is also low season on the Nile River, so you can enjoy fewer crowds while you’re exploring exotic locales and ancient temples.
9. South Africa
Low Season: June – August
North American summer is South Africa’s winter, and the weather can be remarkably cold. But it’s an enjoyable and cost-effective time to visit.
South Africa is a highly affordable country if you’re on the American dollar, but you will save most significantly on airfare. You could also get better rates on hotels and safaris — and it’s so much better to do safaris when there’s fewer tourists.
Now that Guadalupe has closed to the public, South Africa is one of the only destinations in the world where you can cage dive with great whites or go “white shark spotting” on a small inflatable.
Gansbaai, the Great White capital of South Africa, gets the most white shark encounters during these colder winter months.
10. Tahiti
Low Season: November – April
Live in a colder part of America? Want to slip away from the snow and spend your holiday in a tropical paradise?
Visit Tahiti.
Unlike so many Caribbean islands, Tahiti enjoys a low season in winter. There are more pelagic sightings this time of year, including hammerhead sharks and eagle rays.
Sure, the water is cooler and may require a 3mm, but the surface temperature will hover around 80 F, with a little tropical rain giving you respite from the humidity.
Have a question about a dive destination? Don’t hesitate to ask! Send us a message and we’ll get back to you.
