Where to dive in August
Komodo is my first August pick for a varied week of diving. Galápagos can bring hammerheads and whale sharks, but check recent water temperatures and sightings. Princess Alice Bank offers devil rays; the Solomon Islands combine reefs and wrecks.
Komodo
Mantas and fast drifts over busy reefs. The best time to dive here is July — August.
Read the Komodo guide →4 destinations for August
Listed in overall rank order.
Komodo
Mantas and fast drifts over busy reefs.
Komodo offers manta dives, coral gardens and fast drifts past reef sharks and tuna. The northern pinnacles can be packed with fish. Reef condition varies by site, but the best dives combine healthy coral with plenty of big-animal activity.
- Best months
- July — August
- Go for
- Reef mantas · Drift dives · Sharks and tuna
Galápagos
Hammerheads and whale sharks in cold currents.
Darwin and Wolf are known for hammerheads, whale sharks, Galápagos sharks and turtles. Sightings depend on the currents and water temperature. This ranking was lowered after reports of warmer water in 2026; ask operators for recent dive logs before committing.
- Best months
- August — October
- Go for
- Hammerheads · Whale sharks · Galápagos sharks
Princess Alice Bank
Devil rays above an Atlantic seamount.
Chilean devil rays gather above Princess Alice Bank, often circling divers in blue water. Tuna and jacks add to the dives. The offshore boat ride is long and weather can cancel it, so leave spare days in your trip.
- Best months
- July — September
- Go for
- Schools of devil rays · Tuna · Blue-water seamount
Solomon Islands
Quiet reefs, schooling fish and wartime wrecks.
Mary Island is known for schooling fish, Uepi for walls, and Munda for reefs and wrecks. There are relatively few dive boats, and transfers take planning. Choose the area or liveaboard route around the kind of diving you want.
- Best months
- June — August
- Go for
- Schooling jacks · Barracuda · Healthy walls