Where to dive in February
Palau is my first choice for a mix of sharks, mantas and reef diving. Choose Socorro for oceanic mantas, Malpelo for schooling sharks, or Raja Ampat for coral and small marine life as well as bigger animals.
Palau
Sharks, mantas and healthy reefs in one trip. The best time to dive here is February — March.
Read the Palau guide →6 destinations for February
Listed in overall rank order.
Palau
Sharks, mantas and healthy reefs in one trip.
Palau combines big animals with excellent reef diving. Blue Corner has grey reef sharks, jacks and tuna; German Channel is known for mantas; Ulong has beautiful hard coral. It is my first choice for a varied week of diving.
- Best months
- February — March
- Go for
- Grey reef sharks · Reef mantas · Spawning dives
Socorro
Close encounters with oceanic mantas.
Socorro’s oceanic mantas often circle divers and hover over their bubbles. Dolphins, hammerheads and Galápagos sharks add variety, and you may hear humpback song in February and March. The long crossing is worth considering if mantas are your main reason to travel.
- Best months
- February — March
- Go for
- Oceanic mantas · Bottlenose dolphins · Humpbacks
Malpelo
A demanding trip for schooling sharks.
Malpelo is an isolated rock in the eastern Pacific. The draws are scalloped hammerheads, Galápagos sharks, silkies and large morays. Expect negative entries, deep dives and strong current. Check the operator’s experience requirements before booking.
- Best months
- January — April
- Go for
- Hammerhead schools · Galápagos sharks · Silkies
Raja Ampat
Coral, mantas and reefs full of fish.
Raja Ampat has anthias above soft coral, baitfish under jetties, wobbegongs beneath ledges and mantas at cleaning stations. A Solitude Adventurer cruise director recommended November for the anchovy schools. It is a good month to consider if you want to see the reefs busy with feeding fish.
- Best months
- November — February
- Go for
- Diverse coral reefs · Mantas · Wobbegongs
Aliwal Shoal + Protea Banks
Shark dives off an exposed coast.
A warm-season week can bring bull sharks, tigers, oceanic blacktips and hammerheads. Expect surf launches, current and changing visibility. Be comfortable with rough boat rides and open-water pickups before choosing this trip.
- Best months
- January — February
- Go for
- Bull sharks · Tiger sharks · Hammerheads
Jardines de la Reina
Caribbean reef sharks and large groupers.
Protection has helped Jardines retain large groupers, Caribbean reef sharks, silkies and healthy coral. It is a strong choice for Caribbean diving. The Pacific destinations higher on this list offer more of the large-animal variety this ranking favours.
- Best months
- January — March
- Go for
- Caribbean reef sharks · Silkies · Goliath grouper