When is the best time to dive the Red Sea? A month-by-month guide to seasons, water temperature, visibility and the best months to see hammerhead and oceanic whitetip sharks.
The Red Sea is a year-round diving destination, but the best time to dive the Red Sea is from March to May and September to November, when the water is warm, the air is comfortable and visibility is at its best. That said, every season has something to offer — summer brings the biggest shark action, while winter is the calmest and cheapest time to dive. Here is a season-by-season guide to help you pick your dates.
The short answer
For the best all-round conditions — warm water, mild weather and excellent visibility — book a Red Sea liveaboard in spring (March–May) or autumn (September–November). For schooling hammerheads and oceanic whitetip sharks, aim for summer and early autumn. For quiet boats and lower prices, choose winter.
Season by season
Spring · March to May
One of the two peak windows. Water climbs from about 22°C to 26°C, the air is warm but not scorching, and the offshore reefs of the southern Red Sea come alive. Excellent all-round diving with great visibility.
Summer · June to August
Hot on land (35–40°C) but the water is at its warmest (27–30°C) and the diving is spectacular. This is prime time for schooling hammerhead sharks at Daedalus and the Brothers Islands. Liveaboards run the famous Elphinstone, Brothers and Daedalus (BDE) shark route.
Autumn · September to November
Arguably the best season of all. Water stays warm (26–28°C), crowds thin out, and oceanic whitetip sharks arrive at Elphinstone and the Brothers from October. Superb visibility and pelagic action.
Winter · December to February
The calmest and most affordable season. Water cools to 21–23°C, so a 5mm wetsuit (or 7mm) is recommended. The northern wreck route — including the SS Thistlegorm and Abu Nuhas — is ideal in winter, with shorter crossings and sheltered diving. See current liveaboard prices, which are typically 15–20% lower in low season.
Best time to see sharks in the Red Sea
Sharks are the headline draw of the southern Red Sea, and timing matters:
- Scalloped hammerheads — schooling at Daedalus and the Brothers, best June to September.
- Oceanic whitetip sharks — Elphinstone and the Brothers, best October to December.
- Thresher sharks — Big Brother, spring and early summer.
- Grey reef and silky sharks — the Brothers and Daedalus, present most of the year.
Water temperature and what wetsuit to bring
Summer 27–30°C (3mm shorty or dive skin), spring and autumn 25–27°C (3mm full suit), winter 21–23°C (5mm full suit, 7mm if you feel the cold). Underwater visibility regularly exceeds 20–30 metres in every season.
North vs South: when to go where
The northern Red Sea (wrecks such as the Thistlegorm, Ras Mohammed and the reefs around Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada) is good all year and especially comfortable in the cooler months. The southern Red Sea (Brothers, Daedalus, Elphinstone, Fury Shoals, St John's) is at its best from late spring through autumn, when the pelagic sharks move in. Browse the full dive-site guide and pick a route around the marine life you most want to see.
Frequently asked questions
What is the single best month to dive the Red Sea?
September and October are hard to beat — warm water, fewer crowds, great visibility and the start of oceanic whitetip season. May is the standout spring month.
When can I see hammerhead sharks in the Red Sea?
Schooling hammerheads are most reliable from June to September at Daedalus Reef and the Brothers Islands, on the southern offshore (BDE) liveaboard route.
Is the Red Sea good for diving in winter?
Yes. Winter is calm, quiet and cheaper, with water around 21–23°C and superb visibility. It is the ideal time for the northern wreck route, including the SS Thistlegorm. Bring a 5mm or 7mm wetsuit.
How warm is the Red Sea water?
It ranges from about 21°C in February to 30°C in August. Spring and autumn sit comfortably at 25–28°C.
