Diving over Christmas and New Year: where December actually works
Red Sea, Great Barrier Reef, Cozumel, Bali or Koh Tao: which dive destinations work between Christmas and New Year, what the water is like and how to plan around weather and crowds.
Short answer: For dives between Christmas and New Year, the most reliable choices are the Red Sea and the Great Barrier Reef. Hurghada and Marsa Alam have calm winter seas at around 24 to 25 °C. Cairns has water near 28 °C, but it is stinger season. Cozumel, Bali and Koh Tao also work, with rain, wind and full hotels, so book early and keep spare days.
December is a popular month for a dive trip, because many people have time off and want warm water. The holiday weeks are also the most expensive and most crowded of the year in many places. Which destination works depends on how much weather risk you accept and how far you want to fly.
Red Sea: the steadiest option in winter
Hurghada and Marsa Alam in Egypt are winter destinations for many European divers. Average sea temperatures in December are around 24 to 25 °C, according to sea temperature records. Air temperatures are mild at midday and cool in the evening.
The water feels colder than the number suggests after three dives a day. A 5 mm suit with a hood is a common choice, and divers who feel the cold take 7 mm. On the boat, pack a windproof jacket for the surface intervals.
Many nationalities can buy a visa on arrival at Egyptian airports. Reports from 2026 put the fee at 25 to 30 US dollars, so check the current amount before you fly.
Great Barrier Reef: warm water, stinger season
Cairns is in its tropical summer in December. The liveaboard operator Spirit of Freedom lists an average surface temperature of 27.8 °C for December. Reef boats run daily, and liveaboards leave on fixed days.
The Queensland Government gives November to May as the higher-risk period for marine stingers, such as box jellyfish and Irukandji. Reef boats usually provide a lycra suit, and you should wear it. The wet season builds from December, and the official cyclone season runs from 1 November to 30 April.
A storm does not mean a lost week, but boats can be cancelled at short notice. Leave one free day in your plan so you can move a reef trip.
Cozumel, Bali and Koh Tao: possible, with caveats
Cozumel in Mexico has water around 27 to 28 °C in December. Cold fronts called nortes arrive two to four times a month from December to March and can stop boat trips for one or two days. The period from 19 to 31 December is the most expensive of the year there.
Bali is in its wet season, with water around 29 °C. Rain usually comes as heavy showers, not all day. Shore dives in Tulamben and Amed depend less on the sea state than boat trips to Nusa Penida. New Year's Eve brings heavy traffic and crowds to the south.
Koh Tao and Koh Samui in Thailand are in the north-east monsoon until early January. Koh Samui averages 263 mm of rain on about 12 days in December, much less than in November. Boats on Koh Tao move to the sheltered west side, and Sail Rock is only reached on calm days.
December destinations compared
Destination
Water in December
Main risk
Suit
Hurghada / Marsa Alam
around 24 to 25 °C
cool evenings, wind on some days
5 mm with hood, or 7 mm
Cairns (Great Barrier Reef)
around 28 °C
stingers, wet and cyclone season
lycra or 3 mm full suit
Cozumel
around 27 to 28 °C
nortes cancel boats for a day or two
3 mm
Bali
around 29 °C
rain, swell on boat trips, crowds
3 mm
Koh Tao / Koh Samui
around 28 °C
monsoon, ferry and boat cancellations
3 mm
Water temperatures are long-term averages and vary from year to year. Suit thickness is a rough guide, and divers who get cold quickly should go one step warmer.
How to plan around the holidays
Book flights and rooms as early as you can. In Cozumel, on Koh Samui and in Bali, prices rise for about two weeks around the holidays. Some hotels also set minimum stays.
Do not lock your dives onto 24, 25 or 31 December. Many operators run reduced schedules on those days, and the weather may force a change. A gap of one or two days lets you catch up on a cancelled trip.
Keep time between your last dive and your flight home. The Divers Alert Network recommends at least 18 hours after multiple dives over several days, as set out in the DAN guidelines. Roads to the airport are often busy in the first days of January.
For the Red Sea: divefever, a dive-site atlas series by an SSI divemaster, covers the sites around Hurghada and Marsa Alam in German (German-language editions).
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to dive in December?
The Red Sea and the Great Barrier Reef are the most reliable. Egypt has calm winter seas at around 24 to 25 °C, Cairns warm water in stinger season.
Is December a good time to dive in Thailand?
On the Gulf side around Koh Tao and Koh Samui it is monsoon season until early January. Diving continues at sheltered sites, but exposed sites like Sail Rock are often cancelled.
Is the Red Sea too cold in December?
Not for most divers with the right suit. At around 24 to 25 °C, a 5 mm suit with a hood or a 7 mm suit is usual.
Can you dive the Great Barrier Reef at Christmas?
Yes, boats run through the holidays. Wear the lycra suit the boat provides and keep a spare day in case of bad weather.
Plan the days on land
If you choose the reef, the Cairns Travel Guide by Tabiara covers arrival, where to stay and day routes. It includes rainforest days for when the boats stay in port. All destinations from the collaboration with divefever are on Dive and travel guides.
Last checked: 29 October 2026. Seasons, fees and holiday schedules change, so check them with your dive centre and official sources before you travel.
