Wondering where to go diving in May? This guide highlights the best scuba diving and liveaboard destinations for the month’s top conditions and marine life.
Dwarf minke whales in Australia, manta ray aggregations in Socorro and regular shark sightings in the Maldives, Galápagos and Egypt mean pelagic encounters are high on the list for May. Destinations such as Komodo and French Polynesia are also enjoying some of their best conditions at this time of year. Plus, whether you’re interested in marine life, shipwrecks, archeology or cavern diving, both Cancún and Cyprus have plenty to offer.
Keep reading to discover 11 of the top destinations for scuba diving in May.
1. Socorro, Mexico
Located 250 miles (400 kilometers) from mainland Mexico, Socorro Island (part of the Revillagigedo Archipelago) is one of the best liveaboard destinations in the world. Here, you’ll find a wonderland of pelagic species, but May is a particularly magical month to visit, especially if you love manta rays.
Liveaboard season in Socorro lasts from November to May. However, the final month of the season offers the best chances for encounters with giant oceanic manta rays. This is due to the slight increase in water temperatures as summer approaches. Temperatures reach around 26°C (79°F), and manta rays, alongside several species of shark, make their way to this remote volcanic island.
It is important to note, however, that the humpback whales often seen near Socorro are not present in May. During the summer, these cetaceans move away in search of cooler waters.
If you’re looking for epic encounters with giant manta rays, Socorro is a challenging yet rewarding destination for diving in May.
Editor’s Recommended Liveaboard: Nautilus Explorer
2. Australia
There’s no bad time to head to Australia, but scuba diving in May offers several unique advantages. In the Land Down Under, May is the last month of fall, signaling the arrival of cooler weather and the end of the rainy season. However, in the scuba diving hotspots up north, winter doesn’t mean it’s time for dry suits. Instead, it offers the unique opportunity to swim with large marine life.
If you’re after a bucket-list dive on the Great Barrier Reef, May might just be the right time to go. Seas are calm, and the water is still warm. In addition, dwarf minke whales begin to arrive and are regularly spotted by liveaboard divers. Jump in the water with these giants for a unique snorkelling experience.
Furthermore, Ningaloo Reef is at its finest in May. This is prime time for whale shark encounters, and there are plenty of manta rays around as well.
Finally, because May isn’t considered high season in Australia, you are more likely to find the best liveaboard deals during this month. It may not be the most popular time to dive Australia, but for us, May is one of the best months to travel south.
Editor’s Recommended Liveaboard: MV SeaEsta
3. Cancún, Mexico
Heading to the other side of the world from Australia, Cancún and the surrounding Yucatán Peninsula are top diving destinations in May.
May offers some of the best visibility of the year for both the cenotes and MUSA (the famous underwater sculpture park). With such crystal-clear visibility, your underwater photographs will be spectacular and Instagram-worthy.
As in Australia, May is not part of Mexico’s high season. You’ll be able to find great deals on accommodation and diving. However, this is the very beginning of the hurricane season, so trip insurance is a good idea.
Editor’s Recommended Dive Resort: The Reef Playacar
4. Fakarava & Rangiroa, French Polynesia
Diving in the Tuamotu Archipelago and French Polynesia is great year-round. However, in terms of the weather, this is one of the best scuba diving destinations to visit in May.
Rangiroa is the largest atoll in French Polynesia. Its beautiful lagoon is filled with a variety of marine life and corals. In particular, this area and its neighbor, Fakarava, are known for shark encounters.
The wet season ends in April, so May ushers in the dry season. However, June marks the beginning of the windy season known locally as the mara’amu. Therefore, May sits in the perfect position for dry skies and calm seas.
Plus, you’ll benefit from the year-round presence of large marine life. Dolphins, barracudas, reef sharks and even manta rays can all be spotted. If you love shark diving, do yourself a favor and book a Rangiroa and Fakarava liveaboard for your next dive vacation.
Editor’s Recommended Liveaboard: Aqua Tiki II
5. Komodo, Indonesia
May is just about the best month possible for diving in Komodo. Although the peak season lasts from April to November, May offers the best balance of calm surface conditions and uncrowded dive sites.
May is the second full month of the dry season and boasts calm seas throughout the region. Visibility is excellent, and the area’s marine life can be easily spotted. Expect to swim alongside manta rays and see some of the 1,000-plus species of fish that inhabit these waters.
Most importantly, May isn’t the busiest month of the season. Most tourists haven’t yet arrived, and the small surge of tourism the region experiences at the beginning of liveaboard season in April is over. If you love uncrowded dive sites, this top liveaboard destination is one of the best places to go diving in May.
Editor’s Recommended Liveaboard: Scubaspa ZEN Indonesia
6. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
For scuba divers, the Galapagos Islands are on almost everyone’s bucket list. Everyone wants the opportunity to swim with marine iguanas, watch schools of hammerhead sharks or swim alongside the graceful giant known as the whale shark.
By diving in May, you’ll avoid the rough seas that arrive during the busy season. You’ll also miss the crowds of tourists. If you’re interested in the big stuff, you’re in luck. Iconic hammerhead sharks are resident year-round, while May is the last month of peak manta ray season in this region. Prime time for whale sharks and migrating humpback whales also begins in June – so with a little luck, you might spot one toward the end of May.
Regardless of whether or not you see a whale shark, these islands have one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world. This is one of the top travel destinations in May, and every dive here is sure to become one of your best-ever underwater experiences.
Editor’s Recommended Liveaboard: Galapagos Master
7. Maldives
If you don’t mind 25-30°C (77-86°F) water, then the Maldives in May is the place to be.
During this time of year, the wind shifts, bringing the southwest monsoon. This brings in a high concentration of plankton, which reduces visibility but attracts pelagics, like whale sharks and manta rays. In addition, hammerhead sharks and reef sharks congregate to prey on the schools of fish swimming in from the open ocean.
While every part of the Maldives is a contender among the best diving destinations, May is a great month to visit North and South Ari Atolls, which happen to be among the most accessible islands from the country’s main airport in Malé. Visiting these locations gives you the best opportunity to step off the plane and into the ocean, maximizing your scuba diving adventure.
Editor’s Recommended Liveaboard: Maldives Aggressor II
8. Cyprus
By May, the weather warms up across Europe’s best diving destinations, including the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus.
Here, sandy beaches meet rocky seascapes and azure waters, with visibility often reaching 30 meters (100 feet). This offers ideal conditions for exploring the region’s many swim-throughs and wrecks. Among these, the legendary MS Zenobia ferry takes center stage. Spanning depths from 16 to 42 meters (52 to 138 feet), it offers an iconic dive for beginners and experienced divers alike.
Cyprus is also celebrated for its fascinating underwater archeology, from ancient pottery to the harbor of Amathus. Meanwhile, turtles are abundant in this part of the world, along with lionfish, barracuda, and jacks. Night diving is easily accessible from shore, increasing your chances of spotting moray eels and octopuses in the open.
May is an ideal time to experience Cyprus’ charm and culture, and because it falls just ahead of peak tourist season, you should be able to find some great deals.
Editor’s Recommended Resort: Alpha Divers Apartments
9. Egypt
There are countless reasons to dive Egypt during any month. However, this Red Sea destination holds particular appeal as one of the best places to dive May for shark fanatics.
You can encounter several shark species in these world-class tropical waters, including grey reef, oceanic whitetip, leopard, thresher and tiger sharks. In addition, May is one of the best times for hammerhead and whale shark sightings.
Beyond the pelagic action, Egypt has something to offer every diver. Whether you prefer resort or liveaboard diving, you can easily tailor your underwater adventure to include pristine coral reefs, world-class shipwrecks, thrilling walls, drift dives and laid-back shore dives.
With topside temperatures still comfortable before the height of summer, Egypt is undoubtedly one of the best places to scuba dive in May.
Editor’s Recommended Liveaboard: MY Blue Melody
10. Similan Islands, Thailand
From mid-December through May, oceanic manta rays aggregate around the Similan Islands, making this an excellent choice for those hoping to see manta rays during this time. The manta rays gather here as ocean currents work in their favor, bringing huge plankton blooms to the area.
When not feeding in the plankton-rich waters, these majestic creatures can often be spotted gliding over cleaning stations or putting on impressive displays in mating trains, where several mantas follow one another. Similan liveaboard trips vary in length, from one night to week-long adventures.
Even without a manta encounter, May delivers exceptional diving. The Similan Islands offer phenomenal drift dives, pinnacles, canyons and near-pristine reefs that are bursting with color and teeming with life.
Editor’s Recommended Liveaboard: MV Deep Andaman Queen
11. Micronesia (Yap, Palau & Chuuk Lagoon)
Micronesia is another manta ray hotspot, and divers can enjoy swimming with these gentle giants year-round, with the highest chances of sightings from late December through April and into May. Since May marks the end of the season, divers can often find great deals if they’re willing to shop around.
Manta rays aside, Micronesia is home to some of the best atolls and coral reefs on the planet. Expect pelagics, multiple shark species and an impressive array of macro life, from colorful mandarinfish to blue-ringed octopuses.
May is also a phenomenal month for diving the world-famous wrecks found in Chuuk Lagoon (also known as Truk Lagoon), when visibility can reach 30 meters (100 feet) and water temperatures hover around 82–84°F (28–29°C).
Editor’s Recommended Liveaboard: Palau Siren
Explore the Best Scuba Diving in May
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If you’re looking for the best scuba diving destinations in May, we’d love to answer any questions you have. Contact one of our PADI Travel experts 24/7 via chat, email, or phone and they’ll help you choose the right scuba destination for you.
