Wondering where to go on your July scuba diving trip? With hurricanes in the Caribbean and sweltering temperatures across the Red Sea, you might be wondering where you can find some decent diving. To help you in your quest, we’ve compiled a list of the best liveaboard destinations to go in July.
If you’re planning a dive trip in July, you’ll do best in the Pacific Ocean and Southeast Asia. It’s the dry season in Komodo and Sipadan, with good conditions and no shortage of marine life. Temperatures are cooler down in the South Pacific, bringing good visibility and calm waters. Any of the destinations on this list are sure to be amazing!
1. MALPELO ISLAND
Malpelo Island beckons divers to explore stark underwater landscapes where schooling fish and sharks lurk amongst its tunnels and caves. Advanced divers can drift dive in the powerful currents of this volcanic ridge. A Malpelo liveaboard is the best way to ensure a coveted spot at this protected marine reserve.
This is the wet season in Malpelo, although not as intense as it will be later in the year. You will see some rainfall, and waters will hover between 68 and 75° F (20 and 24° C). Visibility at Malpelo is fairly constant throughout the year.
WHERE TO GO FROM: Puerto Pedregal, Panama
PRICE RANGE: $4,500 – $5,500
DIFFICULTY: Advanced
LENGTH OF THE TRIP: 11 to 14 days
WATER TEMPERATURES: 68 to 75° F (20 to 24° C)
BEST BOATS: Malpelo liveaboard boats
HIGHLIGHTS: One of the best places in the world for shark diving
2. HAWAII
Diving at Hawaii is an explosion of color, with plenty of bright corals and reef fish to discover. Although the coral is under threat from climate change, scientists are thinking of innovative new ways to preserve it. Since the dive sites here are mostly shallow, this is a fantastic place to get your feet wet for the first time or learn a new diving skill. It’s all possible with a Hawaii liveaboard!
Summer in Hawaii brings warm waters and calmer surface conditions. Liveaboards during this month have their pick of any dive site they like, and visibility can reach up to 100ft (30m). This is high season so book accordingly.
WHERE TO GO FROM: Kailua Kona, USA
PRICE RANGE: $2,000 – $2,500
DIFFICULTY: Beginner
LENGTH OF THE TRIP: 7 days
WATER TEMPERATURES: 78 and 81°F (25 to 27°C)
BEST BOATS: Hawaii liveaboard boats
HIGHLIGHTS: Lively assortment of dive sites for all levels
3. GALÁPAGOS
Thanks to ongoing volcanic activity and converging ocean currents, the Galápagos Islands are one of those magical places that seem to have every type of creature under the sun. A Galápagos liveaboard will take you to one of the richest dive sites in the world.
July is the beginning of the cold season at the Galápagos, when waters are starting to get choppy and you’ll see a decrease in visibility. On the bright side, July to December is when the nutrient-rich currents attract majestic whale sharks. And as an added bonus, you might even see penguins!
WHERE TO GO FROM: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno or Santa Cruz, Ecuador
PRICE RANGE: $3,500 – $6,000
DIFFICULTY: Intermediate – advanced
LENGTH OF THE TRIP: 7 to 8 days
WATER TEMPERATURES: 66 to 73° F (19 to 23° C)
BEST BOATS: Best Galápagos liveaboard boats compared
HIGHLIGHTS: Chance to see whale sharks and penguins
4. KOMODO
Nestled in the Coral Triangle, Komodo National Park has some of the highest marine biodiversity in the world. The islands’ varied underwater landscapes are home to pelagics, reef fish and macro life. A Komodo liveaboard is by far the most convenient way to explore this underwater paradise.
Komodo in July is cold and dry. Thanks in part to the nutrient-rich waters which attract manta rays and all kinds of marine life, this is the time of year when you’ll find the most liveaboards available. Visibility varies according to the dive sites. Be aware that if you are planning to head further south, you might see some choppy surface conditions.
WHERE TO GO FROM: Labuan Bajo, Indonesia
PRICE RANGE: $1,500 – $3,000
DIFFICULTY: Advanced
LENGTH OF THE TRIP: 3 to 7 days
WATER TEMPERATURES: 68 to 82° F (20 to 28° C)
BEST BOATS: Best Komodo liveaboard boats compared
HIGHLIGHTS: Biodiverse dive sites with lots of pelagics, especially mantas
5. SIPADAN
Few divers are lucky enough to dive Sipadan, which provides a limited number of entry permits to its marine protected area. Those who manage to get a spot on the only Sipadan liveaboard will have the chance to explore healthy coral reefs, away from the crowds.
July is a good month to catch a glimpse of nesting green turtles. As always at Sipadan, you should also be able to see barracudas, seahorses, sharks and bumphead parrotfish. July and August, in the middle of the dry season, are generally regarded as the best months to dive Sipadan.
WHERE TO GO FROM: Semporna, Malaysia
PRICE RANGE: $1,000 – $2,000
DIFFICULTY: Beginner – intermediate
LENGTH OF THE TRIP: 3 to 7 days
WATER TEMPERATURES: 82 to 86° F (28 to 30° C)
BEST BOATS: Sipadan liveaboard boats
HIGHLIGHTS: Resident nesting turtles
6. MARSHALL ISLANDS
The Marshall Islands boast plentiful fish life, plummeting drop-offs and well-preserved reefs. But most divers come to explore the eerie Bikini Atoll, with its wrecks left over from American nuclear testing in the 1940’s. With a Marshall Islands liveaboard you’ll be one of few divers to visit the area.
The Marshall Islands lie near the equator and water temperatures vary little throughout the year. July is one of the hotter months, and enjoys calm waters. Don’t miss the chance to see the world’s largest shark sanctuary, something that will hopefully serve as inspiration for marine conservationists around the world.
WHERE TO GO FROM: Kwajalein, Marshall Islands
PRICE RANGE: $6,500 – $8,500
DIFFICULTY: Advanced
LENGTH OF THE TRIP: 11 to 15 days
WATER TEMPERATURES: 82 to 84° F (28 to 29° C)
BEST BOATS: Marshall Islands liveaboard boats
HIGHLIGHTS: World’s largest shark sanctuary
7. SOLOMON ISLANDS
The Solomon Islands are an archipelago comprising 1000 islands located in the South Pacific. During the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II this area saw a lot of fighting. This is good news for wreck divers, who will have access to hundreds of wrecks with a Solomon Islands liveaboard.
With dry weather and marginally cooler temperatures, July is one of the best months to visit the Solomon Islands. Monsoon season is over and conditions are calmer, a good time to go muck diving and see nudis, seahorses and other macro life. Check out our underwater photography tips before you go so you can immortalize what you see here!
WHERE TO GO FROM: Honiara, Solomon Islands
PRICE RANGE: $3,000 – $6,000
DIFFICULTY: Beginner
LENGTH OF THE TRIP: 8 to 12 days
WATER TEMPERATURES: 84 to 86° F (29 to 30° C)
BEST BOATS: Best Solomon Islands liveaboard boats compared
HIGHLIGHTS: World War II wrecks from Battle of Guadalcanal
8. PAPUA NEW GUINEA
With a Papua New Guinea liveaboard, you’ll have the opportunity to explore fascinating seascapes with intricate macro critters in the birthplace of muck diving. Not to be missed are the steep drop-offs and underwater mountains with no shortage of pelagic life.
If you come to Papua New Guinea in July, you won’t want to miss the Rabaul Mask Festival. Look into liveaboard operators that include visits to the islands to take advantage of this truly unique experience. July is the cold season in Papua New Guinea and a good time to dive the Bismarck and the Solomon Seas.
WHERE TO GO FROM: Alotau or Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea
PRICE RANGE: $3,000 – $4,500
DIFFICULTY: Beginner
LENGTH OF THE TRIP: 8 to 11 days
WATER TEMPERATURES: 79 to 84° F (26 to 29° C)
BEST BOATS: Best Papua New Guinea liveaboard boats compared
HIGHLIGHTS: Birthplace of muck diving
9. FRENCH POLYNESIA
French Polynesia is the perfect place to go drift diving with pelagics. The country’s vast seascape also offers beautiful corals, steep walls and World War II wrecks. If you’re going to book a French Polynesia liveaboard, it’s worth getting your advanced open water certification so you won’t be held back by the depths and the currents.
Visibility is at its peak in July, stretching up to as much as 200ft (60m). Surface conditions can be rough and waters will be slightly cooler, but neither of these should be a big deal once you get underwater. However, this is typhoon season in French Polynesia, so consider taking out insurance for your trip.
WHERE TO GO FROM: Rangiroa or Fakarava, French Polynesia
PRICE RANGE: $4,000 – $6,000
DIFFICULTY: Advanced
LENGTH OF THE TRIP: 8 to 11 days
WATER TEMPERATURES: 77 to 80° F (25 to 27° C)
BEST BOATS: Best French Polynesia liveaboard boats compared
HIGHLIGHTS: Large diving area with a wide variety of dive sites
10. AUSTRALIA
Every scuba diver should have the Great Barrier Reef on their bucket list. The world’s biggest reef system, this UNESCO site is home to 1500 species of fish and 400 types of coral. But an Australia liveaboard can also take you to dive spots elsewhere in the country, such as drift diving off the west coast or cage diving with great whites in the south.
Waters in Australia are on the cooler side this month. This is the ideal time to see migrating minke and humpback whales as well as other pelagics including whale sharks and manta rays. Visibility should be decent in July.
WHERE TO GO FROM: Cairns, Australia
PRICE RANGE: $500 – $2,500
DIFFICULTY: Beginner – advanced
LENGTH: 2 to 7 days
WATER TEMPERATURES: 68 to 75° F (20 to 24° C)
BEST BOATS: Best Australia liveaboard boats compared
HIGHLIGHTS: Great Barrier Reef, world’s most spectacular coral system
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