Best time to dive in Nha Trang, month by month
In short: the best visibility is from April to August, the normal season runs February to September, and from October to December the north-east monsoon is in charge. You can dive most of the year, though — it comes down to the day.
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The season in a nutshell
Nha Trang faces the open South China Sea, so the monsoon decides most things. In summer the sea is calm, rain is rare and the water gets warmer and clearer. In autumn the north-east monsoon brings waves, heavy rain and murky river water. In winter the wind lingers, but the sea slowly settles.
| Months | Underwater | Water |
|---|---|---|
| January — February | Some wind and swell, average visibility. Things improve quickly from February | about 24–26 °C |
| March | Start of the good season, calmer mornings | about 26 °C |
| April — August | Best time: calm mornings and the clearest water | 27–30 °C |
| September | Still in season, but more rain | about 28 °C |
| October — December | Monsoon and typhoon season: waves, downpours, some trips are moved | about 25–27 °C |
Water temperatures are approximate — our forecast shows the morning temperature for any given day.
What “good visibility” means in Nha Trang
Nha Trang is not the Maldives or the Red Sea. Typical visibility is 5–15 metres, more on the best summer days at the outer islands. For a first dive to 10–12 metres that is plenty: corals, clownfish and schools of fish are easy to see. Recent rain, swell and low tide affect it the most.
Visiting from October to December
- Do not plan your dive for the last day of your trip — leave room to reschedule.
- Pick a morning after 2–3 dry days so the water has time to clear.
- Check our visibility forecast: it accounts for rain, swell, wind and tide at each dive site.
- If a trip is cancelled because of the weather, we reschedule or refund.
Mornings are best in any season
We leave at 8:00 and dive roughly from 9 to 12. In the morning the wind is lighter, the swell is lower and the sun already lights up the reef. The wind usually picks up after lunch, which is why diving in Nha Trang is almost always a morning thing.