Top 18 Cold-Water Dive Destinations Worth Traveling For

Published on 5/25/25

Written by Jessica Colla

When you think of world-class scuba diving, you might imagine white sand, warm turquoise waters and vibrant coral reefs. But cold-water diving offers its own kind of magic—thrilling encounters with giant marine life, surreal kelp forests, colorful invertebrates, and dive sites with far fewer crowds. Whether you're an experienced cold-water diver or a warm-water enthusiast looking to expand your dive log, these destinations prove that "chilly" can still mean unforgettable.

Getting into cold water diving? Check out my article Ultimate Guide to Cold Water Diving to learn more!

Here’s a curated list of the top cold-water dive destinations across the globe. Each one offers something special—and with the right gear and mindset, they’re worth every shiver!

Let’s dive in!

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1. Southern Australia -Whyalla & Adelaide

Best for: Giant cuttlefish aggregations, leafy sea dragons, sea lions, wobbegong sharks

Water temperature: 11–18°C (52–64°F)

Best time to dive: June–August for cuttlefish; year-round for other species

Australia’s southern coast is a hidden gem for temperate diving. Whyalla is world-famous for the annual migration of hundreds of giant Australian cuttlefish each winter, gathering to mate in a spectacular underwater display. Near Adelaide, divers can spot leafy sea dragons - ornate, camouflaged seahorse relatives found nowhere else in the world. Sea lions, fur seals and wobbegong shark encounters round out the unique species list, with many accessible shore dives.

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2. South Africa - Cape Coast & Sardine Run

Best for: Kelp forests, sixgill sharks, sea lions, sardine run & bait ball action

Water temperature: 13–20°C (55–68°F)

Best time to dive: June–September for kelp forests & June–July for sardine run

Bring your appetite for adventure in South Africa’s wild waters! In Cape Town, you can dive among towering kelp forests with sevengill sharks patrolling the shadows, visit seal colonies where agile fur seals zip around you, or explore eerie shipwrecks in False Bay. Further north at Aliwal Shoal or Protea Banks, cooler winter waters bring ragged-tooth sharks (sand tigers) around historic shipwrecks. In June–July, the annual sardine run on the country’s east coast (Wild Coast/KwaZulu-Natal) is one of the ocean’s greatest events – massive bait balls of sardines are chased by dolphins, sharks, whales and dive-bombing seabirds. Divers lucky enough to see the sardine run (often via liveaboard or safari) can witness bait ball frenzies like nowhere else on Earth. Brave the chill and surge, and you could be surrounded by bait balls, dolphins, sharks, and humpback whales all at once!

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3. British Columbia, Canada – Vancouver Island & Sunshine Coast

Best for: Giant Pacific octopus, wolf eels, colorful anemone walls

Water temperature: 7–14°C (45–57°F)

Best time to dive: October–March for best visibility; August–September for warmest temps

The Pacific Northwest’s Canadian province is often hailed as the world’s best cold-water diving – even legendary diver Jacques Cousteau described BC’s waters as “the best temperate water diving in the world, second only to the Red Sea”. The sheer abundance of marine life is mind-blowing: think giant Pacific octopuses, wolf eels, huge lingcod, six-gill sharks, colorful nudibranchs, cloud sponges, soft corals, and vast cloud-white plumose sea anemones on current-swept walls. Top areas include Vancouver Island’s east coast (with famous sites like Browning Pass and God’s Pocket – a kaleidoscope of invertebrate life), the Sunshine Coast, and Nanaimo (with wreck dives like the HMCS Saskatchewan artificial reef). Many sites are accessible from shore or via local charters, and rich plankton fuels the food chain (bringing those big animals but sometimes limiting visibility).

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4. New Zealand - Poor Knights Islands & Fiordland

Best for: Volcanic arches, kelp forests, blue maomao, black coral

Water temperature: 14–22°C (57–72°F), 10–12 °C (50-54°F) beneath thermocline in Milford Sound

Best time to dive: December–March for calm seas & warmer water; year-round at Poor Knights (visibility 15–30m common). Fiordland is best in summer when there’s less rain runoff.

New Zealand (NZ) spans warm subtropical to chilly temperate waters, offering a bit of everything! On the North Island, the Poor Knights Islands marine reserve is a must-dive: mild temperate waters with volcanic archways, lava tubes and vertical walls teeming with schooling fish, stingrays, and the occasional orca sighting. You’ll see subtropical and temperate species mixing here – an explosion of colorful nudibranchs, scorpionfish, and huge schools of blue maomao and trevally. In the South Island, fiord diving in Milford Sound or Fiordland is a unique experience: cold dark water with a dramatic thermocline, but home to rare deep-water species that live shallow thanks to a layer of tannin freshwater (you can find black corals and deep-sea anemones just 15m down!). NZ also has seal colonies you can dive with (Kaikoura or Abel Tasman), and kelp forests galore. Expect towering peaks above and dramatic scenes below!

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5. United Kingdom – Scapa Flow, Farne Islands, Cornwall

Best for: Historic wrecks, seals, basking sharks

Water temperature: 6–18°C (43–64°F)

Best time to dive: July–September for warmer temps and large animal sightings

The United Kingdom (UK) is a treasure trove of cold-water dive sites! Scapa Flow’s Bay is a mecca for wreck divers - the resting place of the WWI German High Seas Fleet scuttled in 1919. Seven massive warship wrecks (cruisers and battleships) lie accessible to recreational divers. Carpeted in anemones and home to fish and seals, offering an unbeatable combination of history and marine life! At Farne Islands, you can dive among curious grey seals and in summer you can encounter basking sharks – the world’s second largest shark – filtering plankton near the surface, off western Scotland and Cornwall, England. Visibility and weather can be fickle, but the encounters are unforgettable—and the tea afterward is always hot.

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6. Norway – Fjords & Orca Encounters

Best for: Ice diving, orca and whale snorkels, WWII wrecks

Water temperature: 4–10°C (39–50°F)

Best time to dive: November–January for orca; June–September for wrecks & fjords

With its extensive coastline above the Arctic Circle, Norway offers wild cold dives! In winter (November–January), snorkelers and divers near Tromsø or Andenes can witness gatherings of orca and humpback whales that come to hunt the herring runs – truly bucket-list if you don’t mind 5 °C water (dry suit mandatory)! Norway also has superb wall dives in the fjords, WWII shipwrecks (like the famous wrecks of Narvik), and flourishing kelp forests along its coast. The summer brings endless daylight (midnight sun) for massive shoals of cod and pollock, wolffish, and brilliantly colored nudibranchs in places like Lofoten. Conditions are extreme but worth the effort for wildlife lovers and wreck junkies alike.

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7. Iceland – Silfra Fissure & Strýtan Hydrothermal Vent

Best for: Continental plate diving, crystal-clear water, rare vent ecosystems

Water temperature: 2–4°C (35–39°F)

Best time to dive: Year-round; summer has better surface conditions and “midnight sun”

Iceland's cold, volcanic landscape hides two of the world’s most unique dive sites! For a truly unique cold dive, try Silfra in Iceland – here you literally dive between two continents in water filtered through volcanic rock. Silfra, a freshwater fissure in Thingvellir National Park, boasts 100+ meter visibility – some of the clearest water on earth. The water is a constant 2–4 °C year-round. While Silfra has little marine life beyond shimmering algae and the odd tiny fish, the surreal experience of weightlessly drifting in glass-clear glacial water (with North America on one side and Eurasia on the other) is unforgettable. For something hotter, dive the Strýtan hydrothermal vent in Eyjafjörður—the ONLY PLACE ON EARTH recreational divers can explore an active geothermal vent. Towering chimneys release 70°C mineral-rich water, supporting fascinating microbial life. This is a truly unique experience for lovers of deep sea biology!

Elsewhere around Iceland’s coast, cold ocean dives can featurerocky reefs, kelp forests, wolf eel, rockfish, and even historic shipwrecks (extremely well preserved by the cold waters).

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8. Alaska, USA – Glacier & Ocean Diving

Best for: Icebergs, sea lions, salmon, orca, glaciers

Water temperature: 1–10°C (33–50°F)

Best time to dive: May–September (summer dive season)

Alaska’s diving is dramatic, remote, and brimming with marine life. In places like Resurrection Bay, Sitka, and Juneau, you’ll dive among extensive rocky reefs and kelp forests, spot swarming jellyfish blooms, and swirl with playful sea lions. Theres also a good possibility of seeing wolf eels, king crabs, and even salmon runs! (Pssst! If you find yourself in Seward, check out the Alaska Sealife Center to learn more about local species and support their marine animal rescue and rehabilitation program!)

For the brave diver, glacier diving is a bucket list adventure! Take a helicopter (bougie, I know!) to the mountains where glacial melt pools offers ethereal visibility and otherworldly photo ops of blue ice—just make sure your drysuit and camera are ready!

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9. California, USA - Channel Islands & Monterey Bay

Best for: Kelp forests, leopard sharks, guitarfish, giant Pacific octopus, geribaldi

Water temperature: 10–19°C (50–66°F)

Best time to dive: July–October for warmest temps and calmest seas

California’s kelp forests are some of the most magical ecosystems in the ocean. In the marine reserve of Monterey Bay, you can explore underwater canyons, spot leopard sharks, GPOs, and hover among swaying forests of giant kelp.

(Be sure to stop by the Monterey Bay Aquarium while you're on Canery Row! Its one of the best aquariums in the world!)

Further south, the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary offers pristine diving with guitarfish, rare garibaldi, and healthy sea lion colonies. These protected waters are biodiversity hotspots and accessible to divers of all levels!

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10. Southern Argentina – Patagonia & Peninsula Valdés

Best for: Penguins, orcas, sea lions, elephant seals

Water temperature: 6–15°C (43–59°F)

Best time to dive: October–April for marine mammals; February–March for best conditions and visibility

Patagonia’s rugged coastline offers rare diving experiences with animals you can't see outside of Antartica! Glide with Magellanic penguins, South American sea lions, southern fur seals and even elephant seals!

The Peninsula Valdés area is especially famous for orcas that beach themselves to hunt seals—though sightings underwater are rare. You’ll more likely dive alongside playful sea lions and penguins here. These nutrient-rich waters also support thriving reef life and kelp beds. It’s off the beaten path, but for wildlife enthusiasts, it’s unforgettable!

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11. Washington, USA - Puget Sound & San Juan Islands

Best for: Giant octopus, wolf eels, salmon run, herring spawn

Water temperature: 8–12°C (46–54°F)

Best time to dive: October–March for visibility; February–April for herring spawn; late September–November for salmon runs

The Salish Sea—made up of Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca—is one of the most biodiverse temperate marine ecosystems in North America. Top sites include Alki Beach, Edmonds Underwater Park, and Les Davis Pier. Divers can explore rocky reefs, kelp forests, and eel grass beds while encountering species like rockfish, lingcod, wolf eels, giant Pacific octopuses, and colorful nudibranchs (marine slugs … its cooler than it sounds, I promise!).

Seasonal events add to the region’s appeal: late winter and early spring bring the herring spawn, attracting harbor seals, sea lions, and scores of native seabirds in feeding frenzies, while salmon runs in late summer and fall offer rare underwater encounters with migrating salmon near river mouths. You may wven catch a glimpse of the world-famous Southern Resident Killer Whales that specialize in salmon predation!

Shore dives in Puget Sound are great for beginners, while more advanced divers can explore current-swept sites in the San Juans and Strait. And the best part? It's all just a short ferry ride from Seattle!

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12. Canary Islands, Spain – Lanzarote & Gran Canaria

Best for: Underwater sculpture park, historic shipwrecks, volcanic topography

Water temperature: 18–24°C (64–75°F)

Best time to dive: March–May and September–November for clear visibility and fewer tourists

The Canary Islands offer an exciting blend of subtropical waters with volcanic landscapes and temperate marine life. Off the coast of Lanzarote, divers can visit the Museo Atlántico, Europe’s first underwater sculpture museum—an eerie and inspiring artificial reef.

In Gran Canaria, the shipwrecks of Las Palmas host swirls of schooling fish, moray eels, and the occasional reef shark! Volcanic arches, caves, and lava flows create a dramatic underwater seascape for recreational and advanced divers alike. Water temps are cooler in spring and fall, making it a comfortable option for divers easing into the cold-water world.

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13. Hokkaidō, Japan – Shiretoko Peninsula, Sea of Okhotsk & Yonaguni Monument

Best for: Iceberg diving, sea angels, Yonaguni Monument, schooling hammerheads

Water temperature: −2 to 5°C (28–41°F) in winter; 15–20°C (59–68°F) in summer

Best time to dive: January–March for ice diving; June–August for temperate dives

Northern Japan delivers one of the most surreal cold-water experiences on Earth: ice diving under drifting sea ice in the Sea of Okhotsk. Based in Shiretoko or Abashiri, drysuit divers can explore bizarre species like Clione "sea angels", cold-tolerant anemones, and jellyfish with jaw-dropping visibility beneath the ice.

In summer, drift dives along rocky reefs in the North China Sea offer sightings of giant crabs, nudibranchs, and other curious bottom dwellers adapted to the Kuroshio and Oyashio Currents.

Also, check out Yonaguni Monument, a mysterious underwater structure that resembles a sunken city, as well as the schooling hammerhead sharks of the region!

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14. Lake Baikal, Russia – Siberia’s Ice Diving Capital

Best for: Ice diving, freshwater seals, green sponge forests, extreme depths

Water temperature: 0–4°C (32–39°F) year-round

Best time to dive: February–April for ice diving; July–September for technical wall dives

Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as the deepest lake on Earth (1.6km), Lake Baikal is a technical diver’s dream—and a must-see for cold-water enthusiasts! In winter, the lake's surface freezes into glass-clear ice sheets, offering incredible ice diving with up to 40 meters of visibility. Below, divers can explore bizarre green sponge forests, see hundreds of endemic fish & invertebrates, and even glimpse the elusive Baikal seal—the world’s only true freshwater pinniped!

In summer, experienced divers can plunge deeper to see vertical walls and submerged valleys. Drysuits are essential year-round due to near-freezing water temperatures in this unlikely Siberian dive destination!

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15. Mediterranean Sea – Spain, Italy & Greece

Best for: Underwater archaeology, Roman ruins, historic shipwrecks, reef fish

Water temperature: 15–24°C (59–75°F)

Best time to dive: April–June and September–October for calm seas and mild water temps

Though often overlooked as a cold-water destination, the Mediterranean Sea offers a fascinating mix of European history and marine life, especially in the shoulder seasons when tourism crowds are reduced. Dive among submerged Roman architecture and WWII shipwrecks off the coasts of Spain, Italy, and Greece—many within marine reserves. The submerged city of Baiae, Tuscany, still has in-tact roman baths and beautiful mosaic artwork!

These submerged sites are now home to groupers, nudibranchs, octopuses, skates, and other hardy reef fish. While the water can feel refreshing year-round, cooler spring and fall dives provide excellent visibility and a quieter, more relaxed experience for sub-temperate divers.

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16. NOrthern China - Qiandao Lake & Bohai Sea

Best for: Submerged city, freshwater diving, kelp forests, Great Wall of China

Water temperature: 10–22°C (50–72°F) depending on season and location

Best time to dive: June–October for optimal lake and coastal diving conditions

China's cold-water diving scene is mysterious and emerging. In Qiandao Lake, divers can explore the fabled “Lion City”, a 1,400-year-old Chinese city submerged beneath the reservoir's calm waters—remarkably preserved and accessible only by trained divers.
Along the northern coast in the Bohai Sea, divers can encounter kelp forests, macro life, and surprisingly rich temperate ecosystems with . While these sites are less frequented by international divers, they offer a mix of natural and cultural intrigue for those willing to dive off the beaten path!

Did you know you can scuba dive The Great Wall of China!? Within the Panjiakou Reservoir of Hebei Province, there is a submerged section only accessible to scuba divers (including a swim-through!).

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17. Red Sea, Egypt

Best for: Soft corals, reef fish, cool conditions for beginners

Water temperature: 20–25°C (68–77°F) in winter

Best time to dive: December–February for cooler water and fewer crowds

The Red Sea is known for its tropical flair, but in winter, conditions cool enough to create a perfect training ground for aspiring cold-water divers. Water temps drop to the low 20s°C, and the cold, calm seas reveal vibrant soft corals, sea fans, and anemones with exceptional visibility.

Dive sites near Sharm El-Sheikh, Dahab, and Marsa Alam offer relaxed conditions and rich reef ecosystems. It’s a great way to transition from tropical diving into cooler waters while still enjoying colorful marine life and world-class diving infrastructure!

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18. Antarctica - expedition diving

Best for: Ice formations, penguins, leopard seals, humpback whales & krill

Water temperature: −1 to 2°C (30–36°F)

Best time to dive: January–March (Southern Hemisphere summer)

This is the ULTIMATE polar plunge at the top of everyone's bucket list! For an experience like nowhere else on earth, intrepid divers can venture to the ends of the earth … and below it! Antarctica diving is typically done via expedition cruise ships. You’ll dive among crystal-blue icebergs, witnessing otherworldly ice formations. Encounter wildlife like leopard seals, southern fur seals, penguins, and icy-water invertebrates like sea spiders and isopods. During the summer, macro life like Humpbacks and Bryde’s whales feed on giant krill swarms - providing ample opportunity to whale watch between dives!

The water is freezing (~−1 to +1 °C) and conditions are extreme, but the experience of diving in 24-hour summer daylight with a towering iceberg above you defies description. Expedition-style trips often require extra training and preparation, even for advanced drysuit divers. But the reward is worth the effort, with lifelong memories of ice and polar sealife … not to mention bragging rights of an experience very few people have ever experienced!

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a trip to remember

These cold-water destinations prove that the chillier parts of our oceans offer incomparable experiences for the adventurous scuba diver! From the wild beauty of temperate and arctic ecosystems to the awe-inspiring marine creatures that call these waters home, these places remind us just how diverse our ocean planet truly is!

So zip up your drysuit, grab your hood and gloves, and get ready to explore a side of scuba diving most people never get to see. The cold is calling!

Did we leave out a not-to-be-missed destination? Let us know in the comments below!

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