Country guide
A month-by-month comparison of Vietnam's five main diving regions - seasons, visibility, depths, marine life and cost - written by a working dive instructor based in Nha Trang.
Scuba diving in Vietnam runs all year if you follow the seasons: Nha Trang from February to September, Phu Quoc from November to April. Water sits between 25 and 30°C, visibility reaches 10-25m depending on site and season, and a PADI Open Water certification costs $425 USD all-inclusive. Vietnam is strongest for learning to dive, healthy protected reefs and macro photography rather than large pelagic animals.
Each region has its own season and character. This table summarises the real conditions so you can pick where and when to dive.
| Region | Best months | Visibility | Depth | Level | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nha Trang (Hon Mun)Vietnam's first marine protected area, 350+ hard coral species, calm sheltered bays, year-round training conditions | February - September | 10-25m | 5-25m | Beginner friendly | 2 fun dives $75 USD |
| Phu Quoc (An Thoi)An Thoi archipelago, soft coral gardens, macro photography, calm shallow reefs for beginners, occasional sea turtles | November - April | 10-20m | 5-30m | Beginner to advanced | 2 fun dives $95 USD |
| Con Dao IslandsNational park waters, nesting sea turtles, dugong sightings, quiet and lightly dived reefs | March - June, September - November | 10-25m | 8-30m | Intermediate | 2 fun dives from ~$100 USD |
| Cham Islands (Hoi An / Da Nang)UNESCO biosphere reserve, shallow coral gardens, easy day trip from Hoi An, closed to diving in winter monsoon | March - August | 5-15m | 5-18m | Beginner | 2 fun dives from ~$70 USD |
| Whale Island (Van Phong Bay)Seasonal whale shark sightings, quiet bay diving, healthy soft corals, small operator numbers | March - September | 8-20m | 5-25m | Beginner to intermediate | 2 fun dives from ~$80 USD |
Vietnam's two biggest diving regions have opposite seasons, so there is somewhere good to dive in every month of the year.
| Month | Nha Trang | Phu Quoc |
|---|---|---|
| January | Choppy, limited trips | Excellent, peak season |
| February | Improving, 10-15m vis | Excellent, 15-20m vis |
| March | Good, calm mornings | Excellent |
| April | Very good, warm water | Good, season ending |
| May | Best visibility of the year | Closed / rough |
| June | Excellent, 15-25m vis | Closed / rough |
| July | Excellent, busy season | Closed / rough |
| August | Very good | Closed / rough |
| September | Good, occasional swell | Rough |
| October | Rainy, variable | Season opening |
| November | Monsoon, limited diving | Very good |
| December | Monsoon, limited diving | Excellent |
Half a day, no certification needed, maximum 12m, from age 10. The cheapest way to find out whether diving is for you.
See the try diveThree to four days for a lifetime certification valid worldwide to 18m. The price includes Vietnamese eLearning, all equipment, boat trips and four open water dives.
See the Open Water courseNote: add $30 USD for non-Vietnamese-language eLearning material.