Bahrain sits in the Arabian Gulf, and its diving reflects the character of that shallow, warm sea. Water temperatures climb steeply through summer, reaching their peak in August, then cool through autumn and winter to their lowest point in February. The optimal window for diving runs from autumn through to late spring, when visibility is at its best and conditions are most comfortable. Sites range from natural and artificial reefs to wrecks, covering depths from very shallow to around fifty metres. The five sites in our database include the sunken Boeing 747 of the underwater theme park, the wrecks Fifi and Seistan, the reef at Bulthama, and the mixed reef at Umlayatt. Divers can encounter whale sharks, green sea turtles, blacktip reef sharks, and an array of macro life including sea slugs and cleaner shrimp.
Monthly water temperature across Bahrain's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperatures are warmest from June through September, when summer heat pushes conditions to their peak and plankton blooms can reduce visibility. The cooler months from October through May bring more settled visibility and are generally considered the better diving season. A thin wetsuit suits winter dives; a shortie or skin is sufficient in the height of summer.
20 operators
Al Hadd, Bahrain
Dhahran, Bahrain
Sitrah, Bahrain
Water temperature around Bahrain ranges from about 19°C in February to 35°C in August, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 35°C) a rash guard or 3mm shorty is comfortable in Bahrain; in the coldest months (about 19°C) step up to a 5mm suit.
Fin maps 5 sites in Bahrain (5 scuba diving sites).
Across Bahrain's dive sites, May, June, July, August, September and October are most often reported as the best months to visit.
