Kerala sits along the Arabian Sea, and its dive sites span both open ocean and inland freshwater, an unusual combination for India. Rocky reef sites around Kovalam, including pinnacles and a marine cave at Halcyon, suit beginners and intermediates, with depths running from very shallow to around the mid-thirties of metres. The Thiruvankulam Quarry adds a freshwater dimension rarely found alongside saltwater diving. Water stays warm throughout the year, peaking in the pre-monsoon months and dipping slightly through the southwest monsoon, when rough seas close most sites from around June to August. Species spotted here include whale sharks, blacktip reef sharks, green sea turtles, napoleon wrasse, hairy frogfish, and day octopus.
Monthly water temperature across Kerala's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperatures stay warm year-round, rising to their highest in the pre-monsoon period from March through May and cooling slightly through the southwest monsoon months. The best conditions for diving are from around October through to April, when seas settle and visibility improves; rough weather closes most sites during the June to August monsoon.
Water temperature around Kerala ranges from about 27°C in June to 30°C in March, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
With water around 27–30°C, a rash guard or 3mm shorty works in Kerala year-round.
Fin maps 7 sites in Kerala (7 scuba diving sites).
1 more site to explore
