When is the best time to dive Kish Island?

The best months to dive Kish Island are November, December, January, February, March, when conditions are most favorable.

What certification do I need to dive Kish Island?

Kish Island requires a minimum certification of Open Water. Currents are typically mild and the maximum depth reaches 20 m.

How much does it cost to dive Kish Island?

A 2-tank dive at Kish Island averages around $60 USD. The destination is in our budget tier.

What will I see diving Kish Island?

Kish Island is known for hawksbill turtle, barracuda, grouper, clownfish, sea snake, stingray, with 5–18 m visibility and 20–34°C water temperatures.

Why does Kish Island score 52.4/100 on OkToDive?

Kish Island earns a 52.4/100 Score based on 12 weighted categories including marine life, coral health, visibility, operator quality, and value. Backed by 60 operator reviews.

Kish Island Diving — Score: 52.4/100 | Conditions, Operators & Guide

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World Class

Beginner Friendly

Kish Island

IranPersian Gulf

52.4

SCORE

26.5339°N

53.9801°E

Kish Island is a free-trade zone in Iran's Persian Gulf, offering a unique diving experience in a country most divers would never consider. A sunken Greek cargo ship is the signature dive, while shallow coral gardens harbour Gulf-endemic species. Summer heat pushes water temps above 34°C, so winter months are essential. The novelty factor and rock-bottom prices make it a fascinating detour.

Iran's Persian Gulf Diving Hub

Visibility5–18 m

Temperature20–34°C

Max Depth20 m

Currentmild

2-Tank Dive$60

Best MonthsNovember, December, January, February

CertificationOpen WaterBeginner Friendly

Score Breakdown

Click any score to see a detailed breakdown

Marine Life

45.0

Species diversity, megafauna encounters, reef fish abundance, macro life, and endemic species.

Species Diversity

Megafauna Encounters

Reef Fish Abundance

Macro Life

Endemic Species

Marine Life Diversity

45.0

Coral & Reef Health

38.0

Visibility & Conditions

40.0

Dive Site Variety

38.0

Water Temperature

65.0

Depth & Access

35.0

Operator Quality

52.0

Topside Experience

68.0

Getting There

58.0

Value & Cost

82.0

Crowding

78.0

Social Proof

30.0

Key Species

hawksbill turtlebarracudagrouperclownfishsea snakestingray

Dive Types

reefwreckshore

Traveling with Non-Divers?

Great news for traveling couples and families — this is a budget-friendly destination with plenty of affordable topside activities to keep non-divers happy while you explore below the surface.

Activities for Non-Divers

underground Kariz water tunnelsGreek ship beachdolphin parkshopping malls

Nearby Cultural Sites

Kariz underground city
Harireh ancient city ruins
Greek Ship beach

Non-Diver Partner Score

6/10

Good topside options for non-diving companions.

Family FriendlyYes

Restaurants & Nightlifemoderate

Safety & Emergency

Dive Insurance

Dive insurance is essential. Standard travel insurance often excludes scuba diving. We recommend DAN (Divers Alert Network) for comprehensive dive accident coverage.

Learn More at DAN.org

Hyperbaric Chamber10 km — Kish Island Hospital Hyperbaric Unit

Nearest Hospital5 km

Kish Island has a hospital with hyperbaric capability; evacuation to mainland Iran if needed — travel insurance that covers Iran is essential

Skill LevelBeginner Friendly

Current Strengthmild

Top Operators

Kish Diving Center

PADI

4.2

60 reviews

Compare This Dive Site

Honest reality check

What your dive shop won't tell you

The minimum certification printed on a brochure is the legal floor, not the honest recommendation. Here's what we actually think you should bring to this site.

Recommended logged dives

10+

Below this we'd send you somewhere easier first.

Recommended certification

Open Water

“Accessible to most certified divers with basic open water skills.”

What will challenge you

→Cooler than most tropical sites — 20°C minimum. A 5 mm wetsuit is the floor for longer dives.
→Variable visibility
→Navigation in low viz

What will surprise you

→Thermoclines can drop water temp by 14°C between the surface and depth. Your wetsuit choice should match the minimum, not the average.
→Kish Island has more marine life variety than most divers expect
→Local operators know spots the guidebooks miss

Time of day

When to dive it

Every dive shop gives you this briefing at 7am. We just wrote it down. Tidal dependency: slight. Optimal window: First light to 11am for best visibility..

Morning

Viz
moderate
Current
mild
Crowd
light

reef exploration
photography

Best light and calmest conditions before afternoon wind picks up.

Afternoon

Viz
moderate
Current
mild
Crowd
moderate

drift diving
second tank

Wind chop can reduce viz. Still diveable but morning is better.

Month-by-month

Dive forecast

Realistic conditions by month. Viz ranges are what you should actually expect, not best-case marketing numbers. Confidence % is the share of days that match this profile historically.

Month	Viz (m)	Temp (°C)	Current	Sea	Rain	Confidence	Highlights
Jan	5–12	20	Mild	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Feb	5–12	20	Mild	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Mar	5–12	20	Mild	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Apr	5–12	20	Mild	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
May	14–18	34	Mild	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Jun	14–18	34	Mild	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Jul	14–18	34	Mild	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Aug	14–18	34	Mild	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Sep	14–18	34	Mild	Calm	Dry	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Oct	5–12	20	Mild	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Nov	5–12	20	Mild	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good
Dec	5–12	20	Mild	Mod	Light	70%	reef fish active, wreck visibility good

Shoot here

Photography brief

Subjects are only half the shot. A perfect macro site is useless in a three-knot drift, and a wide-angle dream is useless at 35 m with a murky ceiling. These are the conditions, not the hype.

Macro subjects58

Wide angle45

Viz stability35

Hover friendliness100

Natural light34

Recommended kit

→General reef kit — mid-range wide or a 60mm macro depending on the specific site

Level up here

What this site will teach you

The dives that made you a better diver are the ones that made you uncomfortable for the right reasons. Here's what this site will quietly train you for.

Dive planning
foundational
Variable conditions teach you to adapt on the fly.
Buddy awareness
foundational
New environments sharpen your team diving skills.

What it costsEstimates — calibration pending

7-day trip, per person

Rough ranges anchored to existing regional data — not booking quotes. Land-based trip, standard breakdown.

Budget

$1,450–$2,150

Hostels, shore diving, cheap eats

Flights (RT from US): $720–$880
Accommodation / day: $25–$50
Diving / day: $50–$60
Food / day: $25–$50
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Mid-range

$2,450–$3,700

3-star hotels, standard boat ops, mix of restaurants

Flights (RT from US): $1,150–$1,450
Accommodation / day: $60–$120
Diving / day: $60–$80
Food / day: $55–$100
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Splurge

$4,250–$6,700

Top resorts or liveaboards, premium operators

Flights (RT from US): $1,800–$2,200
Accommodation / day: $150–$300
Diving / day: $80–$100
Food / day: $110–$220
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Flights priced round-trip from a major US hub. Figures are per person on a shared room. Solo travelers add ~30% to accommodation.

Best dive types here