Sodwana Bay Water Temperature
Updated Wed 04:50 (Africa/Johannesburg)
South Africa · Forecast updated Sep 23, 2026, 04:50 UTC
Current Sea Temperature
23.5°C
74.3°F
Mild water
Valid Sep 23, 2026, 04:50 (Africa/Johannesburg). Source: stored Open-Meteo marine forecast. Temperature is not a safety rating or snorkel score.
Versus this month's average
0.7°C above
The typical September average is 22.8°C (73.0°F) from the historical baseline.
Recent trend
Warming by 0.3°C
Seven-day average: 23.4°C, versus 23.1°C in the prior seven days.
What to wear
Mild water
A rash guard is useful; cold-sensitive snorkelers may prefer a shorty wetsuit.
Cold tolerance varies. Wind, session length, sunshine, and exertion also affect comfort; temperature alone does not describe sea conditions or replace the snorkel forecast.
Typical Sea Temperature Over the Year
In the historical baseline for Sodwana Bay, typical monthly averages range from about 22.6°C (72.7°F) in August to 27.5°C (81.5°F) in March.
Over the past 30 days, the average sea temperature in Sodwana Bay has been 23.0°C.
Historical baseline (full year)
Southern Hemisphere. Summer is generally December–February; winter is June–August.
Typical monthly sea-surface temperature near Sodwana Bay, calculated from hourly observations for 2023–2025. This is not this site's forecast archive.
| Month | Typical range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| January | 26.5–27.9°C | 27.0°C / 80.6°F |
| February | 27.3–27.5°C | 27.4°C / 81.3°F |
| March | 27.2–27.8°C | 27.5°C / 81.5°F |
| April | 25.7–26.6°C | 26.3°C / 79.3°F |
| May | 24.8–25.4°C | 25.1°C / 77.2°F |
| June | 23.2–24.0°C | 23.6°C / 74.5°F |
| July | 22.3–23.6°C | 23.0°C / 73.4°F |
| August | 22.1–23.2°C | 22.6°C / 72.7°F |
| September | 22.6–23.0°C | 22.8°C / 73.0°F |
| October | 22.9–23.1°C | 23.0°C / 73.4°F |
| November | 24.2–24.8°C | 24.5°C / 76.1°F |
| December | 25.4–26.9°C | 26.0°C / 78.8°F |
Source: Open-Meteo Marine API, MeteoFrance sea-surface temperature dataset. Nearest sea grid cell (-27.54, 32.79). Each month is the mean of yearly monthly means; the range is the lowest and highest of those yearly monthly means. Open-Meteo methodology.
Water temperature by month
Each month uses the 2023–2025 baseline. The range is the lowest and highest yearly monthly mean, not an hourly extreme.
Sodwana Bay in January
Typical January water temperature near Sodwana Bay is 27.0°C (80.6°F), with yearly monthly means from 26.5–27.9°C.
Sodwana Bay in February
Typical February water temperature near Sodwana Bay is 27.4°C (81.3°F), with yearly monthly means from 27.3–27.5°C.
Sodwana Bay in March
Typical March water temperature near Sodwana Bay is 27.5°C (81.5°F), with yearly monthly means from 27.2–27.8°C.
Sodwana Bay in April
Typical April water temperature near Sodwana Bay is 26.3°C (79.3°F), with yearly monthly means from 25.7–26.6°C.
Sodwana Bay in May
Typical May water temperature near Sodwana Bay is 25.1°C (77.2°F), with yearly monthly means from 24.8–25.4°C.
Sodwana Bay in June
Typical June water temperature near Sodwana Bay is 23.6°C (74.5°F), with yearly monthly means from 23.2–24.0°C.
Sodwana Bay in July
Typical July water temperature near Sodwana Bay is 23.0°C (73.4°F), with yearly monthly means from 22.3–23.6°C.
Sodwana Bay in August
Typical August water temperature near Sodwana Bay is 22.6°C (72.7°F), with yearly monthly means from 22.1–23.2°C.
Sodwana Bay in September
Typical September water temperature near Sodwana Bay is 22.8°C (73.0°F), with yearly monthly means from 22.6–23.0°C.
Sodwana Bay in October
Typical October water temperature near Sodwana Bay is 23.0°C (73.4°F), with yearly monthly means from 22.9–23.1°C.
Sodwana Bay in November
Typical November water temperature near Sodwana Bay is 24.5°C (76.1°F), with yearly monthly means from 24.2–24.8°C.
Sodwana Bay in December
Typical December water temperature near Sodwana Bay is 26.0°C (78.8°F), with yearly monthly means from 25.4–26.9°C.
Forecast archive (growing)
These values come from hourly forecasts SnorkelForecast has stored. They cover only months with records and do not replace the historical baseline.
| Month | Min | Average | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| June | 24.0°C / 75.2°F | 24.4°C / 75.8°F | 24.9°C / 76.8°F |
| July | 23.5°C / 74.3°F | 23.8°C / 74.9°F | 24.5°C / 76.1°F |
| August | 22.3°C / 72.1°F | 22.8°C / 73.0°F | 23.6°C / 74.5°F |
| September | 22.6°C / 72.7°F | 23.1°C / 73.7°F | 24.0°C / 75.2°F |
Partial coverage: 4 calendar months with records. Profile calculated from 2749 hourly forecast records across 4 monthly periods. This is a growing archive, not a long-term climate normal.
About the water at Sodwana Bay
South Africa's premier coral reefs with warm Indian Ocean shallows.
- Area
- KwaZulu-Natal
Sodwana Bay Water Temperature: Common Questions
What is the water temperature in Sodwana Bay today?
The current sea surface temperature near Sodwana Bay is 23.5°C (74.3°F). Over the last 30 days, the average has been 23.0°C.
When is the water warmest in Sodwana Bay?
The water is typically warmest in March, at around 27.5°C (81.5°F) in the 2023–2025 historical baseline.
When is the water coldest in Sodwana Bay?
The water is typically coldest in August, at around 22.6°C (72.7°F) in the same historical baseline.
Can you swim in Sodwana Bay today?
At 23.5°C, the water is usually comfortable for swimming and snorkeling.
Full Snorkeling Forecast
See how today's sea temperature, wave height, wind, and tides combine into a detailed snorkeling score for Sodwana Bay.
View Snorkel Forecast →