INSTRUMENT / SEA TEMPERATURE
Sodwana Bay Water Temperature
Updated Sat 14:58 (Africa/Johannesburg)
South Africa · Forecast updated Nov 7, 2026, 14:58 UTC
Current Sea Temperature
25.1°C
77.2°F
Warm water
Valid Nov 7, 2026, 14:58 (Africa/Johannesburg). Source: stored Open-Meteo marine forecast. Temperature is not a safety rating or snorkel score.
Versus this month's average
0.6°C above
The typical November average is 24.5°C (76.1°F) from the historical baseline.
Recent trend
Holding fairly steady
Seven-day average: 25.0°C, versus 24.9°C in the prior seven days.
What to wear
Warm water
Most people are comfortable in swimwear or a light rash guard.
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 24.7°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 2022–2025. 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 2022–2025 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.
Swimming and snorkeling: warm water. Most people are comfortable in swimwear or a light rash guard.
Adjacent months: December 26.0°C · February 27.4°C.
Explore Sodwana Bay sea temperature in January, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
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.
Swimming and snorkeling: warm water. Most people are comfortable in swimwear or a light rash guard.
Adjacent months: January 27.0°C · March 27.5°C.
Explore Sodwana Bay sea temperature in February, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
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.
Swimming and snorkeling: warm water. Most people are comfortable in swimwear or a light rash guard.
Adjacent months: February 27.4°C · April 26.3°C.
Explore Sodwana Bay sea temperature in March, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
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.
Swimming and snorkeling: warm water. Most people are comfortable in swimwear or a light rash guard.
Adjacent months: March 27.5°C · May 25.1°C.
Explore Sodwana Bay sea temperature in April, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
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.
Swimming and snorkeling: warm water. Most people are comfortable in swimwear or a light rash guard.
Adjacent months: April 26.3°C · June 23.6°C.
Explore Sodwana Bay sea temperature in May, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
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.
Swimming and snorkeling: mild water. A rash guard is useful; cold-sensitive snorkelers may prefer a shorty wetsuit.
Adjacent months: May 25.1°C · July 23.0°C.
Explore Sodwana Bay sea temperature in June, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
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.
Swimming and snorkeling: mild water. A rash guard is useful; cold-sensitive snorkelers may prefer a shorty wetsuit.
Adjacent months: June 23.6°C · August 22.6°C.
Explore Sodwana Bay sea temperature in July, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
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.
Swimming and snorkeling: mild water. A rash guard is useful; cold-sensitive snorkelers may prefer a shorty wetsuit.
Adjacent months: July 23.0°C · September 22.8°C.
Explore Sodwana Bay sea temperature in August, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
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.
Swimming and snorkeling: mild water. A rash guard is useful; cold-sensitive snorkelers may prefer a shorty wetsuit.
Adjacent months: August 22.6°C · October 23.0°C.
Explore Sodwana Bay sea temperature in September, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
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.
Swimming and snorkeling: mild water. A rash guard is useful; cold-sensitive snorkelers may prefer a shorty wetsuit.
Adjacent months: September 22.8°C · November 24.5°C.
Explore Sodwana Bay sea temperature in October, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
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.
Swimming and snorkeling: mild water. A rash guard is useful; cold-sensitive snorkelers may prefer a shorty wetsuit.
Adjacent months: October 23.0°C · December 26.0°C.
Explore Sodwana Bay sea temperature in November, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
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.
Swimming and snorkeling: warm water. Most people are comfortable in swimwear or a light rash guard.
Adjacent months: November 24.5°C · January 27.0°C.
Explore Sodwana Bay sea temperature in December, including swim comfort and month comparisons →
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 | 23.2°C / 73.8°F | 24.0°C / 75.2°F |
| October | 23.1°C / 73.6°F | 24.4°C / 75.9°F | 25.5°C / 77.9°F |
| November | 24.6°C / 76.3°F | 25.0°C / 77.0°F | 25.5°C / 77.9°F |
Partial coverage: 6 calendar months with records. Profile calculated from 3839 hourly forecast records across 6 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 25.1°C (77.2°F). Over the last 30 days, the average has been 24.7°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 2022–2025 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 25.1°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 →