Destinations · Roundup

Where to Go in November: Best Watersports Bases

by Yannick SchrothAug 5, 20267 min read

Colorful coral reef underwater with fish swimming in clear b

Photo: Saad Alaiyadhi via Pexels (free licence).

November resets the calendar to the northern-winter pattern: the northeast monsoon brings dry season and kite wind across Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka's south coast turns on, and Cape Verde's trades return. Every pick below is a base we have a full guide for, and the reason it works in November comes from that guide's own season notes. Seasons shift year to year, so treat these as planning windows and confirm conditions before you book.
For the checked numbers and their sources, follow the guide for that place.

How we chose

November is when the north-east monsoon redraws Asia, so the list is built around which coast works rather than which country. November is the north-east monsoon taking over. Thailand's Andaman side opens, the Gulf side shuts, and the Caribbean season begins as hurricane risk drops. Every base here is included because its own guide names November as part of its working window, not because the weather is generally nice, and where a place is marginal we say so rather than padding the list to a round number.

5°58′N 80°25′E · Surf & diving

Sri Lanka south coast

The main south-coast surf season runs roughly November to April, alongside the Mirissa whale-watching window.

Season startsRead the guide → 10°56′N 108°17′E · Kitesurfing

Mui Ne

Peak kite wind runs roughly November to April, when the northeast monsoon commonly blows 18 to 30 knots.

Peak kite windRead the guide → 11°58′N 121°55′E · Kitesurfing

Boracay

The Amihan starts around November and runs to April, delivering steady side-onshore wind to Bulabog.

Amihan returnsRead the guide → 16°36′N 22°56′W · Kitesurfing

Sal, Cape Verde

The northeast trades blow steadily from roughly November to June.

Trades returnRead the guide → 9°33′N 123°46′E · Diving

Panglao, Bohol

The dry season runs roughly November to May, peaking December to March, with calm seas and peak visibility.

Dry season opensRead the guide → 12°00′N 120°12′E · Wreck diving

Coron, Palawan

The reliable wreck-diving window is the dry season, roughly November to May.

Wreck seasonRead the guide → 20°52′N 105°26′W · Surf

Sayulita

The dry season runs roughly November to April, with bigger, more consistent swell.

Bigger swellRead the guide → 13°37′N 123°11′E · Wake park

CamSur (CWC)

The dry season, roughly November to May, brings Bicol's most reliable sunshine and calm cable conditions.

Dry seasonRead the guide →

Also good in November

La Ventana, as the El Norte wind starts its November to March run.
Tulum and Cozumel, both entering their November to April dry window.
Jericoacoara, often windiest in November.

FAQ

Where should I go in November for guaranteed wind?

Mui Ne is the most dependable of the November starters: peak kite wind runs November to April. Boracay's Amihan also fills in, Sal's northeast trades return for the November to June season, and Jericoacoara is often at its windiest.

Is November good for diving in the Philippines?

Yes, it is the start of the dry season. Panglao runs November to May with peak visibility December to March, and Coron's reliable wreck-diving window is roughly November to May. Both quiet down again with the June to October habagat.

Sources

Every entry above is drawn from our own destination guide for that place, and the claims here are the ones those guides already verify: Sri Lanka, Mui Ne, Boracay, Sal, Cape Verde, Panglao, Bohol, Coron, Palawan, Sayulita, CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC).

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