Sea temperature in Tanzania

The sea in Tanzania peaks in February, when the water averages around 25°C.

The main swimming season runs from January – December, when surface temperatures stay comfortable for extended sessions.

On average, 12 months a year sit above 20°C — the threshold most swimmers describe as pleasant without a wetsuit.

The coldest month is typically July at around 20°C, when cold-water swimmers dominate the coast.

Tanzania sits in the Southern Hemisphere, so the warmest sea coincides with the December–February summer and the coolest with July–August.

Long-term climatology for Tanzania shows an annual mean sea temperature of 22°C, ranging from 20°C in winter to 25°C at the summer peak.

The seasonal swing is roughly 5°C between the coldest and warmest month — a useful yardstick when comparing years or checking whether the current sea is running above or below average.

Recent decades have trended slightly warmer at Tanzania, in line with regional sea-surface temperature records for the wider basin.

Monthly averages below are drawn from multi-decadal climatology and are updated as new observations arrive.