The sea temperature at Antigua (Dickenson Bay) today is 29.4 °C (85 °F) – water as warm as a bath. The usual October average is 29.4 °C. Over the last 30 days the sea temperature has held at around 29.4 °C. Swimmable all year – the sea averages 26 °C or more in every month. Source: Sea Temp Map (seatempmap.com) – NASA MUR satellite data and the Copernicus Marine sea forecast.
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26.6°C / 79.9°F | 27.0°C / 80.5°F | 27.4°C / 81.4°F |
| February | 26.0°C / 78.9°F | 26.5°C / 79.7°F | 27.0°C / 80.7°F |
| March | 26.2°C / 79.1°F | 26.7°C / 80.0°F | 27.4°C / 81.2°F |
| April | 26.4°C / 79.6°F | 26.9°C / 80.5°F | 27.7°C / 81.9°F |
| May | 27.2°C / 81.0°F | 27.9°C / 82.2°F | 28.7°C / 83.6°F |
| June | 27.8°C / 82.0°F | 28.4°C / 83.0°F | 29.3°C / 84.7°F |
| July | 28.0°C / 82.4°F | 28.6°C / 83.4°F | 29.2°C / 84.6°F |
| August | 28.6°C / 83.4°F | 29.1°C / 84.5°F | 29.7°C / 85.4°F |
| September | 29.1°C / 84.5°F | 29.6°C / 85.3°F | 30.1°C / 86.2°F |
| October | 28.8°C / 83.9°F | 29.4°C / 85.0°F | 30.2°C / 86.3°F |
| November | 28.2°C / 82.8°F | 28.7°C / 83.6°F | 29.4°C / 84.9°F |
| December | 27.4°C / 81.2°F | 27.8°C / 82.1°F | 28.4°C / 83.2°F |
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25.2°C / 77.4°F | 25.6°C / 78.0°F | 25.7°C / 78.2°F |
| February | 24.8°C / 76.6°F | 25.1°C / 77.2°F | 25.3°C / 77.5°F |
| March | 24.9°C / 76.8°F | 25.3°C / 77.6°F | 25.5°C / 77.9°F |
| April | 25.1°C / 77.3°F | 25.6°C / 78.0°F | 25.8°C / 78.4°F |
| May | 26.3°C / 79.3°F | 26.7°C / 80.1°F | 26.9°C / 80.5°F |
| June | 26.9°C / 80.5°F | 27.3°C / 81.1°F | 27.5°C / 81.5°F |
| July | 27.1°C / 80.8°F | 27.5°C / 81.5°F | 27.8°C / 82.0°F |
| August | 27.4°C / 81.3°F | 27.9°C / 82.1°F | 28.1°C / 82.6°F |
| September | 27.6°C / 81.6°F | 28.0°C / 82.4°F | 28.2°C / 82.7°F |
| October | 27.5°C / 81.4°F | 27.8°C / 82.1°F | 28.0°C / 82.4°F |
| November | 26.7°C / 80.0°F | 27.0°C / 80.6°F | 27.1°C / 80.8°F |
| December | 25.8°C / 78.5°F | 26.2°C / 79.1°F | 26.3°C / 79.3°F |
5-year averages (2021–2025). Min/Max are typical daily lows and highs, not record extremes. (Copernicus ERA5)
Dickenson Bay holidays
A few kilometres north of the capital, St John's, Dickenson Bay curves along the north-west coast of Antigua as a long white-sand beach and one of the island's main resort strips. The water in the bay is usually calm and gently shelving, and the beach is lined with hotels, bars and water-sports huts.
Beaches
Dickenson Bay beach runs for well over a kilometre, with fine sand and gently shelving water that suits families; water sports operate in the bay, so swimmers should watch for boats and jet skis and follow local markings. Runaway Beach, just to the south along the same coast, is quieter and backed by a salt pond. Fort James Beach, near the ruined fort at the entrance to St John's harbour, is popular with local families at weekends. The sea temperature on this page is measured in the bay off Dickenson Bay beach.
Things to do
St John's, about 10 minutes' drive away, has the twin-towered St John's Cathedral, the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda in the old courthouse, and the waterfront shops and restaurants of Heritage Quay and Redcliffe Quay, where cruise ships dock. Catamaran trips from the west coast go snorkelling at the reefs and sail to offshore islets, and day trips to Barbuda, by ferry or small plane, visit the Frigate Bird Sanctuary and Barbuda's long pink-sand beaches. Across Antigua, Devil's Bridge, a natural limestone arch on the wild east coast, and Betty's Hope, a former sugar plantation with a restored windmill, make a half-day trip from Dickenson Bay.
Weather and best time to visit
At Dickenson Bay the sea stays above 26 °C / 79 °F all year, even in the coolest month.
Antigua is sunny and warm all year, and among the drier islands of the Caribbean. The main season runs from about December to April, when the weather is driest and the trade winds are steady. The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June to November, with the highest risk from about August to October, and sargassum seaweed can reach some Antiguan beaches in certain months, though the west coast is less exposed than the east.
Hotels and where to stay
Dickenson Bay is lined by resorts and smaller beach hotels, with apartments on the hill behind; many of the resorts on Dickenson Bay are all-inclusive and some take adults only, while St John's is the place for local restaurants and shopping.
Signature hotels: Royalton CHIC Antigua
Airport and getting there
V. C. Bird International Airport (ANU), on the north-east side of St John's, has flights from the UK, North America and other Caribbean islands; the taxi to Dickenson Bay takes about 15 to 20 minutes and uses fixed fares. Ferries to Barbuda leave from St John's.