Coldest sea in South Africa in December

115 coastal locations in South Africa ranked by typical December sea temperature, coldest first. Region-wide average in December: 19.5°C.

Coldest in December

Marion Island

6.1°C December mean in South Africa

Regional December average

19.5°C

across all 115 coastal locations in South Africa

Vs annual mean

+1.1°C

above the year-round regional average

What the South Africa sea feels like in December

At this temperature, water will feel cold compared to a swimming pool, but with a bit of experience and practice most people will find the water relatively comfortable to swim in.

South Africa monthly average 16.8°C to 20.4°C

Warmest month February 20.4°C
Coldest month August 16.8°C
Annual mean 18.4°C
Months above 20°C 2 of 12

Where December fits in the year

December sits inside the regional pattern shown on the left. Pick a different month to see how the ranking shifts.

All twelve South Africa month rankings:

South Africa sea temperature map (live)

The map shows today's latest reading at every South Africa location. The list below is based on the typical December mean.

Zoom in to see individual locations. Click a pin for water temperatures. View list →

°C -2 0 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 24 27 30 35

Top 50 coldest South Africa locations in December

Sorted by typical December mean from a decade of daily readings, coldest first. Click any place for the full location page.

#	Location	Country	December mean
1	Marion Island Western Cape	South Africa	6.1°C
2	St Helena Bay	South Africa	14.8°C
3	Velddrif	South Africa	14.8°C
4	Port Nolloth	South Africa	14.9°C
5	Langebaan	South Africa	14.9°C
6	Schrywers Hoek Western Cape	South Africa	15.0°C
7	Schrywershoek Western Cape	South Africa	15.0°C
8	Buffels Bay Western Cape	South Africa	15.1°C
9	Elands Bay	South Africa	15.2°C
10	Lamberts Bay Western Cape	South Africa	15.2°C
11	Paternoster	South Africa	15.2°C
12	Bloubergstrand	South Africa	15.3°C
13	Camps Bay	South Africa	15.3°C
14	Cape Town	South Africa	15.3°C
15	Clifton	South Africa	15.3°C
16	Sea Point	South Africa	15.3°C
17	Sunset Beach	South Africa	15.3°C
18	Yzerfontein	South Africa	15.4°C
19	Saldanha	South Africa	15.5°C
20	Hondeklip Bay	South Africa	15.8°C
21	Alexander Bay	South Africa	15.9°C
22	Big Bay Western Cape	South Africa	16.0°C
23	Robben Island Western Cape	South Africa	16.0°C
24	Table Bay Western Cape	South Africa	16.0°C
25	Boulders Beach	South Africa	16.3°C

Show 25 more ▸

26	Fish Hoek	South Africa	16.3°C
27	Glencairn Beach	South Africa	16.3°C
28	Hout Bay	South Africa	16.3°C
29	Kalk Bay	South Africa	16.3°C
30	Kommetjie	South Africa	16.3°C
31	Melkbosstrand	South Africa	16.3°C
32	Muizenberg	South Africa	16.3°C
33	Noordhoek	South Africa	16.3°C
34	Scarborough	South Africa	16.3°C
35	Simon's Town	South Africa	16.3°C
36	St James	South Africa	16.3°C
37	Llandudno Western Cape	South Africa	17.6°C
38	Cape Point	South Africa	17.8°C
39	Khayelitsha Western Cape	South Africa	18.1°C
40	Gansbaai	South Africa	18.3°C
41	Milnerton	South Africa	18.3°C
42	Pearly Beach	South Africa	18.3°C
43	Pringle Bay	South Africa	18.5°C
44	Betty's Bay Western Cape	South Africa	18.7°C
45	Rooiels Western Cape	South Africa	18.7°C
46	Gaansbaai Western Cape	South Africa	18.7°C
47	Gordon's Bay	South Africa	18.7°C
48	Strand	South Africa	18.7°C
49	Hermanus	South Africa	18.8°C
50	False Bay	South Africa	18.9°C

Warmest 10 in South Africa in December

Same data the other way. The warmest spots for the same month.

#	Location	Country	December mean
1	Kosi Bay KwaZulu-Natal	South Africa	26.0°C
2	Cape Vidal KwaZulu-Natal	South Africa	25.9°C
3	Sodwana Bay	South Africa	25.7°C
4	Saint Lucia KwaZulu-Natal	South Africa	25.5°C
5	St Lucia	South Africa	25.4°C
6	Richards Bay	South Africa	24.9°C
7	Shelly Beach KwaZulu-Natal	South Africa	24.6°C
8	Margate	South Africa	24.5°C
9	Amanzimtoti	South Africa	24.5°C
10	Umkomaas	South Africa	24.5°C