Coldest sea in South Africa in May

115 coastal locations in South Africa ranked by typical May sea temperature, coldest first. Region-wide average in May: 18.0°C.

Coldest in May

Marion Island

6.6°C May mean in South Africa

Regional May average

18.0°C

across all 115 coastal locations in South Africa

Vs annual mean

-0.4°C

below the year-round regional average

What the South Africa sea feels like in May

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 May fits in the year

May 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 May 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 May

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

#	Location	Country	May mean
1	Marion Island Western Cape	South Africa	6.6°C
2	Port Nolloth	South Africa	13.0°C
3	Hondeklip Bay	South Africa	13.5°C
4	Lamberts Bay Western Cape	South Africa	13.6°C
5	St Helena Bay	South Africa	13.6°C
6	Velddrif	South Africa	13.6°C
7	Buffels Bay Western Cape	South Africa	13.7°C
8	Schrywers Hoek Western Cape	South Africa	13.9°C
9	Schrywershoek Western Cape	South Africa	13.9°C
10	Bloubergstrand	South Africa	13.9°C
11	Camps Bay	South Africa	13.9°C
12	Cape Town	South Africa	13.9°C
13	Clifton	South Africa	13.9°C
14	Sea Point	South Africa	13.9°C
15	Sunset Beach	South Africa	13.9°C
16	Elands Bay	South Africa	13.9°C
17	Alexander Bay	South Africa	14.0°C
18	Langebaan	South Africa	14.1°C
19	Paternoster	South Africa	14.1°C
20	Yzerfontein	South Africa	14.4°C
21	Big Bay Western Cape	South Africa	14.6°C
22	Robben Island Western Cape	South Africa	14.6°C
23	Table Bay Western Cape	South Africa	14.6°C
24	Saldanha	South Africa	14.6°C
25	Boulders Beach	South Africa	14.6°C

Show 25 more ▸

26	Fish Hoek	South Africa	14.6°C
27	Glencairn Beach	South Africa	14.6°C
28	Hout Bay	South Africa	14.6°C
29	Kalk Bay	South Africa	14.6°C
30	Kommetjie	South Africa	14.6°C
31	Melkbosstrand	South Africa	14.6°C
32	Muizenberg	South Africa	14.6°C
33	Noordhoek	South Africa	14.6°C
34	Scarborough	South Africa	14.6°C
35	Simon's Town	South Africa	14.6°C
36	St James	South Africa	14.6°C
37	Gansbaai	South Africa	15.3°C
38	Pearly Beach	South Africa	15.3°C
39	Pringle Bay	South Africa	15.4°C
40	Milnerton	South Africa	15.6°C
41	Cape Point	South Africa	15.8°C
42	Khayelitsha Western Cape	South Africa	15.8°C
43	Llandudno Western Cape	South Africa	15.9°C
44	Gordon's Bay	South Africa	15.9°C
45	Strand	South Africa	15.9°C
46	Hermanus	South Africa	15.9°C
47	Gaansbaai Western Cape	South Africa	16.1°C
48	Betty's Bay Western Cape	South Africa	16.2°C
49	Rooiels Western Cape	South Africa	16.2°C
50	Kleinmond	South Africa	16.3°C

Warmest 10 in South Africa in May

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

#	Location	Country	May mean
1	Sodwana Bay	South Africa	25.2°C
2	Cape Vidal KwaZulu-Natal	South Africa	25.2°C
3	Kosi Bay KwaZulu-Natal	South Africa	25.1°C
4	St Lucia	South Africa	24.9°C
5	Saint Lucia KwaZulu-Natal	South Africa	24.9°C
6	Richards Bay	South Africa	24.4°C
7	Shelly Beach KwaZulu-Natal	South Africa	24.4°C
8	Margate	South Africa	24.3°C
9	Port Shepstone	South Africa	24.2°C
10	Amanzimtoti	South Africa	24.1°C