What is the weather like in the Maldives?
Located near the equator, the Maldives enjoy a tropical climate that is hot and humid all year. With distinct wet and dry seasons. Between December and April, rainfall amounts are at their lowest, accompanied by the longest hours of sunshine.
Here is a month by month overview of the weather in Maldives.
The weather in the Maldives
January
January is the most popular time to visit the Maldives. Because of the lovely weather and temperatures of 28 – 30°C. and an average of 75mm of rain. The weather doesn’t feel too hot or cold. Scuba diving in Maldives, snorkeling, and other water sports are all popular in January.
In January, it doesn’t rain on more than four/ five days. The sun provides you with over 9 hours of light, which is more than enough to get that perfect tan.
In addition, Eastern winds flow across the islands in January, creating mild ocean currents. The month is ideal for beginners, so they can begin surfing lessons before the waves get higher and more intense.
February
The Maldives are best visited in February if you want all sunshine and minimal rain. We have sunny days and clear blue skies in February with only 50mm of rainfall and 10 hours of sunshine. As with January, the temperature stays between 26 and 28°C.
In Malé, this warm climate is ideal for various sea excursions and roaming around. There are fewer clouds and stunning sunsets, so evening dhoani cruises are popular with visitors.
The Maldives is also known for its honeymoon destinations. As a result, you should book your resort and flights in advance since the Maldives are experiencing a mass rush around Valentine’s Day.
March
March offers bright, luminous days and enjoyable evenings accompanied by warm weather. At times, the heat increases slightly, especially during the afternoon. The average temperature rises only a few degrees to 30°C.
It is possible to get humid in the Maldives in March with fewer than 73mm of rainfall. Coastal trade winds make the southern part colder than the northern region. To stay dry, consider packing light and airy clothes when planning your Maldives trip.
The sun shines 9 hours a day, making it perfect for outdoor activities, such as beach games or private excursions (dolphin cruise, sandbank adventure, manta or turtle snorkeling.
March marks the beginning of surf season in the Maldives.
During this period, surfers from all over the world come to the Maldives to conquer North and South Malé swells.
April
As we observe the end of the dry season in the Maldives, April brings a delicate balance of rain and sunshine. Temperatures range from 27 – 31°C on average.
The Indian Ocean’s monsoon winds bring about 132 mm of rainfall, predominantly in the southern regions. The Maldives winter is therefore known as the transition period in April.
Sea water temperatures begin rising to 30°C, and calm tides draw a significant number of water sports enthusiasts. Tourists are beginning to explore coral reefs at this time for activities such as snorkeling and paddleboarding. At the seaside, you can relax and stargaze if there are still plenty of clear skies at night.
Visibility for diving and snorkeling is still quite good.
May
The Maldives start the off-season in May, with up to 216 mm of rainfall expected. The South-West Monsoon hits the islands in mid-May. Though Maldives’ weather is unpredictable, tropical showers, short-lived thunderstorms, and moisture present in the atmosphere are common every month.
There’s something to be said for scuba diving; plankton swarms the seawater, and whale sharks and manta rays are around.
Temperatures typically stay between 26 – 30°C with 8 hours of sunlight.
June
Open arms greet travelers during the monsoon month in June. 172 mm of rainfall and seven hours of sun are typical of humid and windy days. At 26°C, the average temperature stays the same at the high temperature.
The plankton present in the water reduces visibility for divers. However, manta rays and whale sharks feed on the plankton, making for excellent encounters.
July
July is one of the best times to visit the Maldives, according to many. The only time you have the chance to enjoy both the best and the worst. The fifth least rainy month sees rain significantly lower, with only 147mm of precipitation.
We may not enjoy the perfect weather because the sun is only out for 7 hours. While surfing is a popular activity in certain parts of the archipelago, the waves are becoming much more intense.
The humidity of 79% on average and the temperature is between 26 and 30°C.
Despite the decreased visibility in the water due to the plankton, manta rays and whale sharks are a major draw for divers. The Maldives’ Independence Day is officially celebrated on 26 July, and small parades and public celebrations are common on resort islands.
August
Even though August is one of the wettest months of the year in the Maldives, you’ll still get lots of sun.
You’ll have less rain if you’re in the north due to the south westerly monsoon winds. Winds are stronger in the wet season in general.
In August, there’s higher humidity, but it’s still a great time to visit.
September
September is one of the wettest months in the Maldives. It has an average maximum temperature of 30°C, and there are still seven hours of sunshine every day. It is possible to spot whale sharks and manta rays feeding on plankton which reduces visibility when diving.
October
With strong humidity and possibly rain for whole days, October is the Maldives’ wettest month. October is a good time to get special deals from the resorts. It is the last month for the Maldives’ surfing season and also for whale sharks and manta rays.
November
The Maldives average maximum temperatures in November are 30°C. The wet season is finally over, and although there are showers, rain passes quickly.
December
The Maldives weather in December is largely hot and dry, though mid-month showers are probably expected. You can enjoy some winter sun here. The Christmas and New Year holidays are particularly popular and require minimum stays from the resorts.
How many seasons are in the Maldives?
The Maldives has two distinct seasons.
The southwest monsoon (wet season) normally extends from mid-May to November.
And from January to March, the northeast monsoon (dry season).
December and April are considered the monsoon transitional period.
Are the Maldives a good destination for a honeymoon?
Many couples honeymoon in the Maldives. The island resorts are one of the best destinations in the world for perfect beaches, clear seas, brilliant sunsets, and seamless service. Meeru Island Resort And Spa is rated as a top 10 destination in the Maldives for a honeymoon on Tripadvisor.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Maldives remains an excellent destination for those seeking stunning beaches, warm weather, and seamless service. With two distinct seasons, travelers have the chance to try both the wet and dry conditions and draw their own conclusions based on personal preferences.
So don’t wait any longer – book your trip now and experience the magic of this incredible island nation!
Everything started with my Open Water Course at Koh Tao, Thailand. I’m hooked with the first breath I took underwater – this magical and peaceful world with all these different colors and creatures made me forget about everything else. It felt like an addiction.
This time made me realize that I don’t want to keep diving only as a hobby. I wanted to become a Diving Instructor and make diving my profession.
I was working as an entertainer in one of the resorts in South Male atoll. The first time I tried diving I absolutely fell in love with it, so every day off I would go diving.
I was lucky enough to meet people from Euro-Divers who helped me complete my instructor course and employment later on.
That trip changed everything. Since 2014, I visited more than 50 countries in three continents.
2019, 2020, 2021 – still in Maldives, enjoying what I love the most.
Im sonnigen Süden (Ägypten) lernte ich im Urlaub die unglaubliche Unterwasserwelt bei einem Schnuppertauchgang kennen und lieben.
Anfangs arbeitete ich im Tauchcenter im Büro, mir wurde jedoch schnell klar, dass ich die Gäste nicht nur über Wasser sondern auch unter Wasser begleiten wollte. Somit machte ich die Divemaster Ausbildung.
I studied Hotel management and ended up working for several years in different Hotels/Resorts around Italians seaside where I spend my days off diving and achieving the Dive Master rating.
I choose to stay in Oman because of its unspoiled dive site, beaches and many undiscovered dive places! We do not have mass tourism here and the country itself is spectacular besides being the safest place to live in.
Bored and burnt out of the stressful life in Holland, I quit my job as Manager Back Office & Finance and I went to Curacao for holiday. On this tropical island I took my first breaths under water with Instructor Marc, who is still my buddy in life.
Diving keeps me grounded, relaxed and connected with Mother Nature (myself). It supports me to let go, to put things into perspective and it helps me to stay focused and balanced in my position as a manager.
But diving was not at all my purpose of the journey, in fact I was not even a diver yet, I became a diver after I got passionate in freediving in Egypt in 2012 while freediving with dolphin in the wild, eager to become a snorkeling guide, I did my life guard licence and then my PADI open water!
I love freediving but scuba diving is an all other story for me, learning scuba diving make you discover part of yourself you didn’t know, you learn to control things that you would have never imagined possible, I regularly see many of my students discovering how calm they can be underwater when in life they tend to be hyperactive and then in the other hand I see calm or introverted persons becoming excited and move like a torpedo underwater 🙂 so diving might not be for everyone but it is definitely to discover!
I decided after my hospitality studies to enter this fascinating new world. I have started my career in Club Med as Guest Service and had the opportunity to travel some of the famous destinations for diving or snorkeling.
I am the perfect example of someone who was scared of diving, the only advice I could give is to believe in yourself.
But since I was young, I knew I wanted to travel the world, to go on adventures, have fun and meet people from everywhere. Unfortunately, those jobs didn’t give me the opportunity to do it so after 5 years I decided to move to Thailand.
Scuba Diving is a sport of passion.
During this time, I wanted to try something new, so I started scuba diving and I will never forget my first underwater experience. I felt nervous at first but at the same time a lot of excitement.
Some people might think that diving is a difficult sport, but there are many ways to enjoy safe diving for any age or gender.