Indian Ocean
Best Time to Dive in the Maldives
3 dive areas, each scored on its own. The season peaks January–April at the North & Central Atolls and South (Addu / Laamu), and September–November at Baa / Hanifaru.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baa / Hanifaru | January: Off season | February: Good | March: Good | April: Off season | May: Off season | June: Good | July: Good | August: Good | September: Good | October: Good | November: Good | December: Good |
| North & Central Atolls | January: Good | February: Good | March: Good | April: Good | May: Off season | June: Good | July: Moderate | August: Moderate | September: Good | October: Moderate | November: Moderate | December: Moderate |
| South (Addu / Laamu) | January: Good | February: Good | March: Good | April: Moderate | May: Off season | June: Moderate | July: Off season | August: Off season | September: Moderate | October: Off season | November: Moderate | December: Good |
Off season Good Moderate
The Maldives compared
| Dive area | Best time | Water | Visibility | Dived from | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baa / Hanifaru | Sep–Nov | 29–30 °C | 15–30 m | day boat | Open Water |
| North & Central Atolls | Jan–Apr | 29–30 °C | 5–20 m | liveaboard and day boat | Advanced Open Water |
| South (Addu / Laamu) | Jan–Apr | 29–30 °C | 15–25 m | liveaboard and day boat | Advanced Open Water |
Water and visibility are the whole year's range at each area, coldest month to warmest. Visibility is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a.
Which area to pick
- Baa / Hanifaru
- The only one in season from September to November. It has the clearest water, up to 30 m, suits Open Water divers, is dived only from day boats and is the one for whale sharks.
- North & Central Atolls
- Best from January to April. Same season as South (Addu / Laamu). It has the lowest visibility, 5–20 m.
- South (Addu / Laamu)
- Best from January to April. Same season as the North & Central Atolls.
The Maldives month by month
Two or more areas are good at once in December to March, June and September: the time to combine them in one trip.
- Jan
- Good at the North & Central Atolls and South (Addu / Laamu). Off season at Baa / Hanifaru.
- Feb–Mar
- Every area is good.
- Apr
- Good at the North & Central Atolls. Off season at Baa / Hanifaru.
- May
- Nowhere at its best.
- Jun
- Good at Baa / Hanifaru and the North & Central Atolls.
- Jul–Aug
- Good at Baa / Hanifaru. Off season at South (Addu / Laamu).
- Sep
- Good at Baa / Hanifaru and the North & Central Atolls.
- Oct
- Good at Baa / Hanifaru. Off season at South (Addu / Laamu).
- Nov
- Good at Baa / Hanifaru.
- Dec
- Good at Baa / Hanifaru and South (Addu / Laamu).
Baa / Hanifaru
Go September to November for reef manta. 8 days a month of heavy rain then. The calmest water is January to April.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: Off season | February: Good | March: Good | April: Off season | May: Off season | June: Good | July: Good | August: Good | September: Good | October: Good | November: Good | December: Good |
Off season Good
- Water
- 29–30 °C
- Wear
- skin or 3 mm shorty
- Dived from
- day boat
- Suits
- Open Water
Known for Reef manta, Whale shark
Baa / Hanifaru month by month →North & Central Atolls
Dive it January to April, when the downpours ease — 2 days a month of heavy rain instead of 7. The marine life holds steady all year, so the weather picks the month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: Good | February: Good | March: Good | April: Good | May: Off season | June: Good | July: Moderate | August: Moderate | September: Good | October: Moderate | November: Moderate | December: Moderate |
Good Off season Moderate
- Water
- 29–30 °C
- Wear
- skin or 3 mm shorty
- Dived from
- liveaboard and day boat
- Suits
- Advanced Open Water
Known for Reef manta, Tiger shark
North & Central Atolls month by month →South (Addu / Laamu)
The wildlife shows no season worth planning around, so it comes down to the weather: go January to April.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: Good | February: Good | March: Good | April: Moderate | May: Off season | June: Moderate | July: Off season | August: Off season | September: Moderate | October: Off season | November: Moderate | December: Good |
Good Moderate Off season
- Water
- 29–30 °C
- Wear
- skin or 3 mm shorty
- Dived from
- liveaboard and day boat
- Suits
- Advanced Open Water
Known for Tiger shark, Reef manta
South (Addu / Laamu) month by month →Diving in the Maldives: common questions
- When is the best time to dive the Maldives?
- It depends which area. The season peaks January–April at the North & Central Atolls and South (Addu / Laamu), and September–November at Baa / Hanifaru.
- Can you dive the Maldives all year?
- Not everywhere at once. Counting all 3 areas, 7 months of the year have somewhere at its best; the rest are workable but off peak.
- How warm is the water in the Maldives?
- 29 to 30 °C across the year, depending on the area and the month. Each area's page gives its own month-by-month temperatures.
- What can you see diving in the Maldives?
- The headline animals are reef manta, whale shark and tiger shark. Each area's page lists everything recorded near it, with the months it was seen.