Maldives Diving Holidays

Maldives Diving Information

North East Monsoon - December to April.

The North east Monsoon is during the Maldivian summer and is characterised by drier conditions and a current flow that runs from the North East through the atolls exiting out to the South West. Visibility on the Eastern sides of the atolls is excellent during the North East monsoon. The current is typically faster at the start of the monsoon and decreases in power as the season progresses.  Water temperatures remain fairly consistent at around 28° centigrade. Although the visibility drops on the Western sides of the atolls during the North East season, divers are more likely to encounter Manta Rays and Whale Sharks.    

South West Monsoon - May to December.

The South West Monsoon has a change in the focus on diving to the western sides of the atolls. The current flows from the South West through the atolls exiting out to the North East. Dive sites in the west experience excellent visibility and cooler water temperatures than during the North East Monsoon, attracting many of the shark species closer to the surface. During the South West season Manta Rays and Whale Sharks are usually found of the Eastern edge of the atolls. Sea conditions can be rougher and there is a more chance of rain, the diving however remains the same.

May and November mark the transition of the Monsoons and currents can be changeable with a higher chance of stormy conditions.

Island based diving usually takes place inside the atolls around each islands house reef or further out in larger pinnacle reefs or the mouths of oceanic channels, where the large pelagic’s feed and where it is common to see sharks, turtles, jacks and triggerfish.

Most islands have their own house reef, which are generally very good and give you the opportunity to go diving any time of day, at your own pace. As diving on a house reef can have its limitations, more advanced diver’s will go for half or full day boat trips to see the best local dive sites.

Liveaboard diving in the Maldives is becoming increasingly popular as you can visit more spectacular dive sites and reefs not dived on a regular basis due to their geographic location to island resorts. Liveaboard itineraries run between islands and atolls on the outside of reefs giving divers the opportunity to explore diving in the Maldives at its best.