What Are The Best Times to Be In the Maldives And Why?
The Maldives is a well-known country located in the continent of Asia. It holds the distinction of being the smallest country in the largest continent on the planet. The Maldives has been referred to by various names over the last many years, primarily in the Sanskrit language. It has been called as ”Necklace lands, “”Hundred Thousand Islands” and “Garland of Islands”. The Maldives which is situated in the Indian ocean is a cluster of small islands, which are about 1190 in number. Out of these 1190 islands, Maldives has 130 islands that have been developed into luxurious tourist resorts. As a tourist, you need to be mindful of the Climate in the Maldives.
The best time to visit any place depends upon a number of factors such as the time of the year, the Maldives’ weather at that time of the year, the special attractions that occur in the said place through the calendar year and so forth. Below, we shall cover some of the important aspects to consider before visiting the Maldives. The climate in the Maldives comprises two seasons primarily, a dry season and a wet season. The dry season is characterized by the dry northeast winter monsoons. This season has very little rain and lower humidity levels. The wet season is characterized by moist south-west monsoons and strong winds accompanied by storms. During this season, not only are the rains extremely heavy, but the collateral damage due to storms makes it even more dangerous. This season lasts in the Maldives from the month of May until the end of November. The dry season then begins early in the month of December and goes on to last till the month of April.
Despite being an island nation, The Climate in the Maldives remains pretty much stable throughout the year. The temperature throughout the year remains fairly stable around the lower to mid 80 degrees Fahrenheit mark. Loosely around the peak time of the dry season of Maldives, the temperature is in the range of the higher 80 degrees Fahrenheit and it continues to be that way for the half of the wet season, i.e from the month of February to August. While during the months of September to January, the temperature remains in the low 80 degrees Fahrenheit, with it seldom dropping below the 80-degree mark. Considering that, it is safe to assume that one can visit the Maldives at any time of the year and find it to be pleasantly warm. Being an island nation not only gives The Maldives the luxury of having the sea incredibly close-by, but it also makes it increasingly vulnerable to storms which originate in the Indian Ocean and go on to hit the country. The season of storms is something which every tourist must keep an eye out for in order to ensure that he/she has a safe trip without running into unwanted, avoidable circumstances. The storms primarily hit the country’s coasts only after heavy winter rains in the wet season of the country. However, these aren’t intense storms and do not cause much harm to property and life. The Maldives is rarely affected by cyclones when compared to other island nations. Over its long history of 128 years, only a total of 11 cyclones have hit The Maldives.
For those tourists who visit the country mainly for snorkelling and diving, both the seasons of Maldives have something special for them. The Dry Season enables better visibility underwater as the currents flow from the north-east, beginning from the month of November and these currents eventually weaken in the month of February. While, during the wet season, the temperature in the Maldives not only drops on the land but also in the sea, thereby making the water temperature drop by a few degrees on the whole. This drop in temperature results in a large number of reef sharks and hammerhead sharks to congregate. It is not the congregation which attracts tourists, but the congregation of these sharks in shallower waters that makes tourists excited to visit the island nation during the winter months. One of the major drawbacks during the winter seasons is the lack of a current in the water, which makes it all the harder to view objects in the sea.
The Maldives in June is rainy and the numbers of tourists are less. However, for a backpacker or people who are looking for affordable deals, it’s the best time to visit the Maldives. Thus, if you are looking for a cheap time to go to the Maldives, the monsoon is your best bet.
So here, we enlisted some of the ideal times to visit The Maldives depending upon your purpose of visit and interests. Hope to see you soon in the magical terrain of adventure, fun and aquatic life!