Several other guides on this site each cover one seasonal pattern individually — this page pulls them into a single month-by-month reference, since a few of these windows overlap in ways worth planning around together rather than separately.
December–April: Iruvai, the dry season
Calmer seas and the clearest diving visibility of the year (see our best time to visit guide) — also peak season, so expect higher prices and busier dive sites. Whale sharks in South Ari remain visible year-round regardless of season (see our whale sharks & manta rays guide).
March–October: surf season
Southern Indian Ocean groundswell reaches the central and southern atolls — see our surfing guide for where. This overlaps significantly with the wet season below, since both are driven by the same monsoon pattern.
May–November: Hulhangu, the wet season and manta feeding peak
Shorter, heavier rain showers rather than continuous grey skies, softer pricing, and — most notably — the peak window for Hanifaru Bay's manta feeding aggregations in Baa Atoll (see our Baa Atoll guide), driven by the same nutrient-rich currents that define this half of the year.
Year-round, regardless of season
- Whale sharks in South Ari Atoll.
- Turtles and everyday reef fish on most house reefs — see our turtles & marine life guide.
- Tiger sharks and thresher sharks at Fuvahmulah — see our Fuvahmulah guide.
- Stargazing, weather permitting any time of year — see our stargazing guide.