The Maldives hold a special place in the hearts of divers the world over. Often referred to as the "Pearls of the Indian Ocean" the Maldives are a small archipelago of atolls and island reefs stretching for over 800km. Many of these islands have been developed into exclusive resorts, making for a holiday like no other. Because these islands are so small and isolated, everything is imported making a holiday here more expensive than other locations. Activities on the islands are also restricted to enjoying the reefs, beaches and the surroundings. So if high octane action is for you, we would suggest considering other dive locations.

Average temperatures in the Maldives are surprisingly constant (30°C to 31°C) all year round, with night time temperatures not dropping below 25°C. Rainfall is lowest from January to April, monsoon season runs from May to September, with some light rain in October and November. December can have rough, windy weather and rain.

January to April

The Maldives displays significant differences in the climate of Northern Atolls to that of the Southern Atolls. The South Atoll has more rainfall and lower temperatures than North Atoll. The best season for scuba diving is from January to April with very good visibility and excellent sea conditions.

The local climate is determined mainly by the monsoons. This are split into two monsoon seasons, these being the northeast monsoon which brings very little rain and wind and good water visibility.  This season runs from December to April. In contrast the southwest monsoon brings heavy rain and gales from May to November.

April to June tend to be the hottest months of the year. Plankton levels tend to be high from May to August, giving you the best chance of seeing manta rays and whale sharks. Generally May is a good month for these large pelagics around Hanifaru Bay and July to August around Baa Atoll. Maamigili is also famous for its Whale Shark encounters that occur most reliably in April to May and September to November.

Located in the Indian Ocean with beautiful fringing reefs, the diving here is second to none. Water visibility can exceed 50m (165ft) with the reefs providing the only shelter for marine life, you feel like you are swimming in an aquarium due to the density of life on the reefs here. Having said this, the Maldives are not the place to come if you want to see a massive profusion of soft coral, El Nino has destroyed some of the softer corals near the surface, however these are returning, deeper dives are less affected.

Marine life here is very abundant with literally thousands of snapper, butterfly fish and parrot fish to name a few. Large marine life and pelagic fish are often seen here including; whale sharks, sharks and manta rays, although sightings are never guaranteed. Regarding wetsuits, we would recommend a 3mm full length wetsuit to keep you warm.

Getting to the Maldives is relatively simple there are many daily flights from European and North American hub airports into the capital Malé. Operators to consider include Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines and Qatar Airways.

Once in Malé access to the other atolls of the Maldives is by seaplane or boat.

The focus of a holiday to the Maldives is relaxation, other than diving, resting on the beach and watching the stars in the evening there is not much else to do here. If you are looking for an action packed holiday, you may want to look else where.

This is an expensive destination as everything has to be imported to the islands, so if you are looking for value for money then you may consider another destination. As mentioned above, there is not alot to do here other than relax and enjoy the diving.