The year under water
The southwest monsoon usually arrives around the middle of May and eases in October, and brings most of the year’s rain; January to March is the dry season, and the months either side of it are the turn of the seasons. Mantas move with the monsoons.
| Animal | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Manta rays | Eastern sides of the atolls | Southwest monsoon, from about May |
| Manta rays | Western sides of the atolls | Northeast monsoon |
| Large manta gatherings | Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll (snorkelling only) | About May to November |
| Whale sharks | South Ari Atoll | All year |
Manta rays
Reef mantas live in the Maldives all year. They follow the plankton, which moves with the monsoon winds, so where they feed changes with the season: mostly the eastern sides of the atolls in the southwest monsoon, and the western sides in the northeast monsoon.
Hanifaru Bay, a small protected bay in Baa Atoll, sees some of the largest manta gatherings anywhere, between about May and November. Visitors snorkel there; scuba diving is not allowed.
Whale sharks
Whale sharks are seen all year along the southern tip of South Ari Atoll, a marine protected area since 2009. Swimmers must stay at least 3 metres from the body and 4 metres from the tail, must not touch them, hold on or feed them, and flash photography and bright lights are restricted.
Turtles
Five of the world’s seven species of sea turtle are found in Maldivian waters. Green and hawksbill turtles are the ones most often seen.
Diving rules
- Recreational diving is limited to 30 metres.
- Decompression diving and diving alone are not allowed.
- If you have not dived for three months, the dive centre may ask for an orientation dive.
- Bring your certification card and logbook. You may be asked for a medical certificate or a statement that you are fit to dive.
- Diving guidelines recommend waiting at least 12 hours after a single dive before flying, and 18 hours after several days of diving; some advise 24 hours.
Children
Children can usually try diving in shallow water from 8, and start a junior course from 10, with depth limits by age.