At a glance
| At a glance | In October |
|---|---|
| Weather | Still wet at times; showers begin to ease |
| Sea | Warm, about 28°C to 29°C; strong currents in the channels |
| Marine life | Mantas and whale sharks; grey reef sharks in the channels |
| Surf | The season winds down |
| Visitors | Fewer visitors than in winter, with good offers |
| Suits | Value, marine life, a balanced trip |
Weather
October sits at the turn of the seasons, and the weather can go either way. It can be wet and humid, with the odd day of steady rain, but showers begin to ease and sunshine becomes more frequent as the month goes on, with highs of around 30°C.
In the water
The sea is warm, at about 28°C to 29°C. Strong currents run through the channels, bringing grey reef sharks and other large fish. October is still a strong month for mantas and whale sharks, which come to feed on the plankton; in Hanifaru Bay, up to 200 mantas can gather at once.
Surf
For most surfers the season ends with October, as the swell drops. Some count October and November among the better months, with very stable waves.
Visitors and prices
There are fewer visitors than in the high season, and offers are easy to find, especially if you are happy to spend part of the day enjoying the resort rather than the beach. Resorts begin preparing for the high season. Some put on cultural evenings, such as bodu beru drumming.
Who it suits
October suits value seekers, travellers chasing mantas and whale sharks, and anyone happy to balance a little rain against good offers and quiet islands.