Water temperature in the Maldives
The sea around the Maldives is warm all year. We checked what official sources say and what travel climate references add, and we mark clearly which is which.
What the sources say
- The Maldives Meteorological Service gives air temperature of 25 to 32 °C and says the surrounding sea moderates it. It does not publish a sea temperature on its climate page.
- Travel climate references put the sea at about 27 to 30 °C through the year. This is reference data, not an official figure.
- For Malé the same references show about 28 °C in January rising to about 30 °C in April and May. The cooler end falls in the dry northeast monsoon, January to March.
- We do not give a figure for each month, because we found no official monthly series.
By season
- January to March, the dry northeast monsoon: the cooler end of the range. References show about 28 °C in Malé in January.
- Mid-May to November, the wetter southwest monsoon: more cloud and rain, but the references still give roughly the same 27 to 30 °C. Rain changes the weather, not the warmth of the sea.
- December and April are transitional months. In Malé the sea reaches about 30 °C in April and May.
- Some sites print month-by-month tables with figures up to 31 °C. We do not repeat them: there is no official series behind those numbers.
Why it matters for reefs
- NOAA defines two regional coral bleaching thresholds for the Maldives: 30.5 °C for moderate bleaching and 30.9 °C for severe bleaching (Frontiers in Marine Science, 2020).
- A 2026 study of the 2023 to 2024 bleaching event reports a record sea surface temperature of 31.5 °C in 2024.
- So warm water is normal here, but unusually hot spells stress the reef. Do not touch or stand on corals.
In the water on Thoddoo
- Mask, snorkel and fins are free at the reception, so you can try the house reef and the beach without booking a trip. Snorkelling on Thoddoo
- We organise manta snorkelling at USD 75 per person. Conditions and timing depend on the weather and the sea on the day. Manta rays on Thoddoo
- If you stay in the water for long, a thin rash vest helps against the sun.
For your trip
- Plan on warm water in every month. Best time to visit
- Weather and sea conditions change from day to day, so boat trips are decided on the day. Weather in December
- Bring reef-safe habits: water-resistant sunscreen, no touching corals, and a rash vest if you stay in the water for long.
Frequently asked questions
What is the water temperature in the Maldives?
Travel climate references give about 27 to 30 °C all year. The Maldives Meteorological Service does not publish a sea temperature on its climate page.
Is the sea warmer in some months?
References show about 28 °C in January in Malé and about 30 °C in April and May.
Why do websites give different water temperatures for the Maldives?
There is no official monthly series, so each site uses its own reference data and rounds differently. We use the range of about 27 to 30 °C and say it is reference data.
Is the sea warmer in the dry or the wet season?
The references show no big gap: about 28 °C in Malé in January and about 30 °C in April and May, and roughly 27 to 30 °C overall.
Is the water cold in winter?
No. The cooler end of the range is still around 27 to 28 °C according to the references.
Can the water be too hot?
Spells above about 30.5 to 30.9 °C stress corals, according to NOAA regional thresholds.
Is there an official monthly table?
We found none, so we do not publish month-by-month figures.
Reviewed by the Relax Residence team in October 2026.
