The ocean washing the Maldives
The Maldives lies in the Indian Ocean. Here is what that means in plain facts: where the islands are, what the ocean is, and how the monsoon shapes the water around them.
Where the islands are
- The Maldives is in the Indian Ocean, southwest of India and Sri Lanka, about 750 km from the Asian mainland.
- The islands form 26 atolls grouped in a double chain, with 1,192 coral islands in all.
- No other ocean washes the Maldives: all the water around the islands belongs to the Indian Ocean.
The ocean and the monsoon
- The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world’s oceans, with an area of about 70.56 million km², including the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.
- Its currents are mainly controlled by the monsoon, which reverses wind direction between seasons. In the Maldives the same monsoons set the wetter and drier seasons. Best time to visit
- The surrounding sea also moderates the air temperature, which stays at 25 to 32 °C on average.
For visitors
- The sea is warm all year, but we found no official sea temperature. Water temperature
- Currents can be strong in places, so swim where the guesthouse team advises and ask before you snorkel away from the beach.
- Do not touch or collect corals and shells.
Frequently asked questions
Which ocean is the Maldives in?
The Indian Ocean, southwest of India and Sri Lanka.
How far is the Maldives from the mainland?
About 750 km from the Asian mainland.
How many islands does the Maldives have?
1,192 coral islands grouped in 26 atolls.
Does the ocean affect the climate?
Yes. The monsoon, which controls the ocean’s currents, also sets the wetter and drier seasons, and the sea moderates air temperature.
Is the Indian Ocean the biggest?
No. It is the third-largest of the world’s oceans.
Reviewed by the Relax Residence team in October 2026.
