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Embracing Maldives rainy season
Lying close to the equator and within the doldrums, the Maldives rarely experiences any severe weather events. However, the world famous holiday destination has two distinct monsoons (seasons) a year that shape the prevailing weather patterns. The monsoons which dictate the weather in the archipelago are characterised not by heavy rain, as is often assumed, but by their winds, which blow consistently and reverse their direction seasonally.
The South-West Monsoon, or Hulhangu as it is called in local Dhivehi language, runs from May to October, while the North-East Monsoon, or in the local language Iruvai, runs from December to March each year, with the months of November and April acting as transitional periods of change in between.
Don’t forget; almost every resort in the Maldives has a special summer offer with hefty discounts and a host of other complimentary benefits too.
Beware the rough sea!
After a hotter than average North-East Monsoon, Maldivians are relieved to have a bit of rain. But with the welcome change in temperature comes challenges; heavy showers, rough seas and strong winds. In the South-West Monsoon, the Maldives weather becomes very versatile and can change in a few minutes. Skies become dark, strong rains can follow a beautiful sunny morning and wind gusts can reach up to 50 Knts (approximately 90 km per h) for hours.
These dark, rainy and very windy periods can be very short, but they can also continue for a few days and be immediately replaced by idyllic weather conditions.
This year as well, the Maldives Meteorological Service (MET) has warned that heavy rains, strong winds and rough seas will continue in north and central Maldives for the most part of the monsoon period. Winds in north and central Maldives are expected to reach 15 to 25 miles per hour, while wind speeds in other areas are projected to be eight to 18 miles per hour.
Liveaboard Association of Maldives (LAM), which represents the boating industry of the Maldives, has also cautioned over the bad weather conditions prevailing across the country, urging liveaboard operators and other transport service providers to avoid sailing or travelling in the night. The association urged boat operators to keep an eye on local weather forecasts before and even during the journey, recheck all safety equipment and have communication devices on hand.

A ferry boat braves rough seas as it travels to capital Male from the satellite town of Hulhumale. PHOTO/ MIHAARU
Diving: choose the western side
You must have heard that the best time to visit the Maldives is during the North-Eat Monsoon, when the weather is dry with clear skies and calm seas. But if you are planning to visit the Maldives for a summer getaway, go ahead and book your holiday. Even during the South-West Monsoon, the Maldives rarely experiences extreme weather conditions.
Diving in the Maldives is generally good all year round, but underwater visibility, water temperatures and marine life changes depending on the season. During the rainy season (May t0 October), the western side of an atoll is better for scuba diving. Make sure you select your resort accommodation accordingly.
If the prevailing wind is coming from south-west and your resort is on the south-western side of the atoll, you will experience the worst of it or best of it depending on what you want. Villas located over the water can actually shudder when the wind and waves are strong. So it may pay to try to get a room on the eastern side of the island, but then you give up the sunset view. Storms are not common.
For diving, this is not necessarily a bad thing. While the weather can be bad and the winds strong, the wind is also creating the current to a certain extent. While it is impossible to dive the outside channels when the wind is very strong, the days after can be exhilarating or terrifying to some.
Diving at the western side of the atoll during the South-West Monsoon, you will experience predominantly incoming currents. This means the water is rising from the deep ocean and flowing into the shallow atoll. Visibility is generally better, water slightly cooler with better chances to see pelagic. Visibility can be 50 metres on a sunny calm day with a good incoming current.

When rain clouds have cleared, you get to see one of the most stunning sunsets you will ever experience in Maldives. PHOTO/ GURAIDHOO INN
Get up close with manta rays
From June to October, you have the opportunity to get up close and personal with majestic manta rays. During this time of the year, a combination of South-West Monsoon currents and lunar tides bring large quantities of planktonic shrimp (mantas’ favourite food) to various sites around resorts across the country, attracting large numbers of manta rays.
Several resorts have already announced special manta packages, including the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa atoll and Olhuveli Beach and Spa Maldives in South Male Atoll.
Manta rays with wing-like pectoral fins that stretch to a length of 13 to 15 feet (4 to 4.5 metres) move gracefully through the water while feeding with their enormous mouths. Having one of the largest comparable brain sizes of any marine animal makes them highly curious, resulting in some very close snorkelling encounters.

A manta ray glides over a reef in a Maldives resort. PHOTO/ OLHUVELI BEACH AND SPA MALDIVES
Swim with whale sharks
Over the years, the Maldives has maintained its position as one of the few destinations in the world for whale shark sightings.
Whale sharks, the largest fish in the world, are year round residents of the Maldives, tending to favour the western side of the Indian Ocean archipelago from May to December, then heading to the east until April.
There are two main whale shark sighting spots in the nation. The first is the well-known UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Hanifaru Bay in Baa atoll, while the second is the marine protected area off the coast of Maamigili island in Alif Dhaal atoll, also known as South Ari atoll. The latter in particular is considered a special zone as whale shark sightings take place all year round, unlike Hanifaru Bay where sightings occur in the southwest monsoon.

A whale shark swims across the waters of Baa atoll. PHOTO/ FOUR SEASONS MALDIVES
Sightings of whale sharks have sparked a distinct brand of tourism, luring countless tourists that make brief sojourns to the island nation solely for the pleasure of sighting these majestic creatures. Several resorts and guesthouses in South Ari Atoll and Baa atoll organise expert-led excursions that allow guests to dive and snorkel with these creatures.
Don’t forget; almost every resort in the Maldives has a special summer offer with hefty discounts and a host of other complimentary benefits too. So you have every reason to take some time off and visit the paradise islands during this season as well. And when the rain clouds have cleared, you get to see one of the most stunning sunsets you will ever experience in the Maldives if not in your lifetime!
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Noku Maldives strengthens reef protection through coral propagation
Noku Maldives, Vignette Collection has announced the launch of its Coral Propagation Programme, a new reef enhancement initiative guided by the brand’s purpose-led pillar, Means for Good.
Set within the tranquil waters of Noonu Atoll, Noku Maldives is home to a naturally vibrant marine environment — and this programme reflects the resort’s long-term commitment to nurturing it with care, intention, and respect for the ocean that surrounds the island.
Supporting Natural Growth, One Fragment at a Time
At the heart of the initiative is a gentle and nature-led method using “fragments of opportunity” — naturally broken coral fragments that are collected and carefully secured onto coral frames to encourage healthy regrowth. These fragments are stabilised in an environment that supports their development, allowing new coral to establish and flourish over time.
Designed with both short-term progress and lasting impact in mind, the Coral Propagation Programme will monitor key indicators of success within its first year, including stronger, healthier coral growth and increased fish activity around the coral frames — a positive sign that biodiversity is thriving and marine life is naturally gathering around these new habitats.
Over time, the initiative aims to support the natural expansion of reef habitats by creating structured micro-environments that encourage marine life and contribute to the long-term resilience of the surrounding reef ecosystem.
A Wider Commitment to Ocean Stewardship
The Coral Propagation Programme forms part of Noku Maldives’ broader conservation focus — including the protection of one of the island’s most distinctive natural features: its lush and thriving seagrass meadows.
Unlike many destinations where seagrass is removed or covered, Noku Maldives has chosen to protect and celebrate this important ecosystem. As part of its participation in the Maldives Resilient Reef Industry Circle, the resort has pledged to safeguard at least 80% of its seagrass area, recognising its vital role in supporting marine biodiversity and strengthening environmental resilience.
Seagrass meadows are essential to the lagoon’s natural balance. They provide a nursery habitat for juvenile fish species, help stabilise sediment and reduce beach erosion, and are widely recognised as powerful natural carbon sinks — absorbing CO₂ up to 35 times faster than rainforests. Seagrass also plays a key role in supporting green sea turtles, who rely on it as a primary food source and can graze up to 2 kilograms per day.
Noku Maldives will continue ongoing seagrass monitoring through regular assessments of species composition, blade height, algae content, and ecosystem health markers measured across set quadrats. Of the eight seagrass species found in the Maldives, four have already been identified within the resort’s lagoon — a promising indicator of biodiversity and habitat richness.
A Stay That Leaves Something Behind
Through Means for Good, Noku Maldives, Vignette Collection invites guests to connect with the destination in a way that feels meaningful — where luxury is not only experienced, but thoughtfully shared with the place that makes it possible.
The Coral Propagation Programme is a step forward in ensuring that the island’s reefs, lagoon life, and underwater landscapes remain protected for generations to come — a living symbol of what happens when nature is given the space, care, and time to return.
For more information and reservations, please visit the hotel website or email us at noku.reservations@ihg.com.
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Siyam World hosts Fernando Torres and Mark Noble for festive football camps
Siyam World Maldives created the setting for two memorable football experiences during the festive season, as Fernando Torres and Mark Noble led a series of camps that transformed the holidays into shared moments of play, discovery and connection. With phones set aside and screens forgotten, more than fifty young players became fully absorbed in movement, laughter and island life.
Over two days, former World Cup winner Fernando Torres hosted an exclusive children’s football camp for resort guests, welcoming more than fifty players aged between four and fourteen. Mornings that began by the lagoon gradually shifted to the football pitch, as relaxed holiday routines evolved into informal training sessions filled with energy and enjoyment.
Torres, widely known as El Niño, brought the same enthusiasm that defined his career with Spain and Chelsea, tempered with humour and an easygoing approach suited to the island setting. He played alongside the children, encouraged the youngest participants and offered guidance without interrupting the sense of fun. One moment captured the tone of the camp when a four-year-old attempted to nutmeg him. The attempt failed, but the laughter that followed set the mood for the sessions that continued into the afternoon.
Torres remarked that children are less concerned with reputation than with the simple pleasure of playing the game, noting that this was when the experience felt most genuine. Parents observed from the sidelines as the sessions unfolded, gradually realising that the camp had become a highlight of their family holiday.

One guest, visiting from London, said the family had arrived for the sunshine and water park, and had not expected their eight-year-old to be playing football with a former World Cup winner. She added that her son had not removed his signed jersey since.
Earlier in December, Siyam World welcomed former West Ham United captain Mark Noble for a five-day football programme. Known for his long career and leadership at the club, Noble led daily sessions that focused on teamwork, simple technique and encouragement, exchanging formal settings for cones, drills and steady guidance.
By the end of the programme, the camp had taken on the character of an informal family memory rather than a structured course. For the children, it was several days of football. For parents, it became a defining moment of their stay, remembered through shared photographs, stories and moments that lingered beyond the holiday.
Together, the two camps reflected Siyam World Maldives’ growing emphasis on immersive, sport-led experiences, where internationally recognised athletes meet the informal rhythm of island life. The approach aims to create opportunities for families to connect through experiences that feel natural, joyful and quietly distinctive, adding another dimension to the resort’s family offering.
Excursions
Discover Raa Atoll: Ifuru Island Maldives adds new dive packages for 2026
Ifuru Island Maldives has introduced a new collection of curated dive packages, inviting guests to explore the exceptional underwater world of the Maldives through programmes designed for beginners, aspiring divers and certified enthusiasts alike.
Located in the pristine waters of Raa Atoll, Ifuru Island Maldives provides access to vibrant house reefs, calm lagoon conditions and several of the region’s most celebrated dive sites, including the renowned Ifuru Thila. The newly launched dive packages are crafted to combine professional training, guided exploration and the convenience of a premium island stay.
The collection begins with an introductory diving experience tailored for first-time divers seeking to discover the underwater world in a safe and relaxed setting. Guests undergo lagoon-based training before progressing to the house reef, offering an ideal entry point into scuba diving with no prior experience required.
For guests ready to advance further, the resort offers a globally recognised scuba certification course. Designed for confident swimmers and snorkellers, the programme includes professional instruction, open water dives and an internationally valid certification, opening access to dive destinations worldwide.
Certified divers can choose a three-day dive escape that highlights the best sites in Raa Atoll. Featuring guided morning dives across renowned locations, the experience showcases the atoll’s rich marine biodiversity, striking reef structures and clear waters.
“Diving is an essential part of the Maldivian experience, and we wanted to create a collection that feels both accessible and exceptional,” said Marcel Sawyer, General Manager of Ifuru Island Maldives. “Whether it marks a guest’s first dive or their next significant underwater journey, these packages are crafted to offer confidence, comfort and memorable experiences beneath the surface.”
All dive packages may be booked alongside the resort’s premium accommodation offerings, including the Exclusively Yours Premium All-Inclusive meal plan, daily resort touches, complimentary non-motorised water sports, snorkelling equipment and return domestic flight transfers for qualifying stays.
The dive packages are available for booking and travel throughout 2026 and must be confirmed ahead of arrival. Package rates apply in addition to accommodation and are subject to availability.
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