Almost 1,200 islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean, where the water never drops below 28°C, even in the "bad" season. The question isn't whether it'll be warm, but which weeks are actually worth paying double for.

You open a booking site, select the Maldives, and see that the same overwater villa costs $800 a night in January and $400 in June. Twice as much. Yet in both months the air is 30°C and the water 28°C. Which raises an obvious question: what exactly are you paying the difference for? A guarantee of cloudless skies, or just a date in the "right" month?

Two Monsoons and Nothing in Between

The Maldives' climate is shaped by two monsoons. The northeast monsoon (known locally as iruvai) arrives from January to March: this is the dry season. The southwest monsoon (hulhangu) blows from mid-May to November: the wet season. April and December are transition months, when the weather can surprise you either way.

According to the Maldives Meteorological Service, average annual rainfall is about 2,218 mm in the south of the archipelago, 1,966 mm in the centre and 1,779 mm in the north. That's a noticeable spread: the northern atolls are drier than the southern ones, which matters when choosing a resort.

Air temperatures barely change, at 30–32°C all year round. The hottest month is April (32°C), the "coolest" January (30°C). A two-degree difference is within the margin of error of your air conditioning.

The Dry Season: What You're Paying Double For

January to March is the classic high season. There's little rain (three or four rainy days a month in January and February), the wind is light and the sea is calm. Underwater visibility is the best of the year: the water is clear, the currents are gentle and there's little plankton.

This is the time for those who want a guaranteed beach day. You wake up to sunshine. You step out onto the terrace to dead calm. You go snorkelling and can see the bottom 30 metres down. No "what if it rains," no "the sea's too rough." It's for this predictability that resorts charge double what they do in the low season.

December is formally a transition month, but in terms of prices it's already high season. The first half can be cloudy; the second is usually dry. The New Year weeks are the most expensive of the year: demand from European and Russian travellers pushes prices up even further.

The Wet Season: Is It Really That Bad?

This is where things get interesting. The "wet season" in the Maldives doesn't mean tropical rain from dawn till dusk. It means short, intense showers followed by sunshine. A typical day: clear in the morning, a half-hour downpour after lunch, clear skies again by sunset.

June is one of the windiest months, with around half the days overcast. May and October are the rainiest: October can bring up to 15 rainy days. But a "rainy day" doesn't mean a day spent entirely in the rain; more often it's one or two showers adding up to a couple of hours.

In July and August, the wind drops and the showers get shorter. Many travellers who have visited the Maldives at this time say they spent no less time on the beach than in high season, just with a break after lunch.

In the wet season, the water is 28–29°C and the air 30°C. In other words, it feels practically no different from January.

What You Can See Underwater, and When

For divers and snorkellers, seasonality matters more than it does for beachgoers, but it works differently from how you might think.

In the dry season (December to April), the water is clearer: visibility is usually at least 20–30 metres, the currents are weak and diving is comfortable. This is the best time for anyone who wants to see the reefs in perfect conditions.

In the wet season (May to November), though, there's more plankton in the water, and it brings in the creatures many people fly to the Maldives for in the first place. Manta rays and whale sharks appear around the archipelago at this time.

The best-known spot is Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 2011. The manta season here runs from June to November, peaking from July to October. On a good day, dozens of mantas feed in the bay at once.

Whale sharks are most often seen around Ari and Thaa atolls. The pattern is simple: plankton gathers on the leeward side of the atolls. During the northeast monsoon (December to April), that's the western side; during the southwest monsoon (May to November), the eastern side.

Hanifaru lies on the eastern edge of Baa Atoll, which is why it comes alive during the southwest monsoon. South Ari, though, is a special case: whale sharks can be seen around Maamigili Reef all year round.

In other words, the underwater world in the Maldives doesn't switch "on" and "off" with the seasons. The dry season has mantas too (on the western sides of the atolls), as well as whale sharks (especially in South Ari). But the mass gatherings of mantas at Hanifaru belong firmly to the southwest monsoon, June to November.

How Much the Difference Between Seasons Costs

Prices in the Maldives vary enormously, from $50 a night at a guesthouse on a local island to $5,000 at a boutique resort with a personal butler. But the ratio between seasons is roughly the same across all categories.

  • Four- and five-star resorts in high season (December to March): $300–800 a night for two. In low season (June to August), the same villa can cost $150–400, often half the price.

  • Overwater villas (premium): from $500–600 in low season to $800–2,000+ in high season.

  • Guesthouses on local islands: $50–150 a night in high season. In low season they're 20–30% cheaper, but the difference in absolute terms is small.

Flights from Moscow are a separate expense. Aeroflot's direct flight from Sheremetyevo to Malé takes about nine hours. The alternative is a connecting flight via Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi with one of the Gulf airlines.

Connecting flights are usually cheaper but take longer. Fares depend heavily on the season and when you book: in low season, tickets can cost half as much as over the New Year.

Which Atoll to Choose

The Maldives is made up of 26 natural atolls, stretching about 800 km from north to south. The weather and the underwater world vary noticeably between them.

  • North Malé is closest to Malé airport, 20–40 minutes by speedboat. Lots of resorts at every level, convenient for short trips. The reefs are good, but the popular dive sites can get crowded.

  • South Malé is a little further away but quieter. On many islands, there's good snorkelling right off the beach.

  • Baa Atoll is a UNESCO biosphere reserve, home to Hanifaru Bay and its mantas. The transfer is by seaplane (30–40 minutes). The best time is June to November.

  • Ari Atoll (South Ari) is one of the best places for diving: whale sharks, turtles and reef sharks. About 25 minutes by seaplane. Good all year round.

  • Lhaviyani Atoll: strong currents in the channels attract big fish and mantas. Drift diving for experienced divers.

  • Gaafu Atoll (in the far south) is the most remote and the least crowded. More rain, but also more large marine life. It's harder to reach: a domestic flight to Kaadedhdhoo (Gaafu Dhaalu) or Kooddoo (Gaafu Alifu).

For a first trip, North or South Malé (close by, with a cheap transfer) or Ari (the best balance of diving and accessibility) are ideal. For return visits, try Baa in manta season or Gaafu for complete seclusion.

Visas, Taxes and What Else to Keep in Mind

Russians don't need a visa: entry is visa-free for up to 30 days (it's best to check before you travel). You'll need a passport, a return ticket and proof of accommodation. Before departure, you must fill in the electronic IMUGA declaration (no earlier than 96 hours before arrival).

Green Tax is a tourist environmental levy. From January 1, 2025, the rates doubled: $12 per person per night at resorts and large hotels (more than 50 rooms), and $6 at small guesthouses on inhabited islands. Children under two are exempt. For ten nights at a resort for two, that's an extra $240, a sum worth factoring into your budget.

Alcohol is banned on local islands, where the Muslim local population lives. It's available at resorts on uninhabited islands, but at prices of $15–25 or more per cocktail. Those who want to save buy it at duty-free. Those who want to save even more go all-inclusive, although that noticeably increases the cost of your stay.

When Is the Best Time to Go?

  • January to March — maximum sunshine, calm seas and the best underwater visibility. And the maximum on your hotel bill.

  • April and December — transition months with good weather and prices that haven't yet peaked (or have already dropped back). A sensible compromise.

  • June to November — the season for mantas and whale sharks. Discounts of up to 50% at resorts and few tourists. There's rain, but it's brief and doesn't spoil your holiday the way the reviews make out.

  • June and July — the lowest prices of the year. If a half-hour downpour a day doesn't bother you, these are your dates.

The Maldives is a rare place where the low season isn't a compromise but a different kind of holiday. Instead of cloudless skies, an encounter with a manta the size of a car. Whether that's worth a half-price discount is a question of priorities, not quality.