Maldives May — surf season begins under monsoon clouds

Maldives · Maldives

May

SW monsoon arrives: rain increases significantly and prices drop sharply. Surf season begins.

Best match

#6 of 12 months

There are better months for Maldives — see the full ranking below.

See when to go instead →

Climate

High

31.5°C

Low

27.3°C

Rain

187mm

Sun

6.6hrs/day

30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5

How May scores in Maldives

Weather
Average
Value
Excellent
Crowds
Excellent
Events
Above average
Atmosphere
Good

What you gain in May

  • Prices 40–50% below dry season peak — the most significant value drop of the year
  • World-class surfing at Lohis, Cokes, and Chickens (south Malé Atoll): consistent SW swell
  • Resorts genuinely quiet — premium service and empty pools

What you sacrifice

  • 187mm of rain across the month: expect daily showers, often heavy
  • Grey skies interrupt the consistently blue-sky experience of dry season
  • Visibility drops in some dive sites due to increased plankton — varies by atoll

How May compares to February (best month)

FactorMayFebruary
Weather
4
10
Value
8
3
Crowds
8
3

May in other destinations

Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Maldives, not across destinations. Methodology →