Maldives in November: weather, seas and what’s on

The Maldives Meteorological Service counts November as the final month of the southwest monsoon, which runs from mid-May. December is the changeover month, and the dry northeast monsoon proper starts in January. So November is still, officially, the wet season.

The long-term figures back that up. Climate averages for Malé, published by the World Meteorological Organization from Met Service records (1981–2000), give November:

• Rainfall: about 231 mm, the highest monthly total in that dataset
• Rain days: around 13
• Daytime high: about 30°C
• Night-time low: about 25°C
• Sunshine: the Met Service puts most months outside January to March at around 7 to 9 hours a day

That surprises people, because November is often sold as the start of the good season; on paper it is wetter than September or October. The Met Service notes that the south gets more rain each year than the north. Its record for the heaviest rain in 24 hours, 228 mm, fell at Addu City on 24 November 2015.

What the rain is actually like

The Met Service says Maldivian rain usually comes as short showers with sunny periods between. A typical November day might bring a squall at lunchtime, half an hour of heavy rain, then sunshine again. Whole grey days happen, but they are not the norm.

As the month goes on, the wind starts to ease and swing round towards the north-east. Late November often feels calmer than early November, though there is no fixed date for the change.

The sea stays warm, around 28 to 29°C, so no wetsuit is needed for swimming or snorkelling.

• Swell and crossings. Seas can still be choppy, especially early in the month. Most boat trips run, but small boats and ferries are sometimes delayed or cancelled on rough days. Leave a spare half-day before an international flight.
• Visibility. Usually good on calm days, but it can drop for a few days after heavy rain or strong wind, when plankton and run-off cloud the water.

Marine life in November

• Manta rays. Research by the Manta Trust shows mantas tend to feed on the eastern sides of the atolls in the southwest monsoon (about May to November), then move west in the northeast monsoon (about December to April). November sits at the hinge, so ask locally which side of your atoll is producing sightings that week. Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll is a southwest monsoon site; check current conditions and rules before planning a late-season trip.
• Whale sharks. The South Ari Marine Protected Area is one of very few places where whale sharks are found all year, according to the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme.
• Turtles and dolphins. Seen all year, weather allowing.

No sighting is ever guaranteed. Our marine life guide explains how to watch these protected animals without disturbing them.

November is the tail end of the surf season, not the heart of it. Surf forecasters and local surf guides generally describe the season as running from about March to October, with November to February small and inconsistent, and flat spells common.

You may catch a few small, quiet days early in the month, but don’t book a surf-only trip for November. Our surfing in the Maldives guide has the full calendar.

Victory Day, Tuesday 3 November

Victory Day remembers the defeat of the attack on Malé on 3 November 1988. It is usually marked with official ceremonies and a parade by the Maldives National Defence Force in the capital.

Republic Day, Wednesday 11 November

Republic Day marks the start of the Second Republic in 1968.

For visitors, both are mainly days when government offices close and banks close or keep limited hours. Carry some rufiyaa. Separately, most MTCC public ferry routes do not run on Fridays (6, 13, 20 and 27 November).

See Maldives festivals and public holidays for the full calendar.

November is shoulder season. It is quieter than the December-to-April peak, and rooms, shared speedboat seats and excursions are usually easier to book. It is often better value than December.

Demand builds through late November as peak season approaches, so book a little earlier if your dates run into December. For the festive period, see the Maldives in December guide.

• Snorkelling and diving. Book reef trips for the calmest mornings and keep a spare day.
• Sandbank picnics. Pick a settled day; a sandbank has no shelter from a squall.
• Island life. Wet afternoons suit a long lunch of local food or evening football with the island.

Dhiffushi sits on the eastern rim of North Malé Atoll, about 37 km north-east of Malé and 40–50 minutes from the airport by shared speedboat. It is the easternmost inhabited island in the Maldives, which is why we call it the place “where the Maldives wakes first”.

In November, a few things stand out:

• The crossing. In the last weeks of the monsoon the speedboat ride can still be bumpy. The public ferry does not run on Fridays, so plan Friday arrivals and departures by speedboat. Our best time to visit Dhiffushi guide covers the island’s seasons month by month.
• Mantas. As an east-rim island, Dhiffushi is well placed for the eastern-side pattern the Manta Trust describes in the southwest monsoon. In November, ask your guesthouse whether trips are still finding them.
• Sunrise. The island faces the open ocean to the east. Clear dawns grow more likely as the dry season nears; try the East Beach before 6am, covering shoulders and knees on this village beach.
• Cash. A Bank of Maldives ATM on the island accepts foreign cards, handy before a public holiday.

Local island norms apply all year: no alcohol, and swimwear on the bikini beach only. See our local island etiquette guide.

• A light rain jacket or compact umbrella for passing squalls.
• A dry bag for phones and cameras on boat days.
• Seasickness tablets if you are prone to it; early-November crossings can be lively.
• Quick-drying, modest clothes for the village, plus reef-safe sunscreen.

Our packing list for Dhiffushi has the rest.

October has a little less rain on average and the last of the surf. November suits you better if you want calmer seas building towards December. Read the Maldives in October, or compare the whole year in the best time to visit the Maldives.