Raa Atoll · Best Time to Visit
Weather, diving conditions, dolphin sightings and resort events all shift gently through the seasons. Open any month to see what to expect.
Weather & Sea
Iruvai / NE monsoon (dry season). Warm, sunny and relatively dry; around 30°C daytime. Raa Atoll averages about 5 rain days. Generally calm seas and strong underwater visibility.
Diving & Marine Life
Excellent diving period. Clearer water and calmer seas; western Raa sites are favoured. Mantas are regularly encountered at western cleaning stations such as Sola Corner / Maamunagau area
Dolphin & Whale Watching
Very good for dolphin watching because of calmer seas. Spinner and bottlenose dolphins occur year-round; whale/cetacean sightings are possible but never guaranteed.
Weather & Sea
Dry NE monsoon continues; one of the sunniest and driest periods. Around 31°C daytime; about 5 rain days. Calm seas are common.
Diving & Marine Life
Prime diving month with excellent visibility. Western channels, thilas and manta cleaning stations remain productive; reef sharks, turtles, rays and schooling fish common.
Dolphin & Whale Watching
Excellent excursion conditions. Feb–early May is among the calmest periods for cetacean watching; spinner dolphins are the most commonly seen.
Weather & Sea
Dry season remains strong; hot, sunny weather, around 31°C, with roughly 7 rain days. Sea conditions generally favourable.
Diving & Marine Life
Prime visibility and diving. Western-side manta activity remains strong; good period for channels/thilas, reef sharks, eagle rays, turtles and pelagic fish.
Dolphin & Whale Watching
Excellent conditions for dolphin cruises and wider cetacean watching due to generally calm seas.
Weather & Sea
Transition month from NE to SW monsoon. Usually the hottest period of the year (around 32°C); roughly 9 rain days. Conditions can become more variable late month.
Diving & Marine Life
Still very good diving and visibility, especially early month. Mantas can still be found on western Raa sites before seasonal movement toward eastern sites.
Dolphin & Whale Watching
Very good early in the month; generally favourable through early May, with increasing variability as the monsoon changes.
Weather & Sea
Hulhangu / SW monsoon normally begins around mid-May. Rain and wind increase; around 31°C and roughly 15 rain days. Short heavy showers with sunny intervals are typical.
Diving & Marine Life
Manta activity moves toward eastern Raa sites such as Kottefaru/Vandhoo/Neyo. Visibility can reduce while marine activity increases.
Dolphin & Whale Watching
Dolphins remain year-round,
Weather & Sea
SW monsoon established. More cloud, showers and stronger winds; around 30°C and roughly 14 rain days. Sea can be choppier.
Diving & Marine Life
Dolphins remain possible year-round. Whale/cetacean trips are more weather-dependent; rougher days may affect excursions.
Dolphin & Whale Watching
Dolphins remain possible year-round. Whale/cetacean trips are more weather-dependent; rougher days may affect excursions.
