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Weather in Maldives in May
The month of May is a time when the children have their school vacations in full swing. If you are looking for a wholesome family getaway in the summer, The Maldives is a great option. The weather in Maldives in May is a mix of rainy and sunny, giving you a nice flavour of the tropical climate of the island nation.
What Temperatures to Expect in The Maldives in May?
Most of the resorts in The Maldives are packed to the brim in May as this is when most families take their annual holidays. When it comes to the weather, it is not too hot at this time throughout the 1,200 islands in The Maldives.
In the month of May, the lowest temperature you can expect is 26 degrees Celsius or 79 degrees Fahrenheit. On the other hand, the highest temperature goes up to 30 degrees Celsius or 86 degrees Fahrenheit. On an average, you will see the mercury reading 28 degrees Celsius or 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
Daytime and night-time temperatures do not differ much, nor does the humidity. The average daytime temperature in The Maldives in May is 29.6 degrees Celsius or 85 degrees Fahrenheit, while the average night-time temperature is 29.1 degrees Celsius or 84 degrees Fahrenheit.
May harbingers the wet season in this Asian archipelago and the humidity levels are at an all-time high around the Indian Ocean. The average temperature of the sea is 30 degrees Celsius or 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a great time for swimming as the waters are very comfortable when it is not raining.
The sun shines for an average of about 8 hours per day, during which you can plan all your excursions and activities to do in Maldives. The total hours of daylight in May is still higher, at 12. If you begin to experience a lot of crowds in Malé – capital city of The Maldives, stay on a private island for some relief.
Bear in mind that the luxury resorts with their own islands will also be fully booked around this time. It helps to stay in Maldives’ water villas which provide the ultimate exclusivity to a couple that just wants some alone time.
Does it Rain in The Maldives in May?
Maldives’ weather in May is synonymous with rains. May is the very first month in the island’s wet season each year. Being a coastal destination that is spread around the tropics, The Maldives has only 2 distinct seasons – dry and wet.
Even though there is a slight chance of rain in the dry season, the wet season sees more pronounced rains. That does not mean that you will always be stuck in outdoor showers though. There is plenty of sunshine to keep your days well balanced.
In the month of May, it rains for an average of 15 days and the average precipitation is 216 mm. Do not assume that the weather will be uniform across all the atolls of The Maldives. This country lies across the Equator and spans both the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere. The weather can be just the opposite in some other islands, and you might experience the dry season there.
What to Do in The Maldives in May?
It is impossible to get bored in these tropical islands, especially in the month of May. There are events lined up across the country right from the beginning of the month. On the 1st of May, Labour Day celebrations are in order.
Take a local ferry to Malé – the world’s smallest capital to watch exhibitions and flower shows. To add to all the merrymaking, even the restaurants have a special menu for tourists to try all sorts of local delicacies such as stuffed roshi (chapatti-style flat-bread made with coconut, fish or other meat fillings), boshi mashuni (salad made of banana flower) and gulha (savoury snack).
Maldives also celebrates Eid ul Fitr in May. If you understand Maldives’ history and culture, you will know that this is a Muslim country that has Islam as its state language. Hence, this nation follows all Islamic festivals and traditions.
If you are lucky enough to do a food tour in any of the inhabited islands, you will be able to have dinner with a Maldivian family and discover more about their beliefs and customs. Some culinary tours take the experience a notch up by letting you learn to cook in the local ways as well.
Get to know Dhivehi cuisine closely when you learn to use local ingredients such as shredded coconut and aromatic Asian condiments to spice up the curries. You will also notice the use of coconut milk in making gravies that go with the main rice dishes.
Apart from the fish and meat preparations, you will also find out how vegetables are chopped and used in various combinations across the meals. You will try your hand at rolling a roshi as well.
Even though the south-western monsoon winds bring in a lot of moisture and rain, May is a good time to try snorkelling and scuba diving. The south-eastern winds tend to blow away some of the moisture-laden clouds and keep the skies clear for a while.
The ocean is also generally calm enough for deep sea diving. The eastern atolls have skies clear enough for water sport activities on the surface of the water as well as underwater. The visibility is at least 20 metres. You cannot rule out choppy seas though.
If you are here to spot manta rays, you should go diving in the eastern atolls as the probability of finding these kite-like fish is much higher in that part of the island than on the western side.
The weather in Maldives in May could be full of rains, but the thrill of staying on a white sand island with turquoise waters all around is reason enough to do a trip here. With Samudra Maldives, you can customize your travel plans and explore freshwater lakes, mangroves, cultural hotspots, local islands and a lot more.