It is perfect for sightseeing, enjoying cultural activities, water sports and savouring the local cuisine. Sadly, sea turtle populations the world over are under threat and the Maldives is no exception. Related: Is the St. Regis Maldives worth the trip? While the residents may be smaller in size, there are nesting seasons as well. January. Remember, never chase or attempt to touch a turtle. If youre looking for somewhere to see turtles in the Maldives then youre in the right place. Athuruga. Web45 reviews. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. It can also appear after stirring the water with your foot or hand. During these months, you can expect balmy temperatures ranging from a pleasant 24C (75F) during the day and cooling down to around 22C (71F) at night. We hope you enjoyed this blog post about the Turtles in The Maldives and hopefully it has inspired you to help, discover and be more aware of them! Although this sounds like enough to ruin a vacation, most rain comes from fast-moving afternoon storms, allowing visitors to enjoy sunshine and warm temperatures the rest of the day. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Disney Cruise Lines Castaway Club loyalty program: Everything you need to know, 21 new Hyatt hotels where you can get 500 extra points per night, My first cruise to the Galapagos: The good, the bad and the absolutely adorable. Komandoo is a relaxed and intimate resort island with nearly 50 dive sites. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. Its an experience that youll never forget. Its more expensive and crowded at this time of year due to the idyllic weather and water. Snorkeling in calm water is more of a factor for your own safety and better water clarity, which varies with the changing seasons & particular beaches. People interested. Save. If you buy a product we link to, we may earn a commission. Best Time to Visit Maldives: Final Thoughts, 16 Best Island Vacationsin the World in 2022, Best Time to Visit Bali | When to Go and Visitor Tips, Best Time to Visit Hawaii | When to Go and Travel Tips, The 15 Best Hotels in Hawaii in 2023 | For All Budgets, The 15 Best Places to Visit in Hawaii in 2023, Is Hawaii Safe to Visit in 2023? Looking for a luxury stay while youre there? These are the best places to visit in the Maldives. For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. Obviously December is an expensive time to visit the Maldives so subject to budget Amari and Komandoo are hot spots for turtles. Its more expensive and crowded at this time of year due to the idyllic weather and water. In 2020, Huravee Day was celebrated on Jan. 28. Its dry, warm, and less humid at this time of year with excellent water visibility to enjoy the world-class diving and snorkeling around the islands. Olive Ridley Sea Turtles (pictured above) are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world. Found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, these turtles are best known for their unique mass nesting called arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs. September-January tend to hover around the 80 degree mark, and February-August tend to reach a little higher around the mid-80's. You can expect lots of sunny, warm days with little rain and a nice sea breeze when you visit Maldives at the right time of year. The best time to visit the Maldives for whale watching is between October and April. WebBest Places To See Turtles In The Maldives. WebYour best bet is to visit between June and October, which is when the plankton are typically present. What species of sea turtles can you find in The Maldives? Something wrong? With its crystal clear turquoise waters, abundant sea life, and gorgeous coral reefs, its no wonder why. Here's everything to know. If youre trying to save some cash, your best bet is travelling during the monsoon season (May through September). Enrollment required. Maldives is known for its white sand beaches, diverse wildlife and tropical plants, and stunningly blue waters that surround the 200 inhabited islands. WebMaldives in Dry Season (December to April) Temperature ~31 degrees celsius by day and ~ 24 degrees Celsius by night. This turtle has a relatively small head with a distinctive hawk-like beak, and flippers with two claws. Maldives is an archipelago of islands near India and Sri Lanka. December is arguably your best bet for those looking for a more stylish experience with plenty of nightlife options. Its an ideal time for swimming in crystal clear blue waters, snorkelling among the vibrant coral reefs, and lounging on white sand beaches. The hawksbill turtles do not grow very large, they measure up to 90cm. High season rumbles on, with accommodation booked out across the country. April is generally considered the best time to visit Maldives if youre looking for a combination of great weather and lower prices. Leatherback turtles have severely declined during the last century as a result of intense egg collection and fisheries by-catch. This pretty island is set by a stunning lagoon teeming with sea life. It is estimated that only 1 out of 1,000 hatchlings survives to be an adult so they need all the help they can get. Another great place where you can see turtles in the Maldives is on Kandolhu island. Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Nothing beats seeing these glorious turtles in their natural habitat. Those that reach maturity may live to 80 years in the wild. The celebration date is based on the Islamic lunar calendar, so it varies annually. Maafushivaru. This island is home to one of the most pristine and colorful reefs in the Maldives making it one of the best places to swim with turtles. Leatherback Sea Turtles (Dermochelys Coricea). The act of egg collection on many turtle nesting beaches poses a grave threat and is one of the many reasons why turtles are listed as endangered. Thulusdhoo is the island to stay at, where reasonably priced guest houses host a friendly surfing crowd. Ive always travelled to the Maldives during this time of year and the weather has always been *delightful*. There are seven sea turtle species in the world, and five of them can be spotted in the Maldives. A female sea turtle comes ashore to nest, mostly at night. To get you prepared for your trip to the Maldives where youll hopefully see some beautiful sea turtles, heres some fun turtle facts. While they have natural predators, humans are to be blamed the most; be it being hunted for meat, eggs or shells, traded as pets, getting entangled in fishing gear or losing natural habitats, turtles in the Maldives face a tough road to survival. Ari Atoll, Maldives The Maldives are made up of more than 1,000 coral islands divided into 26 ring-shaped atolls in the Indian Ocean. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. This idyllic island has a resident population of sea turtles that can often be seen all around the island. The whale shark. The holiday is usually celebrated for about a month in the spring. Ari Atoll, Maldives The Maldives are made up of more than 1,000 coral islands divided into 26 ring-shaped atolls in the Indian Ocean. Hawksbill Turtles (pictured above) are the most commonly seen turtle along the reefs of The Maldives. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. For the best chance of being able to swim with turtles in the Maldives, book onto a Maldives snorkeling tour. Enrollment required. Sea turtles never get to meet their babies as after laying their eggs, the mothers return to the ocean. Check out the video below which shows a turtle spotted whilst snorkeling in Maafushi: One of the best places to see sea turtles in the Maldives is on Kuredu island. Rain in Maldives tends to happen with brief downpours that are quickly followed with balmy sunshine, so it wont necessarily ruin your outdoor plans to go in October. Or theres upmarket Cokes Surf Camp, whosebreak is where intermediate and advanced surfers catch their biggest waves. Temperatures tend to range between an inviting 24-31C (75-88F), while humidity levels remain relatively low. In oceans and bays around the world, bioluminescent plankton illuminate the water, almost like an aquatic imitation of the aurora borealis. Maafushi. Its not exactly groundbreaking to say that the Maldives are a fantastic honeymoon destination. The best place to see them in the Maldives if not the world is the South Ari Atoll, where these majestic giants dwell year round. May. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Spotting Turtles. In general, the turtles tend to hang out in the lagoons which have lots of seagrass. Find hotels and airbnbs near Sea Turtle Hatching (Map) Turtle spotting. +11. Whale watching aside, spotting turtles is a fun activity to experience out at sea; it can even be enjoyed on a Whale Submarine adventure that can be organised while staying at resorts such as Adaaran Prestige Vadoo. Check out the beautiful turtle that was spotted on Mirihi in the video below: Another place where you can see turtles in the Maldives is Angaga island. Its Asias smallest country, but this tiny island nation packs in big adventure, scenery, and tropical vibes. The Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys Imbricata). November and December present better weather chances and clearer water visibility for snorkeling and diving. If being the only dive boat in view is a priority, head south to Komandoo. Bioluminescence can only be seen in turbulent water, such as in the waves on the shoreline or wake from a boat. Leatherback Turtles on the North Caribbean. Festivities include marching bands, parades, speeches, ceremonies and children walking the streets wearing their best clothes a true display of the countrys culture, heritage and pride. May. There will be rain, but that doesnt mean all hope is lost. These turtles can grow up to 100cm and like other species of sea turtles, they migrate long distances between feeding grounds and the beaches from where they hatched. I would stongly recommend you visit CEA in Akumal and signing up for a turtle nesting tour. Blessed with a stunning array of marine life, the Maldives is also where you will find various species of sea turtles that are very much a part of the delicate marine ecosystem. When you snorkel or dive in the Maldives, it's easy to spot at least two of the five sea turtle species living in the water around the archipelago. With its crystal clear turquoise waters, abundant sea life, and gorgeous coral reefs, its no wonder why. Remind Me. Thanks for reading this post on where to see turtles in the Maldives. Leatherbacks feed almost exclusively on jellyfish, making them susceptible to mistakenly swallowing plastic bags floating in the ocean, which can kill them. The correct word for a baby turtle is a hatchling. The waters around this luxury resort are so unexplored, enthusiasts are regularly finding new dive sites, with fifteen species of shark found so far. We saw them much more often on both Angaga and Vakarufalhi. I love seeing turtles too! Despite this, theyre still within a pleasant range of 25-30C (75-85F). Green Sea Turtles (pictured above) are one of the largest sea turtles and the only herbivore among the species. The Maldives is a dream destination for many scuba divers. Like travel to many tropical destinations, deciding when to book a trip to the Maldives requires prioritizing weather, prices and crowds. Practical info. These reefs are hard to access on your own so youll need to book a tour. The average loggerhead measures around 90cm long when fully grown, although larger specimens of up to 280cm have been discovered and weigh approximately 135 kg, with the largest specimens weighing in at more than 450 kilograms. Highs around 86F and lows around 77F make the weather comfortably warm without being stiflingly hot. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Spinner and bottlenose dolphins are commonly spotted at sea during the dolphin cruise and from the resort. Snorkeling and diving excursions offer some wonderful opportunities to see turtles in Maldives. The Maldives is actually home to 5 out of the worlds 7 sea turtle species and theres a thriving community of turtles that call the Maldives home. Walnut is an adult male turtle who has been seen swimming and eating in the lagoon for over 10 years. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Youll deal with additional rainfall and cloudy skies, but the rains pass quickly and youll get much cheaper deals on flights, rooms, and resort packages at this time of year. The cheapest time to visit Maldives is from May to August, the majority of the wet season for the islands. Heres a look at some of the worst times to go. Human Choosing where to goin the Maldivesis a big decision. The southernmost of the Maldives atolls, heart-shaped Addu has its own distinct character (and dialect) with a range of activities and sightseeing spots you wont find elsewhere. This is generally the cheapest time to visit Maldives as hotels, resorts, and airlines drop the prices on rooms, vacation packages, and flights to encourage visitors to book during the low season. Lodging prices vary, depending on exactly where youre staying, but it's a safe bet to say the wet season specifically, May through August is the cheapest time to stay in the Maldives. You can see turtles all year round in the Maldives. Ari Atoll, Maldives The Maldives are made up of more than 1,000 coral islands divided into 26 ring-shaped atolls in the Indian Ocean. During peak season, locals gather to dance the Bodu Beru on the beaches in the evenings. Imagine telling people you went snorkeling with sharks in the Maldives!