Moon · phases and spring tides · Maldives time
The moon over the Maldives
Next: new moon on Monday 9 November at 12:02. The moon sets the size of the tide: the biggest come a day or two after the full and new moon, the smallest after the quarters.
At Male' drag through the month
Spring tides, the biggest, come a day or two after the full and new moon; neap tides, the smallest, after the quarters. Move through the weeks to see the moon and the tide range at Male' change together.
Full and new moons the year ahead
| Date | Moon | Time | Spring tides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 9 Nov 2026 | New moon | 12:02 | 10 Nov – 12 Nov |
| Tue 24 Nov 2026 | Full moon | 19:53 | 25 Nov – 27 Nov |
| Wed 9 Dec 2026 | New moon | 05:52 | 10 Dec – 12 Dec |
| Thu 24 Dec 2026 | Full moon | 06:28 | 25 Dec – 27 Dec |
| Fri 8 Jan 2027 | New moon | 01:24 | 9 Jan – 11 Jan |
| Fri 22 Jan 2027 | Full moon | 17:17 | 23 Jan – 25 Jan |
| Sat 6 Feb 2027 | New moon | 20:56 | 7 Feb – 9 Feb |
| Sun 21 Feb 2027 | Full moon | 04:23 | 22 Feb – 24 Feb |
| Mon 8 Mar 2027 | New moon | 14:30 | 9 Mar – 11 Mar |
| Mon 22 Mar 2027 | Full moon | 15:43 | 23 Mar – 25 Mar |
| Wed 7 Apr 2027 | New moon | 04:51 | 8 Apr – 10 Apr |
| Wed 21 Apr 2027 | Full moon | 03:27 | 22 Apr – 24 Apr |
| Thu 6 May 2027 | New moon | 15:58 | 7 May – 9 May |
| Thu 20 May 2027 | Full moon | 15:59 | 21 May – 23 May |
| Sat 5 Jun 2027 | New moon | 00:40 | 6 Jun – 8 Jun |
| Sat 19 Jun 2027 | Full moon | 05:44 | 20 Jun – 22 Jun |
| Sun 4 Jul 2027 | New moon | 08:02 | 5 Jul – 7 Jul |
| Sun 18 Jul 2027 | Full moon | 20:45 | 19 Jul – 21 Jul |
| Mon 2 Aug 2027 | New moon | 15:05 | 3 Aug – 5 Aug |
| Tue 17 Aug 2027 | Full moon | 12:29 | 18 Aug – 20 Aug |
| Tue 31 Aug 2027 | New moon | 22:41 | 1 Sep – 3 Sep |
| Thu 16 Sep 2027 | Full moon | 04:03 | 17 Sep – 19 Sep |
| Thu 30 Sep 2027 | New moon | 07:36 | 1 Oct – 3 Oct |
| Fri 15 Oct 2027 | Full moon | 18:47 | 16 Oct – 18 Oct |
| Fri 29 Oct 2027 | New moon | 18:36 | 30 Oct – 1 Nov |
| Sun 14 Nov 2027 | Full moon | 08:26 | 15 Nov – 17 Nov |
Maldives time (UTC+5). Spring tides are the days after each moon when the tide range is biggest; the exact day varies a little from island to island.
Why the moon matters here
The Maldives has a small tide, well under a metre from low to high at most islands, so the fortnight between springs and neaps is the difference that counts. At springs a lagoon can dry at low water and fill at high, harbour entrances get shallow, and the current through the channels runs hardest. At neaps the water barely moves.
Every island's tide page shows the moon against its own tide, and the currents at the dive sites follow the same fortnight.