I recently had to make the same decision. Ultimately, I booked Seychelles based on 2 factors: it is more convenient to get to from the US with the EY connection in AUH (only 1 stop). And 2nd I felt more comfortable avoiding the Muslim influence of the Maldives after hearing about the confiscation of duty free liquor on arrival and the spa closing fiasco. Perhaps the latter is no longer an issue, or over exaggerated to begin with, but that was my rationale for Mahe over Male. We are booked for the fall.