Reef Shark Diving in the Maldives – A Relatively Safe Thrill
For divers, one of the big attractions of the Maldives is the abundance of sharks, making it a great destination for shark diving holidays. There are many different varieties of sharks in the Maldives, the majority of which are harmless, which makes for a both spectacular and safe scuba diving experience.
Divers Snorkeling with Sharks in Maldives
There are more than 25 types of sharks Maldives, some of which I have detailed throughout this article and others which are less common. While there is no guarantee for divers that they will encounter a shark while in the Maldives, the abundance of these incredible creatures makes chances quite high and few divers leave the islands disappointed.
Whale sharks in the Maldives
Definitely the most sought after variety of Maldives sharks are the whale sharks. Because the abundance of whale sharks in Maldives is so well-known and Maldives whale sharks can be found throughout the year, the Maldives has become one of the most popular destinations in the world for swimming with whale sharks in Maldives. The whale shark is the largest fish in the world, reaching lengths of around 40 feet and incredibly, they are very docile and friendly creatures, posing no threat to scuba divers. Diving with whale sharks Maldives is difficult and unusual because most whale shark encounters happen on the surface, so snorkeling or swimming with whale sharks Maldives is a better way to look for whale sharks in the Maldives.
Whale Sharks are Often Spotted in the Maldives
Many resorts offer Maldives snorkeling whale sharks safaris, where they take guests out for the day on a boat and look for signs of whale sharks. When you spot one, it’s time to don your snorkel and mask and jump in for a swim around with the whale shark. This can be a very long and time-consuming process and a better way of spotting the whale sharks Maldives is from Maldive liveaboards. Whale sharks can be quite elusive, so it often happens that you see one when you really aren’t looking. By taking a week-long trip on a Maldives liveaboard, during which time you’ll cruise the gorgeous waters of the archipelago, you’re more likely to spot whale sharks as you meander along and it will feel like a more natural sighting than if you are purposefully looking for them.
When it comes to whale sharks, everybody wants to know exactly when is the “best time to see whale sharks Maldives?” The answer is simple: the whale sharks Maldives season lasts all year round, although the area you visit in the Maldives will vary according to the time of year. A whale sharks diet consists mainly of plankton so the whale sharks habitat changes throughout the year depending on where the plankton is most abundant. For this reason, in the months of July and August, when plankton levels are high around whale sharks Baa Atoll, a great place to look for whale sharks Hanifaru is Hanifaru Bay. Additionally, there is the Maldives whale sharks Baa Atoll, which is a great place to look for manta rays at this time of year as they are also drawn to the plankton.
Not that much is known about the lifestyle of the whale shark, although it is known that numbers are in decline, partly because of the commercial fishing of whale sharks and trade of whale shark meat in some countries and the fact that in some places you might even find baby whale sharks for sale. Fortunately, in the Maldives, the threats to whale sharks have been recognised and the government has begun to protect them. They understand that the fact that whale sharks life in the Maldives is a great economic bonus for the country because of the numbers of tourists they attract.
Reef sharks in Maldives
If you’re interested in scuba diving with sharks in Maldives, you’re most likely to encounter reef sharks under water. There are several types of reef sharks Maldives, one of the most common of which is the grey reef sharks. Grey reef sharks in the Maldives are found living around the coral reefs and are most active at night when they are hunting. A reef sharks diet consists generally of smaller fish and they are savvy hunters, although there is no evidence confirming the question, are grey sharks dangerous to scuba divers. Grey reef sharks can reach lengths of about 6 feet long and usually have a grey back with a white belly.
Gray Reef Sharks
Another common variety of reef shark in the Maldives are white tip reef sharks, which is similar in size to grey sharks but is a paler shade of grey with a white tip on the end of their dorsal and caudal fins. Baby white tip sharks and their adult counterparts are also found around the coral reefs. While the reef sharks are the most commonly spotted in the Maldives, there are many threats to reef sharks because they are still hunted for their meat, their fins are exported to China and most importantly, they are not protected yet.
A Baby White Tip Shark in Maldives
Dangerous sharks in the Maldives
Many scuba divers and holiday makers alike want to know: are there dangerous sharks near the Maldives? The truthful answer is that no, there are not, and Maldives diving with sharks is quite the safe activity. Probably the most dangerous sharks in Maldives are the hammerhead sharks, although these are not particularly common and there have been no reports of hammerhead shark attacks in the Maldives.
Hammerhead sharks Maldives
In the Maldives, fortunate divers will come across several types of hammerhead sharks, mainly the scalloped hammerhead. These are not commonly sighted, but one dive site, Rasdhoo Kandu is the most common spot for finding them.
Zebra sharks
Lucky scuba divers might come across zebra sharks while diving in the Maldives. The zebra shark is not a particularly common shark but is quite stunning in appearance. Also known as the leopard shark, the zebra shark is a species of carpet shark and the zebra sharks behavior finds the creature usually moving around the seabed, close to the coral reef. Most of a zebra sharks prey is caught at night, since the shark is a nocturnal creature. A zebra sharks diet consists mainly of small fish and crustaceans.
Zebra Shark Sighting in the Maldives
These are just a handful of the shark types seen in the Maldives. Other species include the nurse shark, variegated shark, snaggletooth shark, silvertip shark, silky shark, tiger shark and sliteye shark, and many others, which together make the Maldives a great destination for shark-loving scuba divers. Check out the reef shark maldives lens on squidoo.
