Coral Reefs & Marine Life

The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest fish in the world—specimens over 12 meters long and weighing 20 tons have been documented. Despite their enormous size, whale sharks are completely harmless: They feed exclusively on plankton, fish eggs, and small fish, which they filter through their huge mouths.

Whale Sharks in the Maldives

The South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA) is home to one of the few resident whale shark populations in the world. Unlike other whale shark hotspots (Ningaloo Reef, Isla Holbox), where the animals appear seasonally, whale sharks can be found year-round at the South Ari Atoll. Scientists from the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP) have identified over 500 individual whale sharks based on their unique spot patterns.

Behavioral Guidelines

• Maintain at least 3 meters distance
• Never touch—the slime layer of the skin is vital
• Do not swim directly in front of the animal—position yourself to the side or diagonally behind
• No flash photography
• Use reef-safe sunscreen (no oxybenzone)
• Maximum of 10 snorkelers in the water at the same time per whale shark

Best Spots and Times

Spot	Atoll	Best Months	Sighting Rate	Base
SAMPA (Dhigurah)	South Ari	Year-round	90%+	Dhigurah, Dhangethi
Sun Island Reef	South Ari	Year-round	80%+	Sun Island Resort
Hanifaru Bay	Baa	June–November	30–50%	Baa Atoll Resorts
Dhidhdhoo Channel	North Ari	Dec–April	40–60%	North Ari Resorts

Two types of manta rays inhabit the waters of the Maldives: the reef manta (Mobula alfredi) with up to 5 meters wingspan and the rare oceanic manta (Mobula birostris) with up to 7 meters—the latter being among the largest rays in the world.

Manta Behavior

Mantas are highly intelligent animals—they have the largest brain of any fish and recognize themselves in mirrors (a skill otherwise only seen in great apes, dolphins, and elephants). In the Maldives, they exhibit three characteristic behaviors:

• Feeding: They swim with wide-open mouths through plankton-rich water, often in elegant loops and spirals. In Hanifaru Bay, hundreds feed simultaneously—a spectacle known as the "manta tornado"
• Cleaning Stations: At certain reefs, mantas remain still while small cleaner fish remove parasites from their skin. Here, they can be observed up close for minutes
• Mating: Several males pursue a female in a spectacular "manta chain" over the reef

The Best Manta Spots

Spot	Atoll	Type	Best Months
Hanifaru Bay	Baa	Mass gathering (up to 200 animals)	June–November
Lankan Manta Point	North Malé	Cleaning Station	May–November
Rangali Madivaru	South Ari	Cleaning Station	Dec–April
Dhonkalo Thila	North Ari	Cleaning Station & Feeding	Year-round
Guraidhoo Corner	South Malé	Channel Feeding	June–October

Five of the world's seven sea turtle species occur in the Maldives, two of them regularly:

Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)

The most common species in the Maldives. Recognizable by its pointed beak and tortoiseshell-patterned shell. It primarily feeds on sponges and is regularly seen while snorkeling—on some resort islands at almost every reef. Critically endangered (IUCN Red List).

Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

Larger than the hawksbill turtle (shell up to 1.5 m), recognizable by its rounded head. It mainly feeds on seagrass. Nests on the beaches of remote atolls. Endangered (IUCN Red List).

Nesting Season and Protection

The nesting season extends throughout the year, with a peak between January and May. Females come ashore at night, dig a deep hole, and lay 80–150 eggs. After 55–60 days, the hatchlings emerge and waddle to the sea. Many resorts run turtle conservation programs:

• Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu (Baa Atoll): Own turtle nursery
• Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru: Marine lab with turtle monitoring
• Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru: One of the largest turtle rehabilitation centers in the Maldives

Guests can often help with nest monitoring, watch baby turtles hatch, and visit injured animals in the nurseries.

The Maldives are among the best shark destinations in the world—and simultaneously among the safest. There is not a single documented fatal shark attack in the history of Maldivian tourism. The reef sharks are shy and flee when divers get too close.

Shark Species of the Maldives

Species	Size	Frequency	Where	Danger
Blacktip Reef Shark	1–1.5 m	Very common	Lagoons, house reefs, shallow water	None
Whitetip Reef Shark	1–1.5 m	Very common	Under corals, in caves, resting on the bottom	None
Grey Reef Shark	1.5–2 m	Common	Atoll channels, outer reefs, drift dives	None (very shy)
Nurse Shark	2–3 m	Common	Under coral blocks, on sandy bottoms, active at night	None (extremely peaceful)
Whale Shark	4–12 m	Common (SAMPA)	South Ari, Baa Atoll	None (plankton feeder)
Hammerhead Shark	3–4 m	Rare	Deep channels, outer reefs, early morning	None (very shy)
Tiger Shark	3–5 m	Very rare	Deep water, outer reefs	Theoretically, practically never

In 2010, the Maldives declared their entire maritime area a shark sanctuary—one of the largest in the world (over 90,000 km²). Catching, killing, and selling sharks is prohibited. This measure has significantly recovered shark populations and makes the Maldives one of the best places worldwide for shark encounters.