Swim with humpback whales in Moʻorea, September 2027 · from CHF 4,500See the trip →
Ocean Calling

Ocean Atlas · Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean

Maldives

Resident whale sharks, seasonal reef manta gatherings and open-ocean diving with tiger sharks.

Palm fringed white beach and surf on Fuvahmulah, Maldives
Fuvahmulah, Maldives · Photo: Asaymirus, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Travel with us

Ethics pass, with care. We found a way to visit this country that meets our animal-welfare standard, as long as we work with the right local operator. Checked by Ocean Calling on 30 Sep 2026. Sources: Non-invasive methods characterise the world's largest tiger shark aggregation in Fuvahmulah, Scientific Reports, 2024; New whale shark encounter guidelines for the Maldives (South Ari MPA plan, EPA), Secret Paradise, Feb 2025; Sustainable tourism, Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme.

🧭 Travel advice, checked 30 Sep 2026. The UK FCDO says crime is low on the resort islands, warns of a terrorism risk and of strong tidal currents where visitors have drowned, and says to swim only in supervised or tourist-designated areas. An April 2026 update mentioned possible flight disruption linked to the Middle East situation. Sources: UK FCDO travel advice, Maldives · UK FCDO, Maldives safety and security Advice differs by passport: check your own government before you plan.

ScubaSnorkellingWhale sharksMantasTurtles

Why Maldives

In South Ari Atoll, resident whale sharks may be met on regulated snorkel trips through the year. Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll is a protected bay where reef mantas gather from May to November, visited by snorkel only. Fuvahmulah is an open-ocean island for experienced divers, known for tiger sharks, with seasonal oceanic mantas and possible hammerheads. Each place has its own season.

Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.

FijiTanzaniaIndonesiaSomaliaKenyaSudanZimbabweZambiaMalawiMozambiqueMadagascarOmanCambodiaThailandLaosMyanmarVietnamIndiaBangladeshAustraliaSri LankaChinaMalaysiaEritreaYemenSaudi ArabiaEthiopiaDjiboutiSomalilandUgandaS. SudanFuvahmulah, MaldivesHanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll, MaldivesSouth Ari Atoll, Maldives

When to go

Timing changes a lot from place to place. See each place below.

You can travel here with Ocean Calling now.

Our ethics check

Can we travel here ethically?

Ethics pass, with care

Good with the right operator. Here is how we choose.

At the Fuvahmulah tiger shark site, sharks gather near the harbour because of fishery scraps, and some dive centres use fish waste. The rules for these dives are unclear. Ocean Calling does not bait, feed or use fish waste, and we tell you the whole story before you book.

Checked 30 Sep 2026. Places change, so we look again every year.

Sources for this check
Travel with us

Trips in Maldives

Fuvahmulah

Travel with us

An open-ocean island known for tiger sharks, with seasonal mantas and hammerheads for experienced divers.

🤿 In the water: Tiger sharks (they gather near the harbour because of fishery scraps, and we never bait, feed or use fish waste), Hammerheads (possible), Oceanic mantas (Mar-May), Thresher and whale sharks (seasonal), Turtles

When: Jan-Apr. January brings calmer north-east monsoon seas. March to April gives better chances of oceanic mantas.

See the trip

More places

More of Maldives’s ocean

Short notes from our research. Wildlife is never guaranteed.

Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll

Exploring

Reef mantas gather here seasonally in a protected bay, visited by snorkel only.

🤿 In the water: Reef mantas (seasonal), Whale sharks (sometimes)

When: May-Nov. Mantas gather May to November, with peaks around the full moons of August to October.

South Ari Atoll

Exploring

Known for resident whale sharks, met on regulated snorkel trips.

🤿 In the water: Whale sharks (resident)

When: Year-round. Whale sharks are resident and may be seen all year.

Rules and fees: South Ari has been a protected marine area since 2009, and its official listing shows no separate entry fee for snorkelling or diving.

Animals

Animals recorded in Maldives

Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.

Huge spotted whale shark gliding through open blue waterWhale sharkRhincodon typusSeen in 54 countries in the AtlasEndangeredReef manta ray gliding over a sandy lagoonReef manta rayMobula alfrediSeen in 20 countries in the AtlasVulnerablePelagic thresher shark with long whip tail at Kimud Shoal, MalapascuaPelagic thresherAlopias pelagicusSeen in 14 countries in the AtlasEndangeredScalloped hammerhead shark cruising in deep blue Red Sea waterScalloped hammerheadSphyrna lewiniSeen in 57 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredGiant oceanic manta with T-shaped white shoulder patches and remorasOceanic manta ray (giant manta)Mobula birostrisSeen in 31 countries in the AtlasEndangeredTiger shark with clear stripes swimming over a reefTiger sharkGaleocerdo cuvierSeen in 47 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedGreat hammerhead seen from above over rippled white sandGreat hammerheadSphyrna mokarranSeen in 20 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredSilvertip shark swimming in open blue waterSilvertip sharkCarcharhinus albimarginatusSeen in 28 countries in the AtlasVulnerableTawny nurse sharks swimming in sunlit Maldives waterTawny nurse sharkNebrius ferrugineusSeen in 15 countries in the AtlasVulnerableTwo blacktip reef sharks swimming over sunlit sand in turquoise waterBlacktip reef sharkCarcharhinus melanopterusSeen in 38 countries in the AtlasVulnerableWall of grey reef sharks cruising in blue waterGrey reef sharkCarcharhinus amblyrhynchosSeen in 33 countries in the AtlasEndangeredWhitetip reef sharks resting stacked in a reef creviceWhitetip reef sharkTriaenodon obesusSeen in 43 countries in the AtlasVulnerableWhite-spotted eagle rays gliding over coral at Heron Island, Great Barrier ReefSpotted eagle ray (ocellated eagle ray)Aetobatus ocellatusSeen in 28 countries in the AtlasEndangeredPink whipray and a blacktip reef shark in Moʻorea's lagoon, mountains behindPink whiprayPateobatis faiSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasVulnerableRound ribbontail ray swimming over rocks at Santa Cruz, GalápagosRound ribbontail rayTaeniurops meyeniSeen in 18 countries in the AtlasVulnerablePale reef stonefish resting between anemones in KwajaleinReef stonefishSynanceia verrucosaSeen in 25 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernRed lionfish with spread fins over sand in Dauin, PhilippinesLionfish (red and common lionfish)Pterois volitans and Pterois milesSeen in 80 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernWell camouflaged scorpionfish on dark sand in Lembeh StraitScorpionfishScorpaenopsis speciesSeen in 22 countries in the AtlasVaries by speciesTitan triggerfish swimming over a reef slope in blue waterTitan triggerfishBalistoides viridescensSeen in 40 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernPicasso triggerfish with painted pattern over sand in the MaldivesPicasso triggerfish (lagoon triggerfish)Rhinecanthus aculeatusSeen in 41 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClown triggerfish with big white spots over reef in the Coral SeaClown triggerfishBalistoides conspicillumSeen in 29 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernDay octopus beside a coral head on a sandy Red Sea reefDay octopusOctopus cyaneaSeen in 35 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHumphead wrasse swimming over a coral reef in Raja AmpatHumphead wrasse (Napoleon wrasse)Cheilinus undulatusSeen in 34 countries in the AtlasEndangeredGreen turtle resting on the reef, shell and head pattern in sharp detailGreen turtleChelonia mydasSeen in 103 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHawksbill turtle swimming, pointed beak in profileHawksbill turtleEretmochelys imbricataSeen in 88 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredSperm whale mother raising her fluke beside her calf off DominicaSperm whalePhyseter macrocephalusSeen in 114 countries in the AtlasVulnerableLarge school of chevron barracuda in deep blue waterChevron barracudaSphyraena qenieSeen in 19 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSchool of bigeye trevally swirling near the seabed at AmedBigeye trevallyCaranx sexfasciatusSeen in 48 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernTwo spinner dolphins swimming over sand in clear waterSpinner dolphinStenella longirostrisSeen in 66 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSpotted garden eels rising from sand, black spots clearly visibleSpotted garden eelHeteroconger hassiSeen in 19 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGreat barracuda cruising in open blue water, showing jagged teethGreat barracudaSphyraena barracudaSeen in 84 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernZebra shark resting on sandy reef floor, spotted body and ridgesZebra sharkStegostoma tigrinumSeen in 17 countries in the AtlasEndangeredBluestreak cleaner wrasse with black stripe and blue tailBluestreak cleaner wrasseLabroides dimidiatusSeen in 51 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernPod of bottlenose dolphins swimming over a Red Sea coral reefIndo-Pacific bottlenose dolphinTursiops aduncusSeen in 29 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedOceanic whitetip shark with pilot fish in sunlit Red Sea waterOceanic whitetip sharkCarcharhinus longimanusSeen in 43 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredOlive ridley turtles nesting on Playa Ostional, Costa RicaOlive ridley turtleLepidochelys olivaceaSeen in 40 countries in the AtlasVulnerableSicklefin lemon shark swimming over coral among butterflyfish in French PolynesiaSicklefin lemon sharkNegaprion acutidensSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasEndangeredBlacktip shark swimming in green water in the GalápagosBlacktip sharkCarcharhinus limbatusSeen in 49 countries in the AtlasVulnerableNurse shark swimming over a reef at Fernando de Noronha, BrazilAtlantic nurse sharkGinglymostoma cirratumSeen in 38 countries in the AtlasVulnerableWhitespotted eagle ray gliding over reef and sand in BelizeWhitespotted eagle rayAetobatus narinariSeen in 58 countries in the AtlasEndangeredWedge-tailed shearwaters resting togetherWedge-tailed shearwaterArdenna pacificaSeen in 46 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClose view of a red-footed booby head with blue, pink and red bill and throat skin among green leavesRed-footed boobySula sulaSeen in 91 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGiant trevally swimming close to a coral head, with small reef fish in blue water behind itGiant trevallyCaranx ignobilisSeen in 33 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernLesser frigatebird soaring against a blue sky with its wings spread and tail forkedLesser frigatebirdFregata arielSeen in 39 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernTropical shearwater flying low over blue waves, with dark wings and white underpartsTropical shearwaterPuffinus bailloniSeen in 15 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSpinner shark swimming just under the surface of calm water, seen from aboveSpinner sharkCarcharhinus brevipinnaSeen in 14 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBottlenose wedgefish swimming close past a reef, white spots along its backBottlenose wedgefishRhynchobatus australiaeSeen in 9 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredBroad cowtail ray resting on pale sand in shallow water, seen head-on with its tail behindBroad cowtail rayPastinachus aterSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasVulnerable

Read before you go

Whales and wildlife ethicsWhere to See Tiger Sharks in the World, HonestlyRead ↗Whales and wildlife ethicsBaited Shark Dives: What the Research Really ShowsRead ↗Planning and destinationsFuvahmulah Tiger Shark Dive: What Scuba Divers Should KnowRead ↗Responsible travel and conservationSouth Ari Whale Sharks: Scars, Propellers and the New RulesRead ↗Responsible travel and conservationHanifaru Bay Mantas: Why It’s Snorkel OnlyRead ↗Planning and destinationsFuvahmulah Dive Trip: Getting There, Dive Days and HealthRead ↗Whales and wildlife ethicsSurprising Ocean Animal Facts Scientists Have FoundRead ↗Responsible travel and conservationMaldives Shark Fishing Ban Change: What Divers Should KnowRead ↗Whales and wildlife ethicsFuvahmulah Oceanic Mantas: Beyond the Tiger SharksRead ↗Whales and wildlife ethicsAre Fuvahmulah’s Tiger Sharks Really Wild If Food Is Used?Read ↗
Dreaming of Maldives?

Tell Rocío what you would love to see

Ask about dates, or about a private small-group trip.

Message on WhatsAppEmail RocíoGet new dates first

Also in Indian Ocean
Chagos (British Indian Ocean Territory)Christmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsComorosIndiaMadagascarMauritiusMayotteRéunionSeychellesSomaliaSri Lanka

← Back to the Ocean Atlas

For partners

Based in Maldives?

We are always happy to hear from exceptional local operators, accommodation, conservation organisations and destination experts in Maldives. If your work fits responsible, small-group ocean travel, we would love to learn more.

Partner with Ocean Calling
The shop

Shop with Ocean Calling

Visit the Ocean Calling storefront on Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You are not only choosing products that respect the ocean, you are also helping us keep going: paying our local partners fairly and keeping our retreats ethical, sustainable and honestly priced for you. 💗

Open the shop ↗