Mantas, whale sharks and reefs: how to dive and snorkel responsibly

About Mantas, whale sharks and reefs: how to dive and snorkel responsibly

By the ULTIMATE the Maldives Editorial Team

Site Editor: Tara de la Motte

The Maldives is home to about five percent of the planet’s reefs, according to Visit Maldives, and a thousand species of fish. Seeing a manta or a whale shark is a privilege; here is how to do it well.

A nation of reefs

The Maldives is a double chain of 26 atolls and 1,192 islands, and coral reefs are its foundation. Visit Maldives says the country holds about five percent of the world’s reefs, home to a thousand species of fish, with manta rays and whale sharks drawn in by nutrient-rich currents.

Thilas and channels

Two kinds of dive define the Maldives. Thilas are submerged pinnacles rising from the atoll floor, with caves, overhangs and soft corals; Visit Maldives names Maalhos Thila, Kudarah Thila and Fish Head as classics. Channels, or kandus, link the ocean with the lagoons, and their currents bring grey reef sharks, eagle rays and tuna; Miyaru Kandu in Vaavu is a famous example. Beginners can start with calm reef dives and lagoon training, while channel dives are for experienced divers.

Do not approach closer than 3 metres. Remain still and let the manta come to you. (The Manta Trust code)

Manta rays

Baa Atoll is the best-known manta area, and Hanifaru Bay, in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is managed primarily as a snorkelling experience rather than a scuba site. UNESCO notes the rainy south-west monsoon runs from May to November, the season when plankton draws mantas in. In Addu, reef mantas visit a cleaning station all year.

The Manta Trust’s code is simple: enter the water quietly at least 10 metres away; keep your fins below the surface; stay at least 3 metres from the manta and let it come to you; approach from the side; never chase or touch it. Divers should stay low at the side of a cleaning station and never block a manta’s path.

Whale sharks

South Ari Atoll is famous for whale sharks, which Visit Maldives says you can see there throughout the year. Trips are usually led by trained guides. The Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme, a Maldivian charity, studies the population and, with the Blue Marine Foundation, runs the Be Gentle to Giants campaign for responsible encounters. Ask whether your operator follows it, and never touch a whale shark.

Sharks and turtles

Fuvahmulah is the place for big sharks: Visit Maldives says a shark encounter is guaranteed on every dive there, from tiger sharks to threshers, among some seven species. Dive only with licensed operators. If you find an injured or entangled sea turtle anywhere in the country, call the Olive Ridley Project’s 24-hour hotline on 955 2205.

Staying safe

Conditions change with the monsoon, the tide and the current, so follow your dive centre’s briefing even at a familiar site. ADK Hospital in Malé has a hyperbaric unit, and Bandos was the first island with a decompression chamber. Make sure your travel insurance covers diving and medical evacuation.

Our advice: choose your atoll for the animal you most want to see, book with a licensed operator, and leave every reef exactly as you found it.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Mantas, whale sharks and reefs: how to dive and snorkel responsibly before you go.