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7 Best Places to Swim with Whale Sharks in the maldives
It is important for you to know exactly where the Maldives are located on the world map before planning a vacation trip. The Maldives offer several excellent locations for swimming with whale sharks. Some of the best places include:
1. South Ari Atoll
South Ari Atoll is one of the best places to swim with whale sharks in the Maldives. The Maldivian government declared South Ari Atoll a protected marine area in 2009, and certain restrictions are put into place to protect whale sharks, making this the best place to swim with them in their natural environment. The sightings are excellent year-round, with a peak time from August to November. Maamigili is a renowned spot to snorkel and dive with whale sharks, and it’s considered the second-best place in Asia to do so. Dhigurah is another popular destination for divers and snorkelers who seek contact with whale sharks and manta rays.
2. Hanifaru Bay
Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll, Maldives, is a renowned spot for swimming with manta rays and whale sharks. It is famous for being a nursery ground for grey sharks and a gathering place for hundreds of manta rays, making it a unique and unforgettable experience for underwater enthusiasts. The bay is a protected marine park and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, with strict regulations in place to safeguard marine life.
Diving is prohibited, and only a limited number of boats and visitors are allowed at a time to minimize the impact on the ecosystem. The best time to visit Hanifaru Bay is from June to November, during the South West monsoon, when there is a massive buildup of plankton, drawing in manta rays and whale sharks. Visitors can arrange their trip through certified guides and operators to ensure a responsible and sustainable experience. The bay’s unique shape and location create optimal conditions for observing the frenzied feeding behavior of the manta rays, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking an extraordinary marine encounter.
3. Maamigili, South Ari Atoll
Maamigili in South Ari Atoll is a prime location for swimming with whale sharks in the Maldives. The island hosts the only airport in South Ari Atoll and offers budget-friendly guesthouse options, making it an ideal base for those seeking to swim with whale sharks and enjoy first-class scuba diving. Maamigili is known as the “Maldives Whale Shark Home” and is considered the second-best place in Asia to snorkel and dive with these gentle giants.
The best time to see whale sharks in this area is from August to November, although sightings are guaranteed most days throughout the year. The Maldivian government declared South Ari Atoll a protected marine area in 2009, making it the best place to swim with whale sharks in their natural environment. Visitors to Maamigili can arrange their whale shark excursions through certified guides and operators to ensure a responsible and sustainable experience.
4. Baa Atoll
Baa Atoll in the Maldives is another fantastic place to swim with whale sharks. This atoll is famous for its UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, Hanifaru Bay, which is a renowned spot for swimming with manta rays and whale sharks. Hanifaru Bay is a marine protected area where fishing, boating, and scuba diving are restricted, and only snorkeling is allowed. The best time to visit Hanifaru Bay is from May to November, during the South-West monsoon, when there is a massive buildup of plankton, drawing in hundreds of whale sharks and manta rays.
The coral reef in Hanifaru Bay stretches a total of 1300 meters, and a specific section of the reef, approximately 600 meters long, is where whale shark sightings are common. Baa Atoll is also home to hundreds of manta rays from May to November, making it a prime location for experiencing these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.
5. Dusit Thani, Maldives
Dusit Thani Maldives is located on Mudhdhoo Island in Baa Atoll, which is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a prime location for swimming with whale sharks and manta rays. The resort offers a 360-degree vibrant house reef complemented by a turquoise lagoon, a 750-square-meter infinity swimming pool with a lush Banyan tree in the center, five restaurants and bars with breathtaking views, and a Kids Club committed to making children’s dreams come true.
The manta season in Hanifaru Bay opens the chance for visitors to see manta rays and whale sharks gathering to feed on plankton between May and October each year. The resort’s guests have prime access to experience this incredible sight, just a 25-minute speedboat ride away from Dharawandhoo. Dusit Thani Maldives also offers a Manta Sanctuary snorkeling excursion, which is a great opportunity to see these gentle giants up close. The area is also known for attracting the elusive whale shark, the largest fish in the sea, and swimming with them is a must-do experience for visitors to the Maldives. For more information, Visit Maldives
6. Felidhoo Atoll
Felidhoo Atoll, also known as Vaavu Atoll, is an excellent location for swimming with whale sharks in the Maldives. The atoll is an undeveloped vacation paradise comprised of 19 beautiful isles and is one of the least commercialized atolls in the Maldives. It is known for its pristine, warm waters teeming with fish and larger marine life, providing superb scuba diving for both beginners and advanced divers. Whale sharks are common in the area at certain times of the year, particularly on the east side of the atoll.
The atoll’s Vattaru Reef is a popular spot for swimming with whale sharks, and the area is also known for encounters with hammerhead sharks, manta rays, and other marine life. The atoll’s Fotteyo Kandu is considered by some to be one of the best dive sites in the Maldives due to its narrow channel, swim-throughs, and diverse marine life, including whale sharks. The atoll’s pristine and unspoiled diving sites make it an ideal destination for those seeking unique and untouched underwater experiences.
7. Meemu Atoll
Meemu Atoll in the Maldives is a great location for diving and is known for its pristine, warm waters teeming with fish and larger marine life, providing superb scuba diving for both beginners and advanced divers. While there is no specific information available on swimming with whale sharks in Meemu Atoll, the atoll’s Vattaru Reef is a popular spot for swimming with whale sharks, and the area is also known for encounters with hammerhead sharks, manta rays, and other marine life.
The chance to see mantas, various reef sharks, and the possibility of a rare visit by a whale shark is what lures divers to Meemu Atoll. Larger fish such as tuna and grouper swim amongst the disco ball flashes coming from swirls of schooling mackerel. Turtles move through the coral gardens. Meemu’s diverse marine life doesn’t end here. The eastern and western rims are characterized by deep channels, known as ‘Kandus’, with currents that sweep in plankton-rich water, sustaining healthy soft corals and thriving marine life.
What is the best time of year to swim with whale sharks in the Maldives?
The best time of year to swim with whale sharks in the Maldives is from May to November, with a peak season from August to November. While whale sharks can be spotted year-round, the period between August and November is considered the peak time for sightings. During this time, the chances of encountering these gentle giants are particularly high, especially in areas such as South Ari Atoll, where sightings are practically guaranteed and occur on an almost daily basis.
The Maldivian government has declared South Ari Atoll a protected marine area, making it the best place to swim with whale sharks in their natural environment. Additionally, whale sharks are known to favor the western side of the Maldives from May to December and then move to the east until April. Therefore, the western side of the atolls is a favorable location for encountering whale sharks during this period.
What is the best location in the Maldives to swim with whale sharks?
South Ari Atoll, Baa Atoll, and Hanifaru Bay are some of the best locations in the Maldives for swimming with whale sharks. South Ari Atoll is probably the best spot to spot whale sharks, with brilliant sightings all year round and a peak time from August to November. Maamigili is a renowned spot to snorkel and dive with whale sharks, and it’s considered the second-best place in Asia to do so.
Hanifaru Bay is famous for its annual gathering of manta rays and whale sharks between the months of June and November, making it another great location for swimming with these gentle giants. Baa Atoll is another fantastic place to spot whale sharks, with its UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, Hanifaru Bay, and Vattaru Reef being popular spots for swimming with whale sharks. While other atolls, such as Felidhoo and Meemu, are also known for their pristine waters and diverse marine life, there is no specific information available on swimming with whale sharks in these atolls.
FAQ’s
- Best Places to Swim with Whale Sharks in the maldives
The best places to swim with whale sharks in the Maldives are South Ari Atoll, Hanifaru Bay, Maamigili South Ari Atoll, Baa Atoll, Dusit Thani, Felidhoo Atoll and Meemu Atoll.
- snorkeling with whale sharks maldives
The best locations in the Maldives for snorkeling with whale sharks are South Ari Atoll, Baa Atoll, and Hanifaru Bay, where visitors can encounter these gentle giants in their natural habitat, with South Ari Atoll being a particularly favorable spot for year-round sightings and a peak time from August to November.
- manta rays in the maldives
Manta rays can be found in the Maldives throughout the year, with the best time being from May to November, especially in Hanifaru Bay in the Baa Atoll. It has the largest recorded reef manta ray population in the world, with an estimated 5,000–10,000 individuals.