Spectacular shark diving in the Maldives

Azure sky, turquoise water, white sand beaches and lush green palm trees – this must be paradise. Hundreds of islands bunched in 26 atolls, their emerald lagoons dotting the Indian Ocean like chains of pearls. This absolutely dreamy holiday destination can only get better when you submerge in the ultramarine waters. Many people visit the Maldives to swim with the giants – whale sharks and mantas, but for divers this is a mecca for shark diving. Why? Because of the unique location of this archipelagic nation.

Situated right on the equator and literally in the middle of nowhere, the atolls are the tips of huge underwater mountains which are constantly exposed to currents. The nutrient-rich water coming from the deep is funnelled between the atolls, thus providing food to sustain a thriving ecosystem. The outer edge of each atoll is sliced with channels. They connect the lagoon with the open ocean and allowing water movement. It is exactly these channels that make the iconic dives in the Maldives.

With nutrients always on the move, you undoubtedly have feasting fish – fusiliers, anthias, triggerfish, parrotfish, sweetlips, wrasse, snappers and jacks. They attract larger predators like the tuna and barracudas and, of course – SHARKS. Not just a few, hundreds!

When the current is incoming (coming from the open ocean into the lagoon) it brings clear water and sweeps plankton through the channels. That is when you will see sharks and rays patrolling on every single dive. But there are some places which are much more spectacular for shark diving than others. Where you are likely to see much more than “a bunch of grey reef sharks” – which in itself is already spectacular. And for that, the place to be is in the Deep South.

What is so special about shark diving in the Maldives’ Southern Atolls?

An underwater wonderland – this part of the Maldives is less dense in islands and visited by fewer boats. That is why many of the reefs are untouched and even unexplored. The three most southern atolls are Addu, Fuvahmulah and Huvadhoo. Each with its unique characteristics and home of shark species that are not common in the rest of the country.

Addu is the most southern atoll. It is the tip of the archipelago it is less affected by the monsoonal tides and currents. This makes it ideal for diving with the gentle giants, whale sharks and manta rays, all year around.

Fuvahmulah consists of a single island – a rock situated in the middle of the deepest channel. This smallest atoll is a hotspot for the biggest pelagic show.

Huvadhoo is the biggest atoll and it boasts with crazy currents (and the best channel dives). As this huge underwater mountain is hit by the massive flow of water coming from the deep, hundreds of reef sharks gather to feed.

You can read more about the best southern dive sites and the crayz shark diving experience you can have here.

What sharks can you see in the Deep South?

The big boys

Whale sharks – Just like in the central atolls, whale sharks frequent the waters of the southern atolls and can be spotted all year round. Sightings increase between January and March with the seasonal feeding opportunities. You can see the giants during a dive as well as at the surface. While in the South Ari marine protected area the sharks that you see are at a pre-mature age, in the south you see individuals of more than 10m in length that have reached full maturity.

Whale shark photo by Mohamed Zinah – Cruise Director on Horizon III

Tiger sharks are native to the Maldives, but as they inhabit the deep waters, encounters are usually rare. In the south, however, you are guaranteed to come face to face with these beauties. There they come to the shallow to clean up the fish leftovers produced by the local market on Fuvahmulah island. Find out more about the hype dive site “Tiger’s Zoo” here.

Hammerhead sharks – Great hammerheads and Scalloped hammerheads are also part of the shark parade in Fuvahmulah. You can spot individuals throughout the year. If you’re into diving with a big school, then February and March is the time to go. That is when the hammerheads gather in big numbers close to the coast.

Some rare finds

Thresher sharks are permanent residents around the island of Fuvahmulah, but mainly found in the deep. You would be surprised to know that there is a relatively shallow (12-15m) cleaning station. The best chances of catching a glimpse of the threshers there is between June and December.

Oceanic whitetip sharks are another top predator which you can spotted offshore around the the underwater plateau of Fuvahmulah. These relatively small sharks are largely solitary animals and the rare encounters are a real thrill!

Silky sharks are commonly seen in the blue trailing schools of tuna. This slender species is one of the most abundant sharks in the pelagic zone. You will be right in the middle of its oceanic habitat when diving on the outside of the atolls in the south.

The usual suspects

Whitetip reef sharks of all sizes can be found hunting or sleeping on the seabed at almost every dive site. Blacktip reef sharks, nurse sharks and the gorgeous leopard sharks also add to the shark bonanza in the south.

Silvertip sharks – Spotted in many of the channels across the Maldives, silvertips can be seen schooling around Fuvahmulah between January and March. When diving in Huvadhoo, keep an eye out as silvertips often mingle with the grey reef sharks in the channels.

Grey reef sharks – Not one or two or even a dozen. In Huvadhoo you get to dive with up to 300 grey reef sharks (as well as whitetips and silvertips) in the eastern channels of the atoll. With 40+ meters of visibility at incoming current, the sight of so many sharks is mesmerising.

Everything on your shark diving bucket list in one trip

This is a dream come true! Seeing so many different species of sharks on each dive and encountering them in large numbers is phenomenal. The absolutely best way to pack all of the above in one trip is to take the Deep South route onboard one of the most established and experienced liveaboards in the Maldives – Blue Horizon.

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As some of the sightings are seasonal and currents can be swift at times, you will want to go with a team that has excellent knowledge of the area. The Deep South of the Maldives is less explored and has only become hype for shark diving in the last years. Blue Horizon has been sailing throughout all the atolls for more than 17 years and the cruise director has been part of the team for more than 13 years. He and the crew will take you to the best dive sites and take care of your comfort and safety while showing you spectacular sights. It really makes a difference when you go with someone who knows the area inside out! Read more about the route here.

Getting there

Getting to the southern atolls is quite easy once you have arrived in Malé. There are 4 domestic airports with multiple flights a day from and to Velana International Airport (MLE). Gan (GAN), also an international airport, is located in Addu. Fuvahmulah (FVM) has its own runway as well. In Huvadhoo, being the largest atoll, there are two domestic airports – Kooddoo (GKK) in the east and Kaadedhdhoo (KDM) in the west.

You would be best off if you get the liveaboard operator to take care of the flights for you, as you will get a much better price. Blue Horizon offers special packages for the readers of Dive into Life, which include FREE domestic flights to the exotic routes in the south and in the north of the Maldives.

 

Check out more liveaboards that take the Maldives Deep South Route