Maldives Shark Diving: The Top 7 Dive Sites to Visit in 2023
August 1, 2023
With amazing visibility and warm temperatures year round there is never a bad time to pack your dive bag and head to the shark paradise that is the Maldives.The Maldives archipelago is not only idyllic to look at, but it is also bustling with diverse marine species, including 26 different shark species!
Amongst the sharks found there are thresher sharks, whale sharks, nurse sharks, and tiger sharks. It is one of the best places to dive with sharks and offers something for every experience level.
Diving with sharks is a thrilling and memorable experience that most scuba divers hope to have at some point in their life. If you are one of those divers, explore our top seven Maldives shark diving experiences below and start planning your once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
1. Maaya Thila, North Ari Atoll
You can find whitetip reef sharks at several dive locations throughout the Maldives, but Maaya Thila offers one of the best dives with them. It is a popular spot for night dives, during which you can see these small sharks at their most active - hunting!
Thanks to their white-tipped dorsal fins, it is easy to spot whitetip reef sharks, and they can be found in Maldivian waters year round. This dive site can be accessed by beginner scuba divers, but the strong currents make it best suited to more experienced divers.
Many new divers are scared to scuba dive in case they come face to face with a shark. Check out these 6 Common Worries of First Time Scuba Divers.
2. Madivaru, Rasdhoo Atoll
Rasdhoo Atoll offers the incredible opportunity to spot hammerhead sharks. These sharks can reach up to 3.7 meters (12 feet) long and are instantly recognizable by their unique hammer-shaped head.
The best time to see hammerhead sharks is on an early morning dive where you hover at depth and wait for them to pass by. This dive site is suited to confident, advanced divers who are ready for the excitement of seeing large sharks in the wild.
Top tip: Visit during the winter-spring season from December to April to find the largest numbers of hammerheads at Madivaru.
3. Kandooma Thila, South Male Atoll
Kandooma Thila is one of the world’s top dive sites for shark spotting and hosts numerous gray reef sharks. These medium-sized sharks are one of the most common species of shark and can live for up to 25 years or more.
As well as gray reef sharks, Kandooma Thila also hosts whitetip reef sharks and occasional passing whale sharks.There are plenty of caverns and overhangs to explore at this dive site, and an abundance of marine species to encounter.
Due to the strong currents, this dive site is suitable for advanced divers only.
There are many amazing places to dive around Asia. Check out this Dive guide for the Gili Islands.
4. Maamigili, South Ari Atoll
Maamigili hosts one of the best Maldives shark diving experiences. This protected marine area is famous for its whale shark encounters. These gentle giants are the largest species of shark and pose no threat to divers.
Scuba divers of all abilities can enjoy this dive site and there are many other large sea animals to meet, including charming sea turtles and reef sharks. Just make sure you pack your camera to capture all of those dive highlights!
Top tip:December to April are the best months for spotting whale sharks atMaamigili, but they can be found in other atolls throughout the year.
5. Alimatha, Vaavu Atoll
Nurse sharks come in a variety of colors and love to snuggle up together in groups during the daytime. But if you visit Alimatha at night, you can see nurse sharks at their most active.
This dive site is renowned for having a large population of sharks, with up to 100 sharks in the area at one time! It is an unmissable highlight of Maldives shark diving, and it is suitable for everyone.
This site is shallow, so beginners and advanced divers can enjoy it together, though currents can sometimes be strong. Nurse sharks can be found at Alimatha all year, and you might also spot blacktip reef sharks and rays there.
6. Fotteyo Kandu, Vaavu Atoll
Fotteyo Kandu is a mesmerizing dive spot with sea caves, swim-throughs, diverse species of coral, and no shortage of sharks – including blacktip reef sharks. It is one of the best dive sites in the Maldives.
Blacktip reef sharks are not only recognizable for their charcoal-tipped fins, but also for spinning out of the water when hunting. Advanced divers can meet these sharks at Fotteyo Kandu, plus silvertips, gray reef sharks, and even hammerheads if they are lucky.
Top tip:Strong currents add to the exhilaration of diving at Fotteyo Kandu. Make sure you are comfortable with currents or upskill with the SSI Waves, Tides and Currents Specialty before you dive there.
7. Tiger Zoo, Fuvahmulah
Diving at Fuvahmulah includes one of the best-known of all Maldives shark diving experiences, and the name of this dive site gives a big clue as to why it is so popular. Fuvahmulah has a resident population of tiger sharks.
Named because of their striped exterior, tiger sharks have rough skin and one of the most varied diets of all shark species. They enjoy scavenging near the harbor where this dive site begins.
If you are a new diver and want to go diving with tiger sharks, this is the place for you. Tiger Zoo is accessible for beginners to see the sharks in the shallows. It also has a drop-off for more advanced divers who want to continue on to explore the depths.
You are almost guaranteed to spot tiger sharks year-round at Tiger Zoo. Dive deeper and you might also see thresher sharks.
SSI Shark Ecology Specialty
If you love sharks as much as we do, check out the SSI Shark Ecology Specialty! This program will teach you all about shark behavior, how to act around sharks in the water, and what has made these ancient creatures so misunderstood and feared.
If you are nervous about diving with sharks (like many people are), this course can ease your mind with knowledge and understanding of what makes sharks tick.
So, which dive site will you visit first to find sharks in the Maldives?
START EXPLORING: GET CERTIFIED AS A SHARK ECOLOGY DIVER TODAY.