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Whale Sharks in Maldives 2023-2024

There are not many places on Earth that offer whale shark encounters on a regular basis, and the Maldives belongs to those few!

Best time: all year round

Whale Shark off Rangali, Maldives

The abundance of plankton around the archipelago is an ideal breeding ground for the world's biggest fish, which stays at the Maldives for the whole year. This is not typical for the species, who prefer to migrate in search of plankton.

Today there are three Marine Protected Areas where you can dive with this giant fish. One of the sanctuaries is found in Maamingili in the South Ari Atoll. Another two are located in Baa Atoll—in Hanifaru Bay and Angafaru.

Any opportunity to encounter animals in their natural environment is always magical. Here in the Maldives, you can try swimming with one of the largest shark species, and this is definitely an unforgettable privilege for the fearless ones.

But even though they are called whale sharks, these giants are beautiful and harmless, unlike their name implies. However, your heart won't skip a beat as their size is rather impressive. You don't need to have any diving skills to swim with whale sharks, but excellent swimming skills are a must!

This is a truly worthwhile experience, which one has to try at least once in a lifetime.

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