This video is from september 2018 one the best months in recent years. At any time there could be over a hundred mantas and several whale sharks feeding off the coral reef. Whale sharks can actually be found in the maldives throughout the year and they can often be found in large numbers. Hanifaru bay for whale shark and manta maldives finest. Another two are located in baa atollin hanifaru bay and angafaru. Victoria monk dons a pair of fins to explore the underwater world at the mirihi island resort in the south ari atoll. Manta rays are also seen which is of more seasonal from. Best time to visit to see whale sharks in maldives these gentle giants of the ocean can be spotted yearround, at any time of the day, in the south ari atoll marine protected area. Best time to see whale sharks in maldives 2020 when. The rainy season usually starts in may sometimes in late april and lasts until septemberoctober. Record number of manta rays and whale sharks showed up in hanifaru bay and nearby reefs.
Best time to visit maldives, maldives weather by months. Whale sharks reach sexual maturity at around 30 years old, and their lifespan is estimated to be between 70 and 100 years. Also, encounters with big pelagic fish are guaranteed most of the time in south ari atoll. In this period, planktons gets trapped in the funnellike reef and concentration of planktons attracts whale sharks and schools of manta rays. The best places to dive with them is the south of ari atoll, around sun island and rangali. From june through october, it is the season to swim with mantas at manta point. Maldives whale shark research programme conservation. The maldives whale shark research programme mwsrp is a charity that carries out whale shark research and fosters community focused conservation initiatives in the maldives. The best places to swim with whale sharks lonely planet.
South ari atoll is one of many atolls in the maldives. The great thing about swimming with whale sharks in the maldives is that you arent required to travel in a certain season to be able to enjoy this excursion. The sightings are excellent yearround with a peak time from august to november. There were days at this small site hanifaru, with upto 150 manta rays, and 5 whale sharks. The maldives in the indian ocean are one of the best places on earth to go swimming with whale sharks. Whale sharks are yearround residents of the maldives, tending to favour the western side of the indian ocean archipelago from may to december, then heading to the east until april. Aside from the nearsurface behavior of the fish, the maldives are also a particularly popular destination for whale shark encounters because they are residents all year round. Whale shark inn swim with whale sharks manta rays in maldives. Furthermore, some areas have whale sharks all year. However, for the best possible experience, it is advisable that you visit the maldives in may, november and december when the sea is calm, and visibility is good, and dive in some 3 to 5 hours before high tide. According to experts the best time to spot a whale shark in maldives is in the month may, november and december, the week building up to a full.
Full day trips are frequently scheduled to nearby mamigili, the 1st whale shark national park. South ari atoll marine protected area sampa is famous for seen whale sharks all around the year. All year, the waters around vilamendhoo are well known for seeing whale sharks. Best hotels for swimming with whale sharks in maldives maldives. There are not many places on earth that offer whale shark encounters on a regular basis, and the maldives belongs to those few. Furthermore, some areas have whale sharks all year while others are limited to a couple of months. Snorkeling with whale sharks in the maldives usa today. Whale shark season in the maldives varies depending on where you are in the country. The whale sharks that you can find in the maldives are rather small ones, measuring on average between 4 and 8 meters. The great thing about swimming with whale sharks in the maldives is that you arent required to travel in a certain season to be able to enjoy. Around your resort the chances of seeing whale sharks depends on the monsoon season. Here are the ten best places to swim with whale sharks in the maldives. Maldives wolf island and darwin island in the galapagos islands, ecuador.