Reef Shark Diving in the Maldives - A Relatively Safe Thrill

From all the sharks in the Maldives, the type that is most pined after is the whale shark. Due to the abundance of whale sharks, the Maldives is justifiably popular, and the whale sharks can be found all through the year. The Maldives has undoubtedly become one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world, especially for swimming with whale sharks in the Maldives. The whale shark is the largest fish in the world, reaching lengths of around 40 feet, and they are surprisingly very docile and friendly beings, posing no threat at all to scuba divers. Diving with whale sharks Maldives can be cimplicated and unusual because most whale shark encounters happen up on the surface, therefore swimming or snorkeling with whale sharks Maldives is a much better method to find whale sharks in the Maldives.

Many resorts in the Maldives offer snorkeling whale sharks safaris, and other such fun activities. They will take guests out for the day on a boat and look for signs of whale sharks. If you see one, it's time to throw on your snorkel and mask and dive into the water for a swim around with the shark. This wait can sometimes take a while and so a much better way of spotting the whale sharks Maldives is from Maldives liveaboards. Whale sharks can be quite elusive, so it could happen that you see one when you least expect it. By taking a week-long trip on a Maldives liveaboard, during which time you will be cruising around the gorgeous waters of the archipelago, you are more likely to see whale sharks as you simply hop around the beautiful isalnds. Moreover, it will feel like a more unique and natural occurance, stumbling into a brilliant and dazzling underwater scene.

Little is known about the lifestyle of the whale shark, however it is known that the numbers are in decline. Mainly due to the commercial fishing of whale sharks and trade of whale shark meat in certain countries and the fact that in a few places you might even find baby whale sharks for sale. Fortunately, in the Maldives, the threats to whale sharks have been properly recognised and the government has begun to clamp down and protect them. They understand the fact that a whale sharks life in the Maldives is a great economic advantage for the country, because of the droves of tourists they attract.

If you're interested in scuba diving with sharks in Maldives, you're most likely to encounter reef sharks under water. There are several types of reef sharks Maldives, one of the most common of which is the grey reef sharks. Grey reef sharks in the Maldives are found living around the coral reefs and are most active at night when they are hunting. A reef sharks diet consists generally of smaller fish and they are savvy hunters, although there is no evidence confirming the question, are grey sharks dangerous to scuba divers. Grey reef sharks can reach lengths of about 6 feet long and usually have a grey back with a white belly.

Another common variety of reef shark in the Maldives are white tip reef sharks, which is similar in size to grey sharks but is a paler shade of grey with a white tip on the end of their dorsal and caudal fins. Baby white tip sharks and their adult counterparts are also found around the coral reefs. While the reef sharks are the most commonly spotted in the Maldives, there are many threats to reef sharks because they are still hunted for their meat, their fins are exported to China and most importantly, they are not protected yet.

Many scuba divers and holiday makers alike want to know: are there dangerous sharks near the Maldives? The truthful answer is that no, there are not, and Maldives diving with sharks is quite the safe activity. Probably the most dangerous sharks in Maldives are the hammerhead sharks, although these are not particularly common and there have been no reports of hammerhead shark attacks in the Maldives.

In the Maldives, fortunate divers will come across several types of hammerhead sharks, mainly the scalloped hammerhead. These are not commonly sighted, but one dive site, Rasdhoo Kandu is the most common spot for finding them.