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Maptlantis

Whale shark · Maldives

Where to see whale sharks in the Maldives

Operators 34Season Year-roundRegions 4Published prices 19Encounter formats 5
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About this list

A common trap when looking for places to see whale sharks in the Maldives is a trip sold as if the sighting were certain. Maptlantis lists only operators that name the whale shark as a target species, 34 of them. Places that only mention a chance sighting are left out. Regions on record: Ari & Rasdhoo, Dhaalu & Thaa atolls, Maldives liveaboards and North & South Male. Encounters are split into boat-based watching, snorkeling, ocean safari, scuba diving and swimming. Two "whale shark tours" can differ completely in rules and price when one watches from the boat and the other puts you in the water. 19 of the 34 operators (56%) publish prices on their own channels, so you can compare those directly; ask the rest. Estimated prices are not shown. The 6 operators that state a season for whale shark programs in the Maldives cluster in year-round. That is the operators' operating period, not a promise that the animals will appear. No operator can guarantee a wildlife sighting, and rules on approach distance and in-water permits differ by country.

Whale shark season in the Maldives

Year-round

  1. JanJanuary: in season
  2. FebFebruary: in season
  3. MarMarch: in season
  4. AprApril: in season
  5. MayMay: in season
  6. JunJune: in season
  7. JulJuly: in season
  8. AugAugust: in season
  9. SepSeptember: in season
  10. OctOctober: in season
  11. NovNovember: in season
  12. DecDecember: in season

The months 6 operators state as their program season, combined. That is the operators' operating period, not a sighting guarantee; each operator's months are in the whale shark season table.

34 listed operators

Whale sharks in the Maldives, by region

Whale sharks in the Maldives, by way to meet them

Whale shark season

Whale sharks in other countries

Other marine life in the Maldives

Activities in the Maldives

Frequently asked questions

Where can you see whale sharks in the Maldives?

34 operators name the whale shark as a target species. Main regions: Ari & Rasdhoo, Dhaalu & Thaa atolls, Maldives liveaboards and North & South Male.

Do you have to get in the water to see whale sharks?

Formats on record: boat-based watching, snorkeling, ocean safari, scuba diving and swimming. Boat-based watching stays on the boat; snorkeling, swimming and freediving put you in the water. Some countries ban getting in the water altogether, so check the format in the program details.

When is whale shark season?

The 6 operators that state a season for whale shark programs in the Maldives cluster in year-round. That is the operators' operating period, not a promise that the animals will appear.

Will I definitely see them?

No. Whale sharks are wild animals, and whether you meet them depends on their movements and the sea. Maptlantis does not use wording that promises a sighting, and cancellation and refund terms follow each operator's policy.