At a glance

Length

Mostly 4–8 m here; adults can exceed 12 m

Depth

Feeds at the surface; dives beyond 1,000 m

Diet

Plankton, fish eggs and small fish, filtered from the water

Status

Endangered

How to recognise it

Unmistakable. A broad, flat head with the mouth right at the front, a checkerboard of pale spots and stripes on a dark back, and ridges running along each side. No two patterns are alike.

Where we meet them

The western atolls hold them year-round — above all South Ari’s Marine Protected Area — with Baa Atoll joining from August to November.

Best timeSouth Ari, year-round. Baa Atoll, August – November.

Behaviour

A slow, filter-feeding giant. Whale sharks cruise near the surface sieving plankton-rich water through their gills, then make long, deep dives. Their spot patterns work like fingerprints — it is how researchers here recognise individual sharks year after year.

Diving with them

Most encounters are snorkelling at the surface. Stay at least 3 m from the body and 4 m from the tail, never touch, and no flash photography.

Status & protection

Endangered. Whale sharks grow slowly and mature late; boat strikes and fisheries have reduced populations across their range. In the Maldives they are protected, and South Ari is a Marine Protected Area.