How Safe Is It To Swim With Sharks In Maldives?

The waters around the tropical islands of Maldives are best known to be teeming with a plethora of exotic wildlife, and most interesting, a range of sharks. With many hotels and resorts offering memorable experiences of swimming with sharks, you can’t help but wonder just how safe it is to swim with these JAWS-like creatures.

Types of Sharks

From majestic whale sharks to hammerheads and blacktip reef sharks, there are different types of sharks that thrive in the tropical waters of the Maldives. The islands are said to be the only place in the world where you can see whale sharks all year round. Ari Atoll in particular, is known to be the best spot for whale shark snorkelling – Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives offers half day excursions for enthusiasts.

Stranger Danger

Despite Hollywood’s rather negative portrayal of sharks, these animals are much like any other wild animal. The sharks that are commonly found in the waters around the islands will swim by on their own and ignore you for the most part, unless of course you get too close or encroach in their territory. With 26 species of sharks in the Maldives, you can spot them hiding behind coral reefs or gracefully gliding along the waters. Remember to keep safe distance from them, respect their space and their territory and you will have a memorable experience.

Best time to swim with sharks

The most ideal time to swim with whale sharks are between January to March, known to be the dry season. The waters are calmer and less choppy – which means you’ll be able to see a shark swimming towards you a few metres away!

Who can swim with sharks?

Swimming in the sea requires you to be a pretty confident and strong swimmer. Remember that you need to swim through currents and an ever-changing environment, so you need to alert and attentive.