3 minute read
Big Fish Encounters, Maldives
Maldives
Travel Consultant Jobi Chan, new to the Dive Worldwide team, fondly recalls her time in the Maldives’ South Ari Atoll with her favourite fish, the mighty whale shark.
Hong Kong born and raised, I chose to learn and complete my dive instructor course in a small tranquil island in the Maldives which was followed by teaching in a resort in the South Ari Atoll. I left the busy city life not just because I enjoy the barefoot island vibes, but also because these gentle giants capture my heart. The whale shark is a harmless majestic sea creature, living in the depths of the ocean. In the Maldives, people can spot them swimming in shallow waters to regulate their temperature – this is the most popular excursion in the South Ari Atoll. I was lucky to work as a diving instructor in this atoll and the encounters with whale sharks along the outer reef between Maamigili and Dhigurah Island were undoubtedly my favourite experience.
Whale sharks swim gracefully in the shallow water with their huge mouths open, filtering the water for food. There is nothing quite as magical as your first ever sighting of a whale shark in the ocean. Coming face to face with them while we snorkel or dive is something I will never forget. Everyone feels blessed with this once-in-a-lifetime experience in the water with this beautiful creature. My group of divers almost always came to the surface with a big smile - just like the whale shark! Mantas, turtles, Napoleon wrasse, schools of fusiliers, oriental sweet lips and blue striped snapper are also common sightings in South Ari, to name just a few.
There are also over 50 recognised dive sites in the local area. Rheeti Thila, Kudarah Thila and Machchafushi Wreck (aka Kudimaa Wreck) are some of my favourites, but the whale sharks hold the top spot!
A typical day of whale shark encounters begins early in the morning with a boat ride on a dhoni (a traditional wooden boat in the Maldives) to the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA). With almost year-round whale shark and manta ray sightings, it is easy to understand why South Ari is such a draw for divers from around the world.
Before I jumped into the water with my group of divers, I usually gave them a briefing on the importance of following the rules of conduct when we swim or dive with these gentle giants. This included keeping the distance to at least four metres from the tail or three metres from the body, only swimming and diving along the side of the whale shark and avoiding excessive flash photography.
We also encouraged divers, if possible, to take a photo of the left side of body - behind the gills and above the pectoral fin - from a safe distance to submit to the online shark database. Doing this is a direct contribution to a better understanding and protection of these amazing animals. The Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP) has even enabled tourists to identify the whale sharks they have swum with using the Big Fish Network mobile app.
In the South Ari Atoll there are a several sought-after resorts which I recommend including Vilamendhoo Island Resort, Sun Island Resort & Spa and Boutique Beach, all of which are featured on our website.
I can’t wait to return to the Maldives, to stay at one of the wonderful resorts and to say hello to the whale sharks once again.
