Whale sharks

Balanced South Ari planning that treats a whale shark encounter as a possibility and keeps strong alternative diving in every route.

Plan This Encounter View dive maps

EncounterOuter-reef transits and guided surface searches

Best monthsNov–May

Usual regionsSouth Ari Atoll

Depth rangeSurface–40 m+

Identification

How to recognise whale sharks

The world’s largest fish has a broad flattened head and a unique checkerboard of pale spots and stripes used for photo identification.

Unique spot pattern on every individual
Responsible vessel and water entry
Fallback diving built into the itinerary

Overview & behaviour

Observe natural behaviour

Whale sharks filter-feed on plankton and small prey. In South Ari, individuals may travel along outer reefs, but daily sightings remain unpredictable.

Encounter typesOuter-reef transit · Snorkelling · Occasional dive encounter

Typical conditionsOuter reef, warm water and variable surface activity

Responsible viewing

Give wildlife space and follow your guide

01Enter calmly and never jump onto or in front of an animal.

02Keep the guide-mandated distance from the head and tail.

03Never touch, ride, feed or use flash directly in the animal’s face.

Conservation

Conservation status

Endangered — IUCN Red List; vessel strikes, fisheries interactions and marine pollution remain major threats.

Our conservation approach