For most people, the beautiful islands, turquoise waters and colourful coral reefs of the Maldives require little to no introduction. The swaying coconut trees, white sand beaches and lagoons attract thousands of visitors who just want a relaxed sun filled holiday away from the world.
But there’s another attraction here worth seeing; the Maldives is home to a diverse range of whales and dolphins, twenty three species to be exact. From the mighty Blue Whale to the Spinner Dolphin, Maldives has them in abundance. Dolphins have very regular feeding schedules and so spotting them is quite easy if you know where to look; Whales though takes a bit more searching.
Whale watching requires a boat to take you further away from the coastlines and cruise along the waters in searching of a pod; this can usually be arranged through any Maldives Resort, like the Velassaru Maldives for example, where whale watching safaris are staple excursions.
The most commonly cited whales around the islands are the Short-fin Pilot Whales and Dwarf Sperm Whales who swim in large numbers. The larger Sperm Whales, Blue Whales and Bryde’s Whales can also be viewed in certain areas. In addition, Maldives has garnered a growing reputation for the many varieties of beaked whales that call the waters around the atolls home. These whales have long been considered the rarest whale in the world so spotting one here is truly a welcome treat.
The excitement and anticipation of scouting for whales before spotting the signature spray of water shooting through the air as one nears the surface to blow, and then finally seeing its massive body surging through the waters is exhilarating and an unforgettable sight for many. With the abundance whales and clear waters, ideal for whale watching, Maldives is probably one of the best places in the Indian Ocean whale watching.
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.
