The Maldives is known for its variety of pelagic fish and whales that roam its plankton rich tropical waters. As a result, it is one of the best destinations in the world for whale watching and diving with sharks. There are several Marine Protected Areas that shelter sharks and Hanifaaru Bay Marine Protected Area in Baa Atoll, a nursery for whale sharks is one. Strong currents carrying plankton-rich water makes it a feeding as well as a breeding ground for whale sharks particularly during the southwest monsoon. 110 whale sharks have been spotted in the region. Rangali Island on the southern end of Ari Atoll is another location where whale sharks are found throughout the year. Large gatherings occur here during full moon in the coral spawning period with the onset of the northeast monsoon.
Although whale sharks grow up to 12ft, they are gentle and tolerate noninvasive interactions. As a result, diving with them has become a ‘must have’ experience. Angafaru Marine Protected Area located southwest of Kihaadhoo Island is a breeding ground for grey reef sharks. As these sharks are more active at night, night-diving expeditions are one of the best ways of spotting them as well as nurse sharks sleeping on the sea floor. Sightings of hammerheads are rare as they are found only in deep water. However, divers can catch them in large groups in the early mornings around Madivaru Rusdhoo atoll. Tiger sharks hang around Foammula and Huvadhoo and leopard sharks inhabit deep dive spots off Hanimadhoo in the north and Huvadhoo in the south of the Maldives. Young black-tip and white-tip reef sharks are frequently found in shallow lagoons and can therefore be spotted from shore. Mayaa Thila and Kandooma are also home to white-tip and grey-reef sharks. Although there is a great variety of sharks around the Maldives, there is concern that many of the dive spots are overcrowded and that unregulated tourism will be detrimental to marine life.
The Maldives is also one of the best places in the world to watch whales and nothing is more exciting than watching these giant creatures in their natural habitat. The most common varieties of whales spotted around the islands are the short fin pilot, blue, Brydes and sperm whales, several types of beaked whales and the dwarf sperm whale, while there have been limited sightings of the tropical bottlenose whale and orcas. Melon-headed whales are seen in large numbers in the southern atolls. Cruising on a safari boat during the whale watching season from February to April and October to November is the best way to see them. The calm seas and clear weather during these periods attract families of whales that are found tail slapping, blowing, leaping out of the water and generally enjoying themselves in the water. Looking along the horizon for a white mist rising a few feet above the water is the way to identify a whale pod. Interestingly, when their heads are above the water, whales are known to get a good look at those who are observing them.
COMO hotels and resorts seek to deliver the very special COMO Shambala experience of holistic treatments, exercise and healthy cuisine through their network of health and wellness retreats worldwide. A COMO wellness retreat would offer wellness paths to address specific problems with a combination of Asian-inspired treatments, yoga and nutritionally balanced COMO Shambala cuisine.
Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and hopes to visit them all someday.
