Despite its relatively small size, the Maldives Islands are a haven for an amazing variety of wildlife – both on land and at sea. This diverse cast of characters adds a delightful spark of life to a location that’s already renowned for its natural beauty. So, if you’re planning your next vacation to the archipelago, here are some of the wonderful creatures you can hope to encounter.
Fish
To experience the true scale of Maldives’ biodiversity can be seen in the calm ocean waters that surround it. Placid butterflyfish can be seen swimming among the corals, menacing barracuda can be found prowling the reef’s edge, reclusive moray hides among rocks crevices and even titanic manta rays can be found gliding effortlessly through the water. Simply put, the Maldives is a snorkeler’s paradise and certain resorts, such as The Residence Maldives Dhigurah
by Cenizaro even offer private snorkelling sessions guided by professionals.
Dolphins and Whales
If you venture a bit further into the ocean, you’re bound to spot the playful antics of the Maldives’ resident dolphins. These include striped dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and Risso’s dolphin. The islands are also a great place for whale watching as the island is regularly visited by dwarf sperm whales and gargantuan blue whales.
Flying Foxes
Fruit bats – also called flying foxes due to their large size – are one of the few mammals native to the islands. These wily residents are often spotted in the vicinity to a Maldives private beach villa or resort, perched upside down until nightfall.
Birds
Being an oceanic island, many of the Maldives’ avifauna are seabirds, these include angelic white tern and Audubon’s shearwater. Certain bird species like the common myna and grey heron tend to frequent the various properties dotted across the islands.
Sea Turtles
The Maldives’ is frequented by five species of sea turtle, including the critically endangered hawksbill turtle. The island chain is also an important nesting ground for the endangered green sea turtle, with adult turtles swimming thousands of miles to reach the coasts and lay their eggs every year.