Moray eels, manta rays, sea cucumbers, leatherback turtles and more than 2,000 species of fish inhabit the 1,192 islands of the Maldives archipelago. Empire of this underwater Willy Wonka world is an animal with no natural predator except time: the shark.

The coral reefs of the Maldive atolls, which look like submerged Jackson Pollack paintings, attract dozens of species of sharks. There are three ways to shake hands with the animals: spot, snorkel, or dive.

What’s the Best Time of Year to Go Shark Spotting?

Weather and region dictate shark spotting potential. In general, northern reefs boast better coral, and southern reefs boast more sharks. From December to May, the eastern atolls have best visibility. June through November, the west is best. However, the summer monsoons bring clouds, swells, and buckets of rain.

All reef sharks at the Maldives are non-aggressive towards humans. Most spend their day in caves and along the bottom of the ocean reef. Only one shark attack has been confirmed since 1580, and it was nonfatal.

Where to See Reef Sharks in the Maldives?

Shark spotting is like bird watching. From one of the 92 inhabited islands of the Maldives, travellers can scan the water for the tell-tale dorsal fin of a requiem shark. Watch for a prominent black tip to indicate a blacktip reef shark, which can be seen from Kuramathi. Its close cousin is the whitetip reef shark, commonly seen at Maaya Thila. Or look for a gray trailing edge to signpost a grey reef shark, seen off Kandolhu island and resort.

Where to See Whale Sharks in the Maldives?

Perhaps the most famous fish in the archipelago is the whale shark, which can reach up to 50,000 pounds and 40 feet. The whale shark is rarely spotted from a beach. However, many Maldives services offer shark spotting flights from sea planes. Ari Atoll, Thaa Atoll and Gaafu Atoll are popular regions for whale shark watching and diving.

Where to See Pelagic Sharks in the Maldives?

Venture just beyond the reef, and a traveller will come to the pelagic ocean zone, where large schools of fish range and oceanic sharks follow close behind. This region is home to the giant hammerhead shark, the tiger shark, and the oceanic whitetip shark. All of these species are potentially dangerous towards humans. The whitetip, in fact, is thought responsible for the gruesome feeding frenzies of the lost-at-sea survivors from the torpedoing of the U.S.S. Indianapolis in 1945. Tourists often snorkel and scuba at Ari Atoll and Rasdhoo Atoll to see – from a distance – these fearsome creatures.

Alternative Shark Spotting Methods

Don’t want to take a dip? There abound ways to see sharks without getting up close and personal. Glass-bottom boat tours provide an eagle-eye view of the marine ecosystem. Some entrepreneurial locals will bait reef sharks to entice them closer to the shoreline. Remember, though, that harming any shark off Maldivian atolls is illegal. They are marine kings, and no one, not even man, can usurp their throne.