Q: When is the Maldives whale shark season?
A: The Maldives are one of the few places in the world where you can swim with whale sharks all year round. The whale shark season in the Maldives between the months of November and March finds more whale sharks around the western atolls of the Maldives, whereas if you visit between April and October, they’re more likely to be found on the eastern side.
Q: Where is the best place to see a whale shark in Maldives?
A: The best place to see whale shark in Maldives depends largely on the season in which you visit. You’ll typically spot the whale sharks when you see a large group of birds descending on a patch of open water. At this point, you’ll get as close to the area as possible by boat and jump into the water to see if you can swim with the whale shark. It is very unusual to see a Maldives whale shark while scuba diving; most encounters are had while snorkeling. While the best place to swim whale shark Maldives does change with the seasons, if you have a chance to visit in July or August, one of the best places is Hanifaru whale shark.
Q: How should I behave when I swim with whale shark Maldives?
A: No matter how tempting it might be to touch these gentle, curious creatures, divers should never forget that a reef is no petting zoo. Whale sharks are remarkably calm creatures and swimming with them is an incredible and safe experience. Not to worry, nobody has ever been eaten by whale shark. Some people will talk of what happens when a diver in whale shark mouth and gets swallowed whole, and while this is probably technically possible, we can assure you it has never happened and is not something you should worry about! The Maldives boast one of the highest populations of whale sharks in the world and, thanks to the country’s climate, you can swim with whale shark in Maldives all year round.
Diving with Maldives Whale Sharks
Q: What does a whale shark look like?
A: The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and is simply an amazing creature to encounter in the water. Despite the name “shark”, a whale shark is indeed very docile and gentle. Most whale sharks grow to lengths of around 10 meters (about 32 feet), although the largest on record measured over 41 feet and a 40-foot whale shark is not uncommon. At its widest point, the mouth, the width of a whale shark is usually around 3 to 5 feet. Whale shark width remains fairly constant until halfway down the body, when the fish tapers off to a slender tail.
The appearance of whale shark is different from animal to animal; the patterns are the equivalent of the human fingerprint. You will see from looking at pictures of whale shark that typically the colour of whale shark is dark grey or black with white spots on their backs and a usually white underbelly.
As you might imagine, the whale shark is a very heavy creature, with most adult whale sharks reaching weights of around 20 tons.
Whale shark teeth are quite a force to be reckoned with: the average specimen has between 300 and 400 rows of tiny teeth – although fortunately these are used for filtering rather than biting.
Since whale shark reproduction has not been studied for long and while significant progress has been made in studying the whale shark mother and father, little is known about the young of the whale shark, so it is almost impossible to estimate baby whale shark weight, although a baby whale shark was found in the Philippines in 2009 measuring only 15 inches, which was possibly the smallest whale shark on record.
Q: What is the outer covering of a whale shark?
A: The outer skin of the whale shark is smooth to touch and can be around 3 inches thick. Nevertheless, it is important never to touch a whale shark, as the whale shark might get scared and swim away quickly, which can lead to injuries caused by their powerful fins and tails.
Q: Where does a whale shark live?
A: The whale shark habitat is made up of all the warm and temperate oceans. Because whale shark diets consist mainly of plankton, most habitats are found around areas of high plankton-density. Whale sharks are mainly diurnal creatures and it is unlikely that you will ever see a whale shark at night.
Diver Swims Past a Whale Shark in the Maldives
Q: What does a whale shark eat?
A: As a filter feeder, the whale shark diet consists mainly of plankton and small fish. As whale shark filter feeders, the many rows of teeth are used to filter out the larger fish and the whale shark simply feeds by opening its mouth and gliding through the water.
Q: What’s the best way to see whale sharks in the Maldives?
A: Most resorts and hotels in the Maldives offer whale shark snorkeling tours Maldives. Whale shark watching in Ari Atoll is a particularly popular excursion. The problem with day trips for whale shark watching Maldives from a resort is that you have a very limited chance of actually seeing one. For the best chance of swimming with a whale shark, a liveaboard diving trip is a great idea. Live aboard and whale shark diving is a brilliant way to spend a unique holiday and, since you’ll be on the boat for the duration of your trip, chances of whale shark diving are great. Maldives Dive Travel, a liveaboard holiday specialist, offers several Maldives whale shark package throughout the months of August and September each year, which is one of the best whale shark Maldives season – a great opportunity for seeing both whale shark and manta rays Maldives. Going on a Maldives whale shark safari on a liveaboard boat is really the perfect holiday if you love scuba diving or would like to learn scuba diving. Some operators, such as the Black Pearl have even gone so far as to offer “whale shark guaranteed” packages!
Q: Are whale sharks endangered species?
A: The population figures of whale sharks are unknown, but since they are victims of commercial fishing whale shark are considered “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In the Maldives, there are several active projects to save whale shark in the Maldives, the most important being the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme. To protect the species from becoming endangered, it is considered a protected species and commercial fishing is illegal, as is the trade of whale shark meat in the market.
Q: How can I learn more about whale sharks in the Maldives?
A: There is a lot of information about whale shark Maldives and Maldives whale shark diving online, including news and updates about whale shark season Maldives, conservation efforts and peoples’ reports about swimming and snorkeling with these amazing creatures. If you’re interested in whale shark diving Maldives, you should check out the whale shark maldives blog and you’ll be able to see loads of whale shark pictures, find out when is the best period whale shark Maldives and get the latest news on special offers for whale shark tours Maldives.
Find Out All You Need to Know About Maldives Whale Sharks is a post from: Maldives Blog
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