Swim With Nurse Sharks in the Maldives

One of the main reasons to visit the Maldives — aside from its stunning natural beauty and the superb service at its resorts — is the incredible wildlife. The South Ari Atoll Marine Protected Area is teeming with fish, sharks, turtles, and manta rays. You can have many up-close encounters with the local marine life simply by donning a snorkel mask and fins and exploring the waters around your resort. However, it’s well worth booking a specialty tour to see some of the unique animals in the region. A highlight of my vacation was a trip to swim with the nurse sharks in the Maldives. 

Naladhu Private Island is near a prime spot for swimming with nurse sharks, a type of reef shark, from May through December. The luxury resort’s resident naturalist offers tours snorkeling with these nonaggressive sharks. You’ll board a private, custom-outfitted boat and take a 45-minute trip to the best place to swim with nurse sharks in the Maldives. During the boat ride, the naturalist will teach you about these majestic creatures, so you’ll feel fully prepared by the time you arrive. 

When you reach their natural habitat, you’ll hop into the water while seemingly dozens of nurse sharks swim around you. Floating in the water and watching them swim beneath you is a completely entrancing experience. At first, I was quite nervous seeing so many sharks in the water. However, they were supremely uninterested in me. It was fascinating to watch them swimming around each other. After a while, I felt brave enough to swim underwater to get a better view of them. It was truly surreal. I swam with the nurse sharks for nearly an hour, alternating between floating and observing them and diving down to get a closer look. 

The Naladhu tour team travels with a waterproof camera and can take pictures of you among the nurse sharks. They can also snap pictures of you using your camera from the boat. Of course, if you’ve brought a GoPro video camera on your trip, you’ll want to have it with you to capture some unforgettable footage. 

What to Pack to Swim With Nurse Sharks in the Maldives

You won’t need to bring much with you. Your resort will provide you with the essential snorkeling equipment and towels. You are of course welcome to use your own mask, snorkel, and fins. In addition to basic snorkeling equipment, we recommend wearing a rash guard, a swim shirt, or a long-sleeved swimsuit to protect yourself from the strong sun in the Maldives. If you find that your hair gets caught in snorkel masks, you can wear a neoprene hood or a diving headband. Of course, wearing reef-friendly sunscreen is a must. Finally, if you have a GoPro or a waterproof camera, bring it with you. 

What to Eat or Drink Before 

Be careful not to eat very much before heading out on your shark snorkeling adventure. The trip to swim with nurse sharks in the Maldives involves water that can be rough and could lead to seasickness. These trips typically depart early in the morning, so skip eating entirely, or have a light breakfast before boarding the boat. Keep your water consumption low too. Having too much water in your stomach can also make you feel sick. If you know you get seasick easily, taking medicine for motion sickness can help. Even if you do get seasick, like my companion did, it’s worth going to have the chance to to have such a unique experience. 

Where to Swim With Nurse Sharks in the Maldives

The best luxury resorts in the Maldives offer top-notch ocean experiences, but not all are in regions with a high population of nurse sharks. Check with your resort to see if they offer it before you book, if it’s a priority for you. Notable regions include the South Malé Atoll (where Naladhu is located) and the Vaavu Atoll. Naturally, areas with coral reefs attract these reef sharks. Each local island has a coral reef, but not all are created equal. There are other types of sharks in the Maldives, including whale sharks and blacktip reef sharks, that you might see on scuba diving or snorkeling excursions. Another popular activity is swimming with manta rays, which occurs from September to March. Some of the most popular areas are packed with people from other resorts, so check with your guide to see if you’re going somewhere busy or more secluded. It will be worth the extra time traveling to not be in a mass of other people. 

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By Kristen Shirley

Kristen is a certified scuba diver who has explored the ocean all over the world. She spent a week in Maldives to write this story.