05/09/2026
Whale sharks are the largest fish in the ocean, and the Maldives' South Ari Atoll is one of the very few places on Earth where you can find them almost year round.
On our Maldives Whale Shark Conservation Research Expedition, you don't just snorkel alongside them, you will join the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP) team collecting real data: photo identification, size estimates, behaviour logs. It's genuine citizen science, not a staged photo opportunity.
That research matters. Photo-ID records built up over years like these are what have taught scientists how these animals move, feed and use the atoll. This is vital information for keeping this feeding ground protected as tourism to the Maldives grows.
It's one of our favourite examples of what responsible wildlife travel can look like plus an unforgettable encounter that leaves the place, and the species, better off for it.