Maldives Whale Shark Conservation Research Expedition
Maldives Whale Shark Conservation Cruise
This is an exceptional opportunity to engage in a ten-night research expedition with the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP).
MWSRP is a research-oriented conservation charity dedicated to studying the whale shark and promoting community-focused conservation initiatives in the Maldives and the greater Indian Ocean region.
The organisation's objective is straightforward: to enhance the understanding of whale sharks and advocate for effective conservation policies in the Maldives. By encouraging active participation from community members and industry stakeholders, MWSRP leverages scientific research to protect the rich biodiversity and vulnerable marine ecosystems essential for whale sharks and the lives, livelihoods, and cultural heritage of the Maldives.
This expedition's participants will significantly contribute to whale shark research aboard the expedition vessel MV Felicity. Each individual will play an active role in collecting critical data regarding the ocean's largest fish. Daily activities will include taking survey trips aboard a supporting dhoni and exploring the breathtaking South Ari Marine Protected Area, recognised as the largest marine reserve in the Maldives.
This remarkable region is distinguished by its year-round population of whale sharks, which exhibit the highest natural residency rate of these species globally.
This is an example itinerary. Each expedition will have a slightly different itinerary that may change on a daily basis.
Day 1 - Arrival in the Maldives
Arrive at Male Airport (Velana International Airport) and at 12:00, board the MV Felicity and cruise to South Ari.
MV Felicity
A traditionally crafted and built Turkish gulet complete with sails, the MV Felicity has a length of 28m, a beam of 6.85m, and a draft of 2.60m. With two decks and seven cabins, Felicity comfortably accommodates 12 passengers. All cabins are air-conditioned and have an attached bathroom including a shower, small wardrobe, drawer and storage facilities, portholes, and a DC wall fan. We would describe the cabins as comfortable but not luxurious.
There is an outdoor dining area and an indoor area in case of rain. The indoor saloon area is furnished with a dining table and seating plus banquette seating and is equipped with a TV-DVD-Stereo area and an equipment charging area. The communal open-air deck space is furnished with sun mats and banquette seating.
Day 2 - Begin the expedition
First day of survey with snorkel safety tests and whale shark presentation.
Please note: This expedition is very physical, with lots of swimming and snorkelling. Exiting from the water and back onto the boat involves a boat ladder. There is also the need to cross between the 'home' base Felicity and the research dhoni regularly throughout the day. The Maldives can experience strong currents, even on the calmest of days, and currents may change during a snorkelling activity. It is always possible we may encounter the occasional day of rough seas, and therefore, the ability to swim unaided is essential as the in-field surveys are done via snorkelling &/or basic freediving.
Day 3 - Survey Whale Sharks
Second day of survey. Each day will be a little different, but a typical research day is as follows.
Start with waking up between 7 and 8 a.m., having breakfast with the group, and then boarding the survey dhoni between 8 and 9 a.m. Once everyone is on board the dhoni, set off for the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA) to begin the survey. With whale sharks the main focus, most people will take positions on the top deck to look for the speckled giants beneath the surface. It is also important to keep an eye out for other megafauna in the area, jotting down any dolphins, mobula rays, and sea turtles that are spotted.
Boats in the area are also recorded with data, including the number of people on board and their behaviour. For example, if they are speeding on the reef, an activity that can be dangerous and life-threatening to the creatures living below.
Lunch will be served on the dhoni, and you will eat during shifts so that people are always searching for whale sharks. If lucky, you may hear someone shouting “shark!” or “fehurihi!” the Dhivehi word for whale shark. Everyone will get their gear on quickly before slipping into the water as quietly as possible. Sometimes, the boat can stay with the shark; other times, you may have to swim to catch up.
Day 4 - Whale Shark Data
Third day of survey. Recording data on the survey.
You will take photos to ID the shark, capturing the left and right side between the fifth gill and their dorsal fin, along with pictures from above if they were deep enough not to impede their movement and from below to determine the sex of the shark.
While in the water, you may also try to estimate the shark's length, photograph any new or old injuries, and note their behaviour and the behaviour of people around them. There will be some days when the group will be alone with the shark and other days when the shark might be surrounded by snorkelers and scuba divers.
Once back on board, you can record the environmental variable data, taking note of the wind direction and speed, the current, visibility, and water temperature. Because whale sharks are wild animals, their behaviour can be unpredictable, and there might be days when you do not see any sharks on the survey. However, it is unlikely that there will be a day that you will not be in the water. There will be time to go snorkelling, where you will see fresh reef growth, sharks, mobula rays, sea turtles, and a diverse array of fish.
In the late afternoon, head back to Felicity. There is time to relax and nap before starting on data entry. You may split into teams, with one group entering the vessels into one spreadsheet, another entering the megafauna entries, and a third group editing and entering the ID photos.
Day 5 - Scuba or Snorkelling
Fourth day of survey (half-day survey with an option for scuba diving/snorkel in the morning)
Day 6 - Continue the Whale Shark Survey
Fifth day of survey
Day 7 - Continue the Whale Shark Survey
Sixth day of survey
Day 8 - Continue the Whale Shark Survey
Seventh day of survey
Day 9 - Continue the Whale Shark Survey
Eighth day of survey
Day 10 - Return to Male
MV Felicity will depart South Ari in the early morning and head to the Male atoll, stopping off for a snorkel on the way.
Day 11 - Goodbye Maldives
Depart Felicity this morning and transfer arranged to Male airport arriving approx 08:30.
Get in touch with Our Local Tour to book the Maldives Whale Shark Conservation Research Expedition
Departure Dates - 2025
April 8th – 18th April
May 8th – 18th May
July 2nd – 12th July
July 20th – 30th July
August 4th – 14th August
September 21st – 1st October
December 1st – 11th December
Price
Private double room (based on two people travelling) - £2189 per person
Twin share room (sharing with same-gender solo traveller) - £2189 per person
Private single room - £2395 per person
Availability and room types on board are limited. Please contact us for the latest update.
Included in the Maldives Whale Shark Conservation Research Expedition
- Airport and domestic transfer assistance
- Return transfer by dhoni ( airport- Felicity- airport)
- 10 nights standard cabin accommodation on the boat based on single or double/twin share
- Full board meal plan - Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, High Tea and Dinner
- Unlimited tea and coffee (house coffee)
- Unlimited drinking water - bring your reusable water bottle!
- Dingy or dhoni transfer to snorkeling points
- Local Tax (10% Service Charge, 17% GST and $12 Green Tax per person per night)
Not Included in the Maldives Whale Shark Conservation Research Expedition
- International travel to the start and end point - contact us for information and flight options
- Any airport taxes
- Travel Insurance
- Any visa requirements
- Items of a personal nature
- Alcoholic beverages from USD$5 (payable at end of expedition)
- Snorkeling Equipment
- Diving activities (payable locally from $75 per single dive)
Government Travel Safety Advice
We strongly recommend that you check your government's travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. For UK citizens, check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice. Please refer to the COVID-19 entry requirements page for any country-specific conditions of entry.
Visa and Passport Information
Passport validity
If entering Maldives as a UK tourist, you will be granted a 30-day visa upon arrival and your passport must be valid for a minimum of one month. However, if arriving by air, most airlines state that your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into the Maldives. Check with your transport provider before travelling. You should ensure your passport has no damage or you may be stopped by Immigration, who examine passports carefully.
Visas
The visa on arrival service continues as normal for all tourist arrivals.
Local Laws and Custom
Maldives has very strong anti-drugs laws. Importing or possessing drugs can carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment. Locals and police are likely to treat seriously the possession and consumption of alcohol, and being intoxicated, outside resorts.
Local laws reflect the fact that Maldives is an Islamic country. Violations of local laws may lead to a prison sentence. Public observance of any religion other than Islam is prohibited. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times, including dressing conservatively and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas around Mosques.
You should be sensitive to local dress standards when on local islands or if staying on an island where the resort is not the exclusive property on the island – cover your shoulders and avoid short or tight-fitting shorts (men and women); when bathing, cover arms and upper legs. Nudism and topless sunbathing are not allowed anywhere, including on resort islands.
Same-sex relations are illegal and convicted offenders could face lengthy prison sentences and fines. It is an offence to import the following items into Maldives: explosives, weapons, firearms, ammunition, pornographic material, materials deemed contrary to Islam including ‘idols for worship’ and bibles, pork and pork products, and alcohol.
Alcoholic drinks are only available on resort islands. Do not take any alcohol away from a resort.
The export of tortoise shell and coral is forbidden.
What to bring on your Undiscovered Maldives Tour
Clothing
Lightweight, casual, non-synthetic clothing (cotton and natural fibers are best) which appropriately cover the body, when in the company of the local communities. (Please understand local customs and religious requirements relating to dress codes. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it needs to be respectful.
The Maldives is a Muslim country and care needs to be taken in relation to the dress code on local islands. Whilst it is acceptable for men to wear T-Shirts and shorts or swim shorts; females should avoid causing offense by maintaining a more conservative approach to clothes by wearing T-Shirts with sleeves that cover the shoulder, loose shorts that cover the thigh, or sundresses with a sarong around shoulders. Whilst the islands we visit are more tolerant of guests wearing traditional beachwear, females should NOT wear bikinis and swimwear unless on an uninhabited island, picnic island, sandbank, screened off tourist bikini beach, dive boat, or resort island.
More recently the level of acceptance can vary from island to island and between the central atolls and those in the deep north or deep south. The key point to remember is to consider you are a guest in another country and dress not to cause offense.
Whilst the law restricts the wearing of bikinis on local islands, all guesthouses provide a private tourist sunbathing area on the beach or on the terrace of the guesthouse and your guide will advise when and where this is possible. It is common practice by both locals and visitors for females to swim from local public beaches wearing a t-shirt or rash guard and shorts or leggings. When visiting the home of a local family or when having access to mosques, shoulders and legs should be covered fully by both men and women out of respect of local customs
Footwear
The ideal footwear would be sandals and flip-flops.
Luggage while on your tour
Please allow yourself one main piece of luggage and a day-sack. Remember, you are expected to carry your own baggage, so don't overload yourself, a soft wheely bag may be easier to manage than a suit case.
Equipment
We recommend a sunhat, sunscreen, a torch, insect repellent and a reusable waterbottle. A power adapter for phones, laptops, etc. The Maldives uses mostly UK 3 pin style sockets. Hair straighteners and electric razors for those who still like to keep up appearances during their holiday. Hairdryers are available at all properties either per room or available from reception upon request.
Camera/Underwater camera – The Maldives above & below sea level are worth a few photos. For guests wishing to use a guesthouse or dive center underwater camera ensure you bring along a USB or memory card in order to transfer your memories.
Earplugs, particularly if you are a light sleeper or are on board a boat and want to avoid the sound of fellow passengers at close quarters.
Currency
The Maldives has a non-convertible currency – Maldivian Rufiyaa – this cannot be purchased beforehand. One Rufiyaa is 100 Laari and is available in 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5 Rufiyaa notes. One US Dollar is equivalent to 15.42 Rufiyaa. The following international currencies can be changed easily to local currency at the airport on arrival: USD/GBP/Canadian Dollar/Euro/Danish Krone/Hong Kong Dollar/Japanese Yen/Norwegian Krone/Singapore Dollar/Swiss Franc/Swedish Krone.
It is not possible to exchange currency to USD only to MVR.
MVR can only be exchanged back to the original currency prior to your departure if you have a receipt for an arrival exchange from the airport Bank of Maldives exchange counter.
It is advised not to exchange currency in Male where bank queues are common and waiting time lengthy. The US Dollar is accepted as legal tender. All major credit cards can be used (and are preferred) at resorts, hotels, shops, etc. On local islands, it is usually only hotels, guesthouses, shops, and larger restaurants that accept credit cards, and cash is generally preferred. Small restaurants, cafes, and activity providers will generally request payment in cash. Most restaurants and shops will accept USD$ in payment providing a change in local currency.
While on the local islands, approximate prices are as follows:
Snack lunch – $5 to $10 / Evening meal in guesthouse or local restaurant – $10 to $25 / Tea / Coffee – $1 for Nescafe to $5 for barrister style coffee / Soft drinks – $1.50 / Water 1.5l – $0.50 / General excursions – from $25 per person – $100 per person / Watersports – from $10 per person for a 60-minute non-motorized rental.
You should expect prices in tourist hotels and on resort islands to be considerably more expensive than this. Be sure to check that 10% service charge and 12% GST have been included in the rates offered.
Weather in Maldives
With a tropical climate, plenty of sunshine, and temperatures around 30°C throughout the year, there is never a bad time to visit the Maldives. The Maldives has two distinct seasons; dry season (northeast monsoon) from January to March and the wet season (southwest monsoon) from mid-May to November. Wet however doesn’t mean rain all the time, it just means during this period we see more rain than during the dry season. This may be a daily heavy shower but it’s very rare to have days and days of rain in succession or even a full 24 hours. There is usually more wind during this period but this helps keep the temperature at a nice level and you can still expect plenty of blue skies and sunshine.
The rare thunderstorm in the Maldives (especially around the southwest monsoon months) can be a welcome respite from the sun. Cloudy skies and slate grey seas, and crashing thunder makes for lovely reading weather. The warm temperatures will allow you to go for a walk in the rain, a thoroughly enjoyable experience. For extra exhilaration, take a swim in the rain – the sea will be extra warm. There can be heavy rain showers pretty much any time of year, but they tend to be short and cannot be accurately predicted seasonally (in other words – don’t worry too much about them – you will quite possibly experience some rain showers, but the majority of the weather should be great, and you will be unlucky to get several consecutive days of heavy rain).
Like many places in the world today, the climate and weather pattern is changing and historical data is less reliable as an indication of what to expect in the here and now. Note as the Maldives is situated so close to the equator it is possible to burn even on a cloudy day and sunscreen should be applied as a matter of course.
Time Zone
Maldives Standard Time is GMT/UTC + 5 and during BST + 4. Note some resorts operate Island Time, which is 1 hour ahead of Maldives standard time. The Barefoot Eco Hotel is one of these properties.
Internet Availability
Wi-Fi is available at all our guesthouses and in most cases it is free. However, as an island nation where cabling is along the sea bed and there is only one antenna per island you should not expect the signal strength and speed of internet access to be at the level you are accustomed to back home. Weather can at times also impact the quality of connection.
