Southern Shark Adventure is a transition itinerary taking you from the central to the southern Maldives Atolls or visa versa. The itinerary is an action packed pelagic adventure in the Maldives filled with speedy drift dives, manta and sharks action. Our exclusive Maldivian liveaboards stop at nothing to ensure that you see manta, sharks and even a wreck as you sail into diving perfection.
December - April is the season for this itinerary as the current in the Kandus is predominantly incoming in this period. The Southern Shark Adventure itinerary will focus on diving South Male, Vaavu, Meemu, Thaa and Laamu, Huvadhoo, Fuvamulah, Addu atoll. Some trips may visit North Male as well. More details can be found on the individual trip details. Your trip will typically need a domestic flight either at the start or end of your holiday. Some trips will include domestic flights, please see individual trips for more details. Where trips do not include domestic flights, please speak to your travel consultant who will be able to book these.
There is a good variety of diving with exciting channel dives but also more relaxed diving inside the atolls on Thilas or Giris. One of the advantages of this itinerary is that there are few other boats en route. You'll visit atolls that have very few resorts and lots of uninhabited islands. Diving in South Male is great for spotting Grey Reef sharks and Eagle Rays. Get the chance to encounter majestic mantas in Meemu as well as Whalesharks and night in Thaa. Moving South to Laamu, explore dives sites like Maabaidhoo Kandu home to Grey Reef Sharks, Hammerheads Tiger Sharks, Silver Tips and Zebra Sharks. The lagoon inside Huvadhoo is one of the deepest in the Maldives and the shifting currents are ideal for shark sightings, including whalesharks, Silkies, hammerheads and grey sharks are all seen most weeks. Dive into world-class channels likes Vilingilli, Koodoo, Nilandhoo and Mareehaa ad explore the deep waters that house a plethora of marine life including dolphins, turtles, guitar fish and more. Fuvamulah is a predators playground with incredible marine encounters especially with Tiger, silky, silver tip and thresher sharks on the south plateaux. If you're lucky, you may also encounter rare sightings such as sailfish, mola mola (SunFish) and large schools of Tuna. These are the kind of sightings that will make your dive log stand out! Discover the WW2 wreck, HMS British Loyalty, piece of history in Addu Atoll. Plus visit majestic manta cleaning stations at Maa Kandu.
As there is a good amount of drift diving on the Southern Shark Adventure itinerary. Min 100 dives for advanced divers with experience of drift diving. There is typically 1 night dive on the southern itineraries.
These are typically 10 or 14 night itineraries
A note from Emperor Maldives and Carpe Diem Cruises: we believe in providing as authentic an experience with nature as possible. We do not believe it is appropriate to chum/bait for, nor feed, sharks and therefore will not dive or promote the experience known as Tiger Zoo in Fuvahmulah Atoll. We dive Fuvahmulah and regularly encounter Tiger Sharks there, as well as at other spots on our itineraries, and we believe these offer a far more natural experience.
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Southern Shark Adventure is a seasonal itinerary operating the transition trips between the central and southern atolls between December and April. This is the best time for the ultimate big fish sightings and best visibility. Minimum 100 dives, qualified to 30 meters and experience of drift diving.
Embarkation
Both Emperor and Carpe fleet will alternate between starting/finishing the Southern Shark Adventure itinerary at Male or Addu. On occasion this itinerary may start/finish at Huvadhoo.
Please check your exact start and end points for each individual trip at the time of booking.
Trip Duration
All of our Southern Shark Adventures have 7, 10 or 14 nights spent on board your liveaboard.
There are normally 3 dives a day apart from on your first and last day. There is usually an opportunity for a night dive during the week depending on weather conditions.
Arrival
If your trip departs from Male you will be met on arrival from your international flight and taken directly to the boat.
If your trip departs from Addu you will be taken to the domestic airport upon landing in Male to catch your flight to this southern atoll. On arrival in your final destination you will be met and taken to the boat. Where possible we will try to ensure that your transfer times are kept to a minimum.
There will be a full welcome briefing on arrival and you can set your kit up. If you have prepaid any rental equipment this will be given to you on arrival. There is then your first dinner and you can settle in for the evening.
Depending on arrival times you may or may not dive on the arrival day.
A normal Southern Shark Adventure itinerary will dive at the following areas but the exact dive sites and order will vary week by week depending on what people enjoy, where the best sightings have been and reflect diver experience levels.
North Male atoll
You will only dive in North Male normally for your check dive but this is an excellent taster for what is to come in the Maldives!
South Male
Kuda Giri is both a reef and a wreck dive in 1! The wreck itself is a fishing trawler that now sits upright on the seabed between 18-30m. You can make a basic penetration dive through the wreck or stay on the outside and watch the schooling fish swish about. Great for jack fish hunting, trigger fish and if you look closely you can even find frog fish. Look for the black coral too!
Vaavu
Enjoy a sunset or night dive joining the resident nurse sharks at the famous Alimatha dive sight.
Meemu atoll
Meemu atoll is known for it's enchanting channels with pelagic action, sharks, eagle rays and beautiful soft coral. Enjoy Manta cleaning stations here too.
Thaa atoll
Jump in at Thaa atoll for a chance to see hammerheads and whalesharks at night. Head to to Olhurgiri Kandu for your pelagic fix. There are some splendid coral gardens at at the Gorgonian Gardens where the eagle eyed can find ghost pipefish. Dolphins are also seen here, especially at night time.
Laamu atoll
Laamu is an undisturbed atoll with only a handful of sites having been formally identified. The channels are packed with fish and you can watch the larger marine life hunt out their prey. Explorer dive sites like Isdhoo Muli, Munniyafushi Kandu and Maabaidhoo Kandu, home to grey reef sharks, hammerheads, Tiger Sharks, Silver Tips and Zebra sharks.
Huvadhoo
Huvadhoo is brilliant location for sharks. There are drift dives one after the other and normally around 4 different kind of pelagic sharks. Eagle rays are also common in this area. The Maldives in general is great for large schools of fish including snapper, barracuda and the smaller reef fish. Turtles, napoleons and morays are regular sightings on many dive sites. The boat will usually anchor at a whaleshark spot and there is an outstanding night dive at the Hyatt house reef.
Fuvamulah to Gan
Fuvamulah is perhaps the least dived of all the sites - this area is only visited on itineraries that start/finish in Gan. The diving is focused on the excellent chances to see larger sharks and hammerheads. Of all the locations, this is the most challenging and currents can be fast but the rewards are well worth it! The viz here is excellent and there are always loads of grey reefs sharks. As the end of your trip nears, there is a chance to dive with manta near Gan - an excellent end to your trip!
Experience levels
These suit experienced divers with a minimum of 100 dives as there is a strong focus on drift diving.
You must have an advanced to 30m certification. Unpredictable and strong currents are to be expected in certain areas. If the Cruise Director feels some dives are too challenging, you may be asked by the Cruise Director to skip dives. All diving is from dhonis to give precise entry and exit points.
Disembarkation
You will normally leave the boat after breakfast on your last day and be transferred to the airport to begin your journey home. Depending on which way the itinerary is running, you may return to either Male at the end of your liveaboard or need to catch a flight up from Addu to Male. Please do speak to your travel consultant at the time of booking to confirm the exact last day arrangements.
Alternatively, why not add an extension at one of the many beautiful resorts in the Maldives or even a second liveaboard.
We would be more than happy to help you. Our travel advisors are at your service to help you.
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