The deep blue ocean of the Maldives holds endless beauty and mysteries of nature, from the tiniest marine creatures to some of the most majestic animals on Earth. Among them, sharks have always fascinated me. Their graceful movements, distinctive shapes and quiet presence beneath the waves never fail to mesmerise me.
This is a short piece inspired by that fascination, accompanied by an underwater video captured by my friend and diver Sivad.
My first encounter with a shark remains vivid in my memory. It was in 1984, when I was still a child, at Nere, the passageway through the reef flat at Neregando, the beach in our district. It was a Friday, and as we usually did, we had gone to the beach for a swim before attending Friday prayers. I was with Rekibe, one of my relatives, along with a few other boys.
Suddenly, Rekibe pointed towards the reef flat and exclaimed, “Meyre meye!” — meaning, “A shark!”
A shark had been carried onto the shallow reef flat by the waves. It was a reef shark, although we had no idea which species it belonged to. From what I remember, it was about three and a half feet long. That unexpected encounter left a lasting impression on me and became one of my earliest memories of the remarkable marine life surrounding our island.
Around 40 species of sharks have been recorded in the Maldives, of which approximately 15 are likely to be encountered by divers and snorkellers. Among them is the Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus), the largest fish in the ocean. The recorded species vary considerably in their distribution. Some have relatively restricted ranges, while others are widespread throughout tropical waters or across the Indo-Pacific region.
Some Maldivian shark species spend much of their lives close to the seabed, while others inhabit open ocean waters. Each has its own distinctive characteristics, adaptations and ecological role. Together, they represent an extraordinary diversity of life beneath the surface of the Maldivian seas.
Sharks can be recognised by several external features, including five to seven gill slits on each side of the head, paired fins and a small opening behind the eye known as a spiracle. Their classification into different groups is generally based on features such as the number of gill slits, the presence or absence of a dorsal-fin spine or a nictitating membrane, the position of the mouth in relation to the eyes, and the shape of the snout.
Sharks generally have one or two dorsal fins, with or without spines, a pair of pectoral fins and pelvic fins, and usually an anal fin, although this is absent in some species.
Explore More About Sharks of the Maldives
Discover more stories about the remarkable sharks of the Maldives, their diversity, local names and fascinating lives beneath the waves.
Shark Diversity and Dhivehi Names – Explore the diversity of Maldivian sharks and the names they are known by locally.
The Maldives Below the Surface: Discover Sharks and the Meanings of Their Local Names
Whale Sharks – Discover the world’s largest fish and the gentle giants that inhabit Maldivian waters.
Whale Sharks: Giants of the Deep
Pelagic Encounters – Explore the open ocean around Fuvahmulah and its extraordinary pelagic marine life.
Fuvahmulah – Oceanic Capital of Pelagic Adventures
Tiger Sharks – Discover the fascinating world of tiger sharks and the remarkable encounters that make Fuvahmulah famous.
Fuvahmulah’s Tiger Zoo: Where the Ocean Revealed Its Guardians
Rare Shark Species – Learn about an unusual shark species recorded in Maldivian waters.
The Seven-Gilled Outlier
Cultural History and Island Lore
Explore the historical relationship between Maldivians and sharks, including traditional tiger shark hunts, local beliefs and the evolution of conservation.
Guardians of the Deep and the Shark Myths of the Maldives
Shark Diversity and Dhivehi Names
Discover more than 30 shark species recorded in the Maldives and the fascinating Dhivehi names given to them.
The Maldives: Discover 30+ Shark Species and Their Dhivehi Local Names
Whale Sharks
Discover the remarkable life of the Whale Shark, the world’s largest fish, and explore its extraordinary biology and conservation.
Megamamma Supreme: The Pregnant Whale Shark
Nurse Sharks
Meet the Tawny Nurse Shark, known locally as Nidhan Miyaru, and discover its fascinating characteristics and nocturnal behaviour.
The Nurse Shark: The Gentle Midnight Sleeper of the Maldives
Rare Shark Encounters
Read about the first documented Bull Shark record in the Maldives and its significance for understanding shark diversity in the archipelago.
The Maldives’ First Bull Shark Record
Sharks Around the Reefs
Explore the marine life that makes snorkelling in the Maldives memorable, including encounters with Blacktip Reef Sharks around shallow reefs.
