Having just finished the 2006/2007 season aboard Ocean Dancer, we’d like to share with you what continues to be the best times of year for certain sightings.

December & January – Whale Sharks!

This is the best time of the year for encountering Whale Sharks in the Maldives. Seas may be a bit rougher and visibility not as clear when compared to other months in the dive season, however the probability of encountering a whale shark (although not guaranteed) is the highest during these times.  That's not to say that once these dates pass - they leave the areas.  They do remain in the vicinity throughout the dive season, however as spring approaches the frequency of the encounters does diminish.

Surprisingly, for as large as these creatures are, they are not easy to spot from the surface due to their spotted camouflage bodies.  When searching for Whale Sharks, Ocean Dancer may spend a while cruising around looking for them.  This is one of the reasons that the dive schedule is unpredictable and can vary significantly day to day.  However, when the cry goes out - it is a mad dash for everyone to get ready, board the dhoni and head out to arrive ahead of the animals so that the encounter time can be maximized.  To prolong the experience we often recommend snorkeling with these animals instead of using scuba as the bubbles tend to spook them.

December - January - February - March – April – Mantas!

During these months your chances to encounter a Manta Ray are the highest.  These graceful and magnificent creatures are plankton feeders and love riding the currents of the water that flows between the atolls where the nutrients are concentrated. You may also be able to closely approach one as it blissfully relaxes at a cleaning station.

February - March – April – Excellent visibility and terrific fish life!

These months offer the best overall diving conditions.  The winds and currents start to lie down. Visibility is typically excellent and the fish life is vast and varied.  While Whale Shark and Manta sightings are possible, they are not as likely as they are in December and January.  Even without Whale Sharks and Mantas, the sheer volume of reef fish, pelagic, and sharks will provide plenty of visual stimulation for you on every dive.

Whenever you come with us aboard Ocean Dancer in the Maldives, you’ll know what we mean when we call this experience ‘the magic of the Maldives’!