Updated
From Dhangethi you can snorkel with manta rays, nurse sharks and stingrays, or turtles over coral gardens, spend a morning on a sandbank in the open sea, or watch dolphins from the boat. Each is its own trip, so pick the one you most want to see, or book a few and see them all.
Manta rays
Reef manta rays can be wider than you are tall, yet they glide over the reef with barely a flick of their wings. They feed on plankton and visit cleaning stations on the reef, where small fish pick them clean.
Their movements follow the monsoon winds, which push plankton to one side of the atoll or the other, so the best spots shift through the year. South Ari is big enough that mantas are seen in most months. Ask us on WhatsApp how sightings have been lately.
Nurse sharks and stingrays
Tawny nurse sharks are slow, gentle sharks that spend much of their time resting on the sea floor. On this trip you meet them and stingrays in clear, shallow water, which makes it a good first trip if you're new to snorkelling.
Turtles and coral gardens
Green and hawksbill turtles both live on Maldivian reefs. Green turtles graze on seagrass and algae; hawksbills pick through the coral for sponges. You snorkel over coral gardens full of reef fish while you look for them.
A sandbank in the open sea
A sandbank is a strip of white sand that rises out of the sea, with no buildings and usually no shade. You get time on the sand and snorkel off its edge. Bring a hat, water and plenty of sunscreen.
Dolphins at golden hour
Not a snorkel trip, but a favourite: a late-afternoon boat ride to look for dolphins. Spinner dolphins are the ones you're most likely to see in the Maldives, often in big groups, and they're named for the way they leap and spin out of the water.
By jet ski
If you'd rather get there fast, the jet-ski tour and snorkel rides out to a snorkel spot, two people to a jet ski.
How to choose
- New to snorkelling: nurse sharks and stingrays, then the turtle reef
- Once in a lifetime: whale sharks, then manta rays
- A lazy morning: the sandbank
- Rather stay dry: dolphin watching
Snorkelling tips
- Don't stand on or touch coral. It's alive, and it cuts
- Use reef-safe sunscreen, or cover up with a rash guard
- Check your mask fits snugly and defog it before you get in
- Keep a few metres from turtles, sharks and rays, and never chase them
- Tell us about non-swimmers or young children in the note when you book
Common questions
Which snorkel trip is best for beginners?
The nurse shark and stingray trip, in clear, shallow water, is the gentlest start. The turtle reef is a good next step.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer to snorkel?
You should be comfortable in the water. Some trips, like whale sharks and mantas, are in deep, open water; others are in shallower spots. If anyone in your group isn't confident, tell us in the note when you book.
Are the animals guaranteed?
No. They're wild animals in the open sea, so sightings can never be promised. Ask us on WhatsApp how recent trips have gone.
Can I book more than one snorkel trip?
Yes. Add each trip you want and confirm them together as one booking. You pay for each on the day.