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Dhigurah
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Dhigurah

Whale Sharks and a Three-Kilometre Sandbank in South Ari

Plan this trip
3 daysIdeal stay₹7,130From / night₹1,710Food / dayFreeEntry

A long, thin island in the South Ari Marine Protected Area, the place in the Maldives for whale sharks, which live along this reef all year (most sightings August to November, clearest water January to April). A sandbank runs off its southern tip, and manta rays visit nearby. About two and a half hours by shared speedboat from Malé; faster by domestic flight to Maamigili (VAM) and a short boat. No alcohol on the island.

Highlights

  • Snorkel with whale sharks
  • Walk the sandbank at low tide
  • Manta ray snorkel
  • Turtles on the reef
  • Bikini beach sunsets

Things to do

  • Whale shark snorkel tripMorning · 4h
  • Sandbank walk and swimAfternoon · 2h 30m
  • Manta and turtle snorkelMorning · 3h 30m
  • Sunset on the bikini beachEvening · 1h 30m

Tours & tickets

Tours & tickets in Dhigurahvia GetYourGuideTours & tickets in Dhigurahvia Klook

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When to go

Best time: December – April

Worth knowing

South-West Monsoon: Rough Seas, Boats Cancelled

From May to October the south-west monsoon brings squalls, heavy showers and rough seas, worst from June to August. Public ferries and shared speedboats are delayed or cancelled on bad days, crossings to the outer atolls get very bumpy, and sandbank and snorkel trips are called off. There are still plenty of sunny days and prices are lower. Keep a spare night in Hulhumalé before your flight home.

Worth knowing

Last Boats Leave Mid-Afternoon

Shared speedboats to the outer islands leave the airport only once or twice a day, the last around 16:00; public ferries run a few days a week and not on Fridays. Land later and you sleep in Hulhumalé. Coming back, the boats arrive at the airport in the morning, so a flight home after about 12:00 is safest.

Heads up

Ramadan on the Local Islands

Ramadan runs from about 8 February to 9 March 2027. On local islands and in Malé cafes close by day (your guesthouse still serves you), shops open short hours, and ferry and speedboat times change. Don't eat, drink or smoke in public in daylight. Resorts carry on as normal.

Heads up

Whale Shark Peak in South Ari

Whale sharks are seen in South Ari all year, most often from August to November. Snorkel with a licensed operator, keep at least a few metres away, never touch, and no flash.

  • Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr (Kuda Eid) — The month of fasting. On local islands and in Malé most cafes close from dawn to sunset (guesthouses still feed their guests), shops keep shorter hours, and ferry and speedboat times change. Don't eat, drink or smoke in public in daylight. Eid at the end is a three-day holiday of family feasts; boats and flights from Malé fill up. Resorts are unaffected.
  • Eid al-Adha (Bodu Eid) — The "big Eid", about seventy days after Ramadan ends (mid-May in 2027): a long public holiday when Maldivians travel home to their islands, so public ferries and shared speedboats fill and some guesthouse excursions pause. Book boats early.
  • Whale shark peak in South Ari — Whale sharks live along South Ari's outer reef all year, but sightings are most frequent from August to November. Seas can be rougher then; January to April has the clearest water. Keep your distance, never touch, and no flash.