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Scuba diving is an unforgettable experience, it’s a cool hobby that lures you to all kinds of interesting destinations around the world in search of ‘must-see’ marine creatures. Divers visiting the Maldives are often on the lookout for sharks and rays, and with a variety of different species of shark cruising the reefs at dive sites within easy reach of our dive centers, they’re rarely disappointed. From nurse sharks resting under coral blocks to schooling grey reef sharks and squadrons of eagle rays hanging effortlessly in the currents, there are many diving memories to be made here.

Sharks and Rays belong to the subclass Elasmobranchii in the class Chondrichthyes, the cartilaginous or non-bony fishes. Apart from their lack of bony skeleton, they have fascinating senses including skin that has been the influence for ‘go faster’ swimsuits. For years they have were feared as man-eating monsters but the often misunderstood sharks and rays are essential to the health of our oceans. If you are interested in finding out more about these fascinating creatures, you can join the PADI Distinctive Specialty Course, Maldivian Shark & Ray Diver, where you will learn a lot about shark and ray behaviour and take part in a dive at one of the shark diving hotspots nearby. You will also get a Shark & Ray Diver certification card which can be ‘accidentally’ pulled out instead of a payment card next time you’re looking to impress someone!