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What can you see when snorkelling in the Maldives?

09 Mar 2020

The first time you don your mask and put your face in the waters of the Maldives you will discover a world so rich with marine life you will be hooked on snorkelling for life! The Maldives is renowned as being one of the best places in the world for snorkelling and for good reason too – the water is warm and clear, there are a huge variety of reefs to visit and there is lots to see:

Turtles – although endangered species, you will find a lot of them in the Maldives, especially in Lhaviyani Atoll where you can snorkel with the largest community of Green Sea turtles in the Maldives at Kuredu Caves, and if staying at Innahura you can snorkel Turtle Rock to see Hawksbill turtles. Prodivers works closely with the Olive Ridley Project researching and protecting turtles in the Maldives.

Rays – the most graceful of creatures to inhabit the ocean, rays come in all shapes and sizes and the Maldives is a great place for snorkellers to see everything from stingrays shuffling in the sand, eagle rays flying past and majestic manta rays feeding or visiting cleaning stations.

Fish – the kaleidoscopic colours of the tropical fish will mesmerise all who glimpse the underwater world of the Maldives. Schools of hundreds of blue-striped snappers moving as one, clouds of so many fusiliers that you can’t see anything but fish is a sight never to be forgotten. Anemones are home to little clownfish so there’s a chance you may even find Nemo! There are countless species to be seen including delicate butterfly fish, iridescent unicorn fish and huge napoleon wrasse cruising by.

Moray Eels – usually shy and found hiding in the crevices of the reefs, morays can sometimes be seen swimming along the reef in search of a tasty fish to eat. Giant morays are often seen with their head protruding from the reef, opening and closing their mouths and the distinctive honeycomb morays are hard to miss with their yellow and black markings.

Sharks – black tip reef sharks are commonly seen by snorkellers, and nurse sharks and leopard sharks can also be spotted resting on the reef. The Maldives is one of the best places in the world for snorkellers to see whale sharks too – reaching up to 12 meters long they are the biggest fish in the sea and often cited as a ‘must-see’ creature amongst both snorkellers and scuba divers.

If you’re holidaying in the Maldives, go snorkelling, there’s too much to miss if you don’t!