Did you know that Maldives ranks among the top
five places on Earth for watching whales and dolphins? Over 20 different
species (a quarter of the world's total) call the Maldives home. These range
from the mighty Blue Whale (the largest animal alive) to the diminutive but
highly acrobatic Spinner Dolphin.
Spinner Dolphins are the commonest species, and they occur here in their
tens of thousands. They have a regular daily routine to their lives, feeding
offshore at night, coming into the atolls in the early morning, and leaving
again for the open ocean in the late afternoon. This dependable schedule
means that it is very easy to find Spinner Dolphins at certain times every
day. And as a result, many Maldivian resorts offer morning or afternoon
dolphin excursions to see Spinners. While nothing with wildlife can be
absolutely guaranteed, you will never have a better chance to watch wild
dolphins playing in their natural environment than right here in the
Maldives.
Alternatively, if you would like to see even more dolphins, and whales too,
why not try a cruise on one of our many comfortable safari boats? Species
that are regularly seen on special whale watching safaris include the Blue
Whale, Sperm Whale and Pilot Whale as well as seven different types of
dolphin (Spinner, Bottlenose, Risso's, Spotted, Striped, Fraser's and
Rough-toothed). Maldivian specialities, which are frequently seen here but
hardly ever anywhere else, include Dwarf Sperm Whale, Melon-headed Whale and
Tropical Bottlenose Whale (long considered the rarest whale in the World,
but now known to be a Maldives resident). You may also be lucky enough to
spot a pod of magnificent Killer Whales (Orcas), which contrary to popular
belief do not live only in cold waters.
You may not have realized this before, but with our unbeatable diversity and
abundance of whales and dolphins, plus warm clear waters, Maldives really is
one the very best places in the world for whale and dolphin watching. |
