Maamigili Beyru (Whale Shark Point)

Outer reef along the southern edge of Maamigili island, gazetted in 2009 as part of the South Ari Marine Protected Area to safeguard the only known year round whale shark aggregation in the Indian Ocean. Juvenile sharks 4-8 m long cruise the shallow reef shelf at 5-15 m feeding on copepods, and the South Ari research programme has logged sightings on more than 70% of days. The dive is a drift along the outer wall where the reef drops past 200 m — manta and mobula rays pass on cleaning rotations, eagle rays glide the slope, and grey reef sharks patrol deeper. Operators run a coordinated radio search; snorkellers stay at the surface while scuba divers hold below 5 m. MPA rules cap boat numbers and forbid touching, flash photography, and motorised approach within 20 m.