Whale Shark Snorkeling Conservation Cruise

Liveaboard a Turkish gulet and cruise the island paradise of the Maldives to experience the ultimate in island hopping, whale shark conservation, and snorkeling adventures.

Snorkel with majestic whale sharks and learn about these gentle giants from the Maldivian Whale Shark Research Program Coordinator, who will travel with us. As you discover life under the sea at the South Male and South Ari Atolls, you can assist in data collection, identify individuals, and maybe even take measurements underwater!

If you are passionate about ocean life, this trip through the Maldives is a perfect fit!

This experience can only accommodate 12 guests and has 3 departure dates per year, so secure your spot early. Carbon removals are included with your booking!

• Experience the magic of snorkeling with whale sharks and assist in data collection
• Spot turtles, colorful fish, sharks, and dolphins through ~10 vivid underwater encounters
• Snorkel the coral nursery maintained by Save the Beach and watch coral propagation firsthand
• Learn about the Maldivian ecosystem, seagrass, conservation challenges, & protective measures
• Savour exquisite local cuisine by sampling "hedika," sweet and savory small bites
• Experience local traditions such "Boduberu," a tribal dance to drum music
• Intrepidly roam through an uninhabited island and help clean up its beaches

This unique, hand-curated cruise itinerary is for couples, solo travelers, and families with a passion for the ocean and responsible travel. Discover the charm and natural beauty of the local islands of Dhangethi, Dhigurah, and Gulhi, both above and below the surface.

In addition to snorkeling alongside the whale shark research team, meet with a local NGO (Save the Beach), visit a coral nursery, and learn about the local efforts to regenerate coral reefs and how you can assist the process. Your expert tour leader will teach you about the importance of the humble seagrass in sea turtle conservation efforts. Embark on a tropical forest walk, visit deserted sandbank islands, complete beach cleans, watch mesmerizing sunrises and sunsets, and of course, kick back and relax as you sail your worries away, onboard the lovely MV Felicity gulet.

Your tour leader will also familiarize you with all things Maldivian. From tours of the local islands and villages, to sampling afternoon tea snacks known as "hedika," to enjoying a Maldivian theme night featuring a traditional "Boduberu" musical drumming and dance performance, you'll see a special and unique side to these wonderful islands!

With a tropical climate, plenty of sunshine, and temperatures around 86°F (30°C) throughout the year, there is never a bad time to visit the Maldives. The Maldives has two distinct seasons:

• January - March: This is the dry season as the northeast monsoons are more common.
• Mid-May - November: This is the wet season, as southwest monsoons are more common. Wet, however, doesn't mean rain all the time, it just means we see more rain during this period than during the dry season. This may be a daily heavy shower, but it's very rare to have days and days of rain in succession or even a full 24 hours of rain. There is usually more wind during this period, but this helps keep the temperature at a nice level and you can still expect plenty of blue skies and sunshine.

The rare thunderstorm in the Maldives (especially around the southwest monsoon months) can be a welcome respite from the sun. Cloudy skies, slate grey seas, and crashing thunder make for lovely reading weather. The warm temperatures will allow you to go for a walk in the rain, a thoroughly enjoyable experience. For extra exhilaration, take a swim in the rain - the sea will be extra warm.

There can be heavy rain showers pretty much any time of year, but they tend to be short and cannot be accurately predicted seasonally (in other words – don’t worry too much about them – you will quite possibly experience some rain showers, but the majority of the weather should be great, and you will be unlucky to get several consecutive days of heavy rain). Like many places in the world today, the climate and weather pattern is changing, and historical data is less reliable as an indication of what to expect in the here and now.

We are a Travelife Partner, which signifies our compliance with over 100 sustainability criteria.

Sustainable and Responsible tourism has been an integral part of our business model since 2012. We are mindful of ensuring we promote local tourism in line with Maldivian culture and traditions. Through the education of our team, guests, and locals, we aim to protect the environment and limit wherever possible any negative impact on local life.

As a team, we aim to inspire, inform and demonstrate to our partners, guests, and the tourism industry as a whole, that we are committed to ensuring we offer only responsible and positive travel experiences. We believe that people, communication, and education are the foundation of Sustainable Tourism. This is the reason that we have built our business around four communities:

• Our Guests
• Our Team
• Local Islanders
• NGOs and charity organizations

We understand that success requires focus, adaptation, and long-term thinking. Change does not often happen overnight but is a gradual process. Surely in a destination such as the Maldives, it is our responsibility to make that difference.

Environmental Initiatives
Through learning experiences with our guides, we provide guests with awareness of corals, marine life, seagrass, mangroves, waste management, and plastic pollution. We brief all guests participating in snorkeling activities on the Green Fins Code of Conduct, this improves their knowledge of what they can do to help protect the ocean and coral reefs. We follow the Codes of Conduct produced by international marine organizations when encountering manta rays, whale sharks, and turtles while snorkeling and diving.

We collaborate with the Maldives Whale Shark Research Program, a charity founded to learn more about the life cycle, population dynamics, and habitat usage of the Maldives whale shark population. This enables us to educate our team, provide guests with marine education and spread the importance of whale sharks.

Plastic waste reduction is also paramount for us. Stemming from this belief, we do not provide any single-use plastic bottles to travelers, so we advise that you bring your own reusable bottle.

Sociocultural Initiatives
We ensure that our tours include opportunities to engage with locals and learn about the local way of life. By facilitating interactions between travelers and the local community, we aim to provide enriching and authentic experiences. These not only benefit the travelers by offering a deeper and more meaningful connection with the destination, but they also have a positive impact on the local community. By actively participating in cultural interactions, travelers contribute to the preservation of local traditions, ensuring their endurance over time. Additionally, these interactions have a positive economic impact on the community economy, as they provide opportunities for income generation and sustainable development.

Economic Initiatives
We choose locally owned and operated infrastructure as well as services developed and managed by locals to contribute to the local community's economic development. By doing this, we provide job opportunities for locals making the wheels of the economy spin. In this same line, we opt not to have our own fleet of vehicles but rather use public means of transportation or private locally owned ones. This decision not only supports the sustainability of the local transportation sector but also ensures that the economic benefits of tourism are distributed among the community, promoting more inclusive and balanced growth.

Be sure you have traveler´s insurance.
You can travel safely in the knowledge that you are in capable hands, all our guide team are certified in the care and safety of guests holding First Emergency Response and Lifeguard certifications.