As a marine biologist, my favorite part of living on a tropical island is the marine life! In the past 6 months, I have seen so many amazing organisms while in and above the water!
They are always around no matter what season it is. Here are some of the beautiful creatures you will see on your next tropical getaway to the Maldives!
Stingrays!
You can see some enormous stingrays here! All types as well. As most of my time is spent in north Maldivian atolls, I find mostly cow-tail, feather-tips, porcupine, and eagle rays.
Manta Rays
You also have the opportunity to see members of the largest aggregation of Manta Rays in the world! Mantas are so majestic and graceful to witness. They are also quite curious creatures that will be interested to see what you are up to 🙂 Located in the Maldives is the famous Baa Atoll where you can almost always spot these beautiful creatures.
Click here to learn how to spend a day in Hanifaru Bay.
Oh, and they do not care about your personal space so make sure to keep your distance before you get hit by a giant manta ray.
Clownfish
Anyone seen Nemo?? Clownfish are quite rare to find in the wild nowadays, due to the high demand for them from the aquarium trade. There are three species found in the Maldives and one is only found in the Indian ocean (the pink fish pictured here). These are Maldivian clownfish and if you look close enough you can spot them in the anemone.
Due to their popularity, numerous organizations around the world have created clownfish breeding programs to help restore their populations. That being said, if you are lucky enough to spot one of these beautiful anemones housing clownfish, it is a real treat!
Sea Turtles
A group favorite! In the Maldives, you can find 5 out of 7 species of sea turtles. The most common is the green and hawksbill sea turtles as they reside in coastal areas like coral reefs and seagrass beds. These two species also nest on Maldivian beaches!
Fun Fact: did you know green sea turtles eat up to 3x their body weight in seagrass, which makes their fat green!
Sharks
There is nothing to be scared of… I mean they are sharks but most are not aggressive here. I would say all but you know, they are wild animals and whatnot. But, I love them and have to admit, I may get a little close to some when I find them. The most common species I see are black-tip reef sharks. I find the juveniles adorable! Other species in this area are nurse, lemon, white-tip, silver-tip, and hammerhead sharks, just to name a few.
The most famous shark spotted in the Maldives is the Whale shark! These are usually found in the same area as manta rays as they feed on the same small, microscopic plankton.
Unfortunately, I personally never got to see one 🙁 This video is from a friend that was lucky enough to spot one during an early morning fishing trip. To see these guys really depends on where you are. Whale sharks are more commonly spotted in the central and south atolls and are rarer in the northern atolls.
Coral
Did you know coral is an animal? Most actually don’t know this! They do look and feel like giant rocks due to a calcium carbonate skeleton they secrete. But, inside their skeleton resides a soft-bodied organism related to jellyfish and anemones.
Make sure to always respect the marine life
If you do get the chance to get in the water anywhere around the world please, please remember to respect the ocean. You can do this by observing with your eyes and not your hands, and to not kick or step on any coral or marine life. These are important rules to remember in addition, with other actions like always placing your rubbish in the correct area, wearing reef-safe sunscreen, only buying seafood from sustainable sources, and leaving the beautiful seashells in the beach 🙂 If we can all strive to work on these things, the oceans will continue to thrive for future generations.
Various marine species
The organisms above only scratch the surface of what you may see in the Maldivian water. The opportunities are endless! Make sure to keep your mind open and enjoy all the beautiful wildlife!
Most of the images were captured by my trusty GoPro!
Make sure to get your travel insurance before you head to your magical holiday
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