The South Ari Marine Protected Area — often shortened to SAMPA — covers the outer reef along the southern edge of Ari Atoll, running past the local islands of Dhigurah, Dhangethi and Maamigili. It was declared a protected area in 2009, largely to safeguard the whale sharks that gather here. Unusually, they are present all year round, which has made this stretch of reef one of the most reliable places in the world to snorkel with them.
The animals seen in South Ari are mostly juvenile whale sharks, typically a few metres to perhaps eight metres long — still the largest fish you are ever likely to swim beside. They cruise along the reef edge and come to the surface to feed and to warm up, which is when the boats spot them. Researchers from the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme have identified hundreds of individuals in the area from the unique spot patterns on their flanks.
What to see and do: South Ari Marine Protected Area
Snorkel with whale sharks
The classic trip is a two- to four-hour speedboat outing along the reef. The crew scan the water and, when a shark is found, put a small group in with a guide. Encounters can last a few seconds or many minutes. Sightings are frequent but never guaranteed — some days the sharks stay deep. Read the whale shark guide before you book.
Follow the code of conduct
Keep at least three metres from the head and body and four from the tail; never touch, chase or block a shark; no flash photography; no scuba diving with whale sharks at the surface; and limit the number of swimmers around each animal. Good operators brief you on these rules and stick to them. If yours does not, say so.
Look for everything else
The protected reef is home to much more than whale sharks: turtles, reef sharks, eagle rays, schools of fusiliers and, in season, manta rays. Many whale shark trips add a reef snorkel or a turtle stop to the same outing.
How to get to South Ari Marine Protected Area
- From Dhangethi the whale shark reef is a short speedboat ride away — one of the island’s great advantages. Trips are arranged by guesthouses, dive centres and online through operators listed on GetYourGuide.
- Day trips also run all the way from Malé, but they involve several hours in a speedboat for the same few minutes in the water.
Insider tips
- Book your whale shark trip for your first full day, so that you have spare days to try again if the sharks do not show.
- Mornings are often calmer; ask your operator which time of day they prefer and why.
- Wear a rash vest and reef-safe sunscreen — you will be floating at the surface in strong sun.
- You need to be a confident swimmer in open water; life vests are usually available on the boat.
Best tours & tickets for South Ari Marine Protected Area
These top-rated experiences pair well with a visit to South Ari Marine Protected Area:
Small-boat snorkelling trip from €148 Whale Shark Snorkeling Tour from Dhigurah or Dhangethi
The essential Dhangethi excursion. A speedboat takes you out along the outer reef of the South Ari Marine Protected Area, where the crew search the surface for whale sharks and put you in the water with a guide when one is found. Sightings are frequent here but never guaranteed — wild animals keep their own schedule — so it pays to book early in your stay and leave room to try again.
- Search the South Ari Marine Protected Area for whale sharks
- Snorkel with a professional guide
- Leaves from your own island
Half-day small-group snorkelling safari from €270 Dhangethi: Whale Shark & Manta Ray Snorkeling with Photos
A longer, more relaxed version of the classic trip, run from Dhangethi itself in a small group. You spend around four hours at sea looking for whale sharks and manta rays, with time on the boat between swims to learn about the local marine life — and the operator takes photographs, so you can concentrate on the swim rather than your camera.
- Half a day on the water from Dhangethi
- Whale shark search plus manta snorkelling
- Photos of your encounter
Combined snorkelling trip from €265 South Ari Whale Shark & Manta Ray Snorkeling Tour
Combines South Ari’s two headline animals in a single short trip: a search along the whale shark reef and a stop where manta rays are regularly seen. It is a good choice if you only have a day or two in the atoll. Check the listing for the meeting point and exactly which islands it collects from.
- Look for whale sharks and manta rays in one outing
- Snorkel in their natural environment
- Guided from start to finish
Small-group snorkelling trip from €270 Dhigurah: Whale Shark and Manta Ray Snorkeling Tour
Run from neighbouring Dhigurah, a little further south along the same whale shark reef, this four-hour trip is one of the few in South Ari that already carries reviews on GetYourGuide. Ask whether they can collect from Dhangethi; if not, it is a natural choice if you split your stay between the two islands.
- Whale sharks and manta rays in the Marine Protected Area
- Hotel pickup and a short boat ride
- Photos of your experience
Small-group snorkelling trip from €85 Maldives: South Ari Atoll Whale Shark Snorkeling Tour
At the time of writing this is the lowest-priced whale shark listing for South Ari on GetYourGuide. It is based on Fenfushi, an island at the southern end of the atoll, so check whether it can collect from Dhangethi before you book — otherwise it suits travellers staying further south.
- Whale shark snorkel in the Marine Protected Area
- Briefing on the animals before you swim
- Snacks and water on board
Private full-day cruise (up to 12 people) from €4493 per group Maldives: Private Yacht Cruise in Marine Protected Area
A whole day on a private yacht in the South Ari Marine Protected Area, with the freedom to stay out longer, try more than one site and move away from the crowd of other boats. The price is for the whole boat, so it only makes sense for families or a group of friends sharing the cost.
- Your own boat for the day in the South Ari MPA
- Snorkel reefs and search for whale sharks and mantas
- Priced per group of up to 12
