Snorkeling with Whale Sharks in South Ari Atoll – Vilemendhoo Island Resort in the Maldives

Introduction

In August, I had the opportunity to travel to India for work. While planning my itinerary, I noticed that the Maldives were just a short flight away from Bangalore. We’d been to South Ari and Baa Atoll before, but August is whale shark and manta season so we couldn’t resist. This is how we wound up at Vilamendhoo Island Resort in the Maldives hoping to go snorkeling with whale sharks.

The Catch-22 of Whale Shark and Manta Season

One of the biggest draws of the Maldives is the opportunity to go snorkeling with whale sharks and mantas, which thrive on the plankton found in the water, particularly during the rainy season. This natural phenomenon creates a unique catch-22: the best time to see these magnificent creatures is during the less favourable weather conditions.

Travel Logistics: Getting There

Given the last-minute nature of our trip, we managed to snag frequent flyer tickets on Sri Lankan Air. Although IndiGo offers direct flights, the timings didn’t align with my work schedule. Our flight from Bangalore was scheduled to depart at 3:20 AM. Surprisingly, the Bangalore airport buzzes with activity even at this hour, unlike the typically quiet Sydney airport which isn’t even open at this hour.

Despite the chaotic traffic, which turned a 90-minute drive into a three-hour ordeal, we finally reached the bustling airport. After navigating through numerous lines and finding solace in the crowded lounge, we boarded our flight for the short journey to Colombo.

Our layover in Colombo was quick and our connecting flight to Malé departed around 7:30 AM. Upon arrival in Malé an hour later, we stored our excess baggage at the airport, mindful of the seaplane’s luggage weight restrictions, and proceeded to the seaplane transfer desk. Resorts in the Maldives are fairly casual, so you don’t need to bring an extensive wardrobe. As our plans focussed on snorkeling with whale sharks, we brought our own masks, fins, and snorkels.

The Seaplane Journey to Vilemendhoo

The seaplane journey from Malé to Vilemendhoo was a breathtaking experience. The hour-long flight offered postcard-perfect views of the Maldives, setting the tone for the adventure ahead. Vilemendhoo Island Resort, occupies an entire tiny island, just  900 meters long and 250 meters wide. The resort greeted us at the floating seaplane dock for the short Dhoni transfer to the pier. From there it was shoes off for the next four days.

Our Stay at Vilemendhoo: Jacuzzi Beach Villa

We booked a Jacuzzi Beach Villa, the lowest category room granting access to the adults-only pool and restaurant. The villa, though more like a duplex, offered ample privacy and a serene beachside location on the northwest side of the island. The open-air bathroom and private sundeck with a jacuzzi added a touch of luxury, though we never actually used the jacuzzi.

Dining at Vilemendhoo

The dining experience at Vilemendhoo was, in a word, delightful. The buffet, featuring a different theme each night, was housed in the open-air dining room with a comfortable sand floor. We preferred outdoor seating to enjoy the gentle breeze. The food was consistently good, offering a wide variety of options. My only regret with the buffet is that we only got to experience the full menu on our departure day, because we don’t like to eat a big breakfast before snorkeling with whale sharks. In addition to the buffet, there are two other restaurants. We couldn’t secure a reservation at the Hot Rock restaurant, we did enjoy a nice meal at Asian Wok.

Snorkelling Adventures: The House Reef and Beyond

Snorkelling at Vilemendhoo’s house reef was a mesmerising experience, with drift snorkelling allowing us to explore the vibrant underwater world effortlessly. We also embarked on two excursions for snorkel with whale sharks.

Our first encounter snorkeling with whale sharks was chaotic, with over a hundred people in the water, many of whom were inexperienced swimmers. The scene resembled a rugby scrum, with people kicking, punching, and shoving. Despite the chaos, the whale shark seemed unbothered by our presence.

 

The second time snorkeling with whale sharks was more relaxed, with fewer boats, no scuba divers, and a more organised approach. After locating and swimming with the whale sharks, we ventured off in search of mantas and turtles.

Conclusion

Though it was technically the Southwest Monsoon season, we had wonderful weather during our stay and enjoyed snorkeling with the whale sharks. Vilemendhoo We felt completely relaxed and spoiled during our time at Vilemendhoo.