Maldives Shark Diving Guide: Thrilling Encounters in the Deep Blue
The 2026 Thinwana Kandu cave diving disaster, in which five Italian nationals lost their lives in Vaavu Atoll, is the deadliest incident in Maldivian diving history. The victims, including a marine ecologist from the University of Genoa and her daughter, were part of a scientific coral research mission when the dive reached approximately 50 metres—well beyond the Maldives’ recreational diving limit of 30 metres. This article covers the sharks you can safely encounter in the Maldives, where to find them, and the essential safety protocols that separate a responsible expedition from a tragedy. The following information focuses on accessible,