Maldives Marine Conservation Cruise

We arrive at Malé International Airport and meet our representative for assistance, then transfer to our guesthouse. We board MV Felicity, settle into our cabins and receive an introduction to the vessel and the days ahead. We sail from the Malé area towards Maafushi in South Malé Atoll – our first taste of life on board. Our tour leader presents a safety and responsible snorkelling briefing to help protect fragile reefs. Later, local NGO Save the Beach explains why coral reefs matter, the threats they face and how conservation projects in the Maldives are helping to safeguard them.

We visit a coral rehabilitation site near Maafushi to see fragments grown on frames and carefully transplanted – reef restoration in action. We then snorkel above swaying seagrass meadows and learn how these often overlooked habitats store carbon, shelter marine life and stabilise coastlines.

We cruise towards South Ari Atoll – celebrated for its rich marine life – with time for you to relax on deck and watch for dolphins and seabirds. We snorkel over vibrant reefs, comparing coral condition and fish life with earlier sites. In the late afternoon we visit Dhangethi, tasting traditional hedika snacks and experiencing daily island life, before meeting the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme team to discuss whale shark behaviour, identification and the code of conduct for tomorrow’s encounters.

We search by boat along the reefs near Dhigurah for whale sharks, entering the water only when conditions allow ethical, low impact encounters. We help record size, markings and behaviour, contributing directly to long term research and monitoring. We land on an uninhabited island – you can relax and explore – and we take part in a beach clean, removing plastic from the shoreline. In the evening, the MWSRP team shares more about whale shark ecology and the conservation challenges they face.

We cruise to Rangali Madivaru – known as Manta Point – where an early snorkel may, if conditions align, reward us with manta ray sightings. We continue monitoring for whale sharks, practising identification skills and reinforcing our role as citizen scientists. In the late afternoon we walk through Dhigurah’s tropical vegetation, learning how the island’s flora supports biodiversity and protects the shoreline.

MV Felicity begins the return journey towards the Malé area with two snorkel stops, each revealing distinct coral formations and varied reef species. We then visit the peaceful fishing island of Gulhi to see boats in the dry dock and cool off with fresh kurumba coconut – with time for you to chat to the locals. Back on board, a Maldivian theme night with Bodu Beru drumming and dancing brings traditional music and island culture to life.

We enjoy a final snorkel, with the chance to spot turtles, rays or reef sharks – a fitting farewell to the underwater world. On Villimalé we meet Save the Beach again and see first-hand how coastal development and urban pressures affect the reefs and the conservation projects under way.

After disembarking MV Felicity, we arrange your included transfer to Malé International Airport, ensuring you arrive in good time for your onward flight.