While tiger sharks are occasionally spotted in various atolls across the Maldives, Fuvahmulah is the only place that offers guaranteed encounters year-round. The island’s unique geography, with no nearby land masses, creates distinctive ocean currents that make it a cleaning station and nursery for a wide array of marine life, including tiger sharks. Although exact numbers are unknown, over 200 individual tiger sharks have been identified in Fuvahmulah.

Tiger sharks are known for their voracious and indiscriminate feeding habits, preying on a wide variety of marine life, including fish, marine mammals, turtles, sea birds, and sea snakes. Their diet also includes cephalopods, mollusks, crustaceans, and even carrion, earning them the nickname “garbage bins of the ocean.” The Dhivehi name “femunu” reflects their insatiable appetite.

Despite their reputation as aggressive predators, tiger sharks are the second most dangerous shark species after great whites. However, there have been no recorded shark attacks in the Maldives. These sharks are naturally curious and may approach divers, making for an exhilarating diving experience in Fuvahmulah. As long as divers remain respectful and avoid provoking or intruding into the sharks’ territory, diving with tiger sharks in the Maldives can be a thrilling adventure.