Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are the largest shark, and indeed largest of any fishes alive today. They feed on plankton and travel large distances to find enough food to sustain their huge size, and to reproduce. Whale sharks are found in all the tropical oceans of the world. Their white spotted colouration makes these gentle giants easy to distinguish, and popular with snorkelers and divers at sites where they aggregate off the coast.

The maximum size of whale sharks is not known, but could be as large as 20m. Females give birth to live young but this has never been observed. Where pupping occurs and where the youngest animals situate remains a mystery, as they are very rarely found. Adults are often found feeding at the surface, but may dive to 1000m. Whale sharks are protected from fishing in many countries these days, but are in decline in some areas.

Generations ago, Dhigurah made its name and wealth from hunting whale sharks. The deep waters on the islands eastern shore are part of a reef complex which is home to one of the only known populations of whale sharks which inhabit one region all year round – the same feature that nowadays attracts tourists and research teams from around the world! The sharks were hunted purely for utilitarian reasons, as their liver oil was used to protect the wooden hulls of the local fishing boats from fouling and parasites which would damage the wood. As soon as synthetic versions of this coating became physically and financially available, the hunting was stopped. This was formally enforced by the Maldivian government from 1995.

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