FUVAHMULAH
The Island Where Sharks Call Home
Welcome to Off Grid Holidays — your gateway to Fuvahmulah, one of the most unique islands on Earth and the ultimate destination for divers, photographers, and ocean lovers seeking authentic encounters with the wild.
Fuvahmulah stands alone in the Indian Ocean, an isolated island-atoll surrounded by deep blue water that drops into the abyss within swimming distance of shore. Its geography creates year-round pelagic conditions that attract some of the ocean’s most iconic predators — tiger sharks, thresher sharks, hammerheads, and mantas.
Here, adventure meets education. Every dive carries history, ecology, and respect for the natural world.
Why Fuvahmulah Is Different
Unlike the ring-shaped atolls across the Maldives, Fuvahmulah is a single island with no lagoon. Its steep underwater walls descend thousands of meters almost immediately from shore, creating natural “wall dives” everywhere around the island. These walls act like underwater highways for pelagic sharks and rays moving through the deep ocean.
This rare topography gives Fuvahmulah its unmatched reputation — one of the few places in the world where tiger shark encounters are guaranteed year-round and where every dive has the potential to surprise you with giants of the open sea.
Sharks, Pelagics & Reef Life
Tiger Sharks:
Fuvahmulah is home to one of the world’s healthiest populations of tiger sharks. Many individuals are resident, often seen daily near the harbour area and adjacent reefs. Encounters happen in shallow water (6–10 m), making them accessible to divers and underwater photographers alike.
Other Pelagic Life:
Farther offshore, strong oceanic currents sweep over deep plateaus, bringing up cool, nutrient-rich water and with it — hammerheads, thresher sharks, silver tips, oceanic mantas, and the occasional whale shark. Dive sites like Fari Kede are famous for blue-water drift dives and encounters that few places on earth can match.
Reef Life:
Between the walls and pelagics, Fuvahmulah’s reef ecosystem remains vibrant. Hard and soft corals thrive along the slopes, creating habitat for schools of reef fish, macro life, and cleaning stations frequented by sharks and rays.
The Harbour History & Baiting Practices — A Candid Look
The story of Fuvahmulah’s tiger sharks begins not with tourism, but with the island’s fishermen.
For decades, local fishermen cleaned their catch near the beaches around the island, tossing fish heads, bones, and scraps back into the sea. Over time, tiger sharks learned this rhythm. They began frequenting the area for the easy food, and a natural feeding ground developed right beside the beach around the island. When the harbour was built in the early 2000s, these feeding habits concentrated further — creating what is now the famous Tiger Harbour or Tiger Wall site.
When divers began exploring these waters, they found something extraordinary — tiger sharks appearing predictably in clear, shallow water. What started as a byproduct of fishing became one of the most unique shark-diving experiences on Earth.
Modern Baiting Practices
Today, baiting and fish waste disposal are strictly regulated. Most dive operators have moved toward a sustainable model where the sharks’ natural behaviour — not feeding — drives encounters. Some operators may still use small fish remnants under controlled conditions, but large-scale chumming is avoided.
Responsible operations, including those partnered with Off Grid Holidays, adhere to these key ethics:
No direct feeding or teasing sharks with bait.
No chumming (blood or fish oil) to attract large numbers of sharks.
Always maintain safe distances and respect natural movement.
Limit diver numbers and bottom time to avoid stress on wildlife.
The Ethical Discussion
The conversation around baiting is complex.
Supporters argue that historical fish waste created a semi-natural site that now supports tourism, research, and local income while promoting shark awareness.
Critics caution that ongoing baiting could alter shark behaviour or create dependency if not managed carefully.
In truth, both are right — which is why Off Grid Holidays promotes full transparency, diver education, and responsible practices. Guests are taught to recognize shark body language, understand dominance and approach behaviour, and respect Fuvahmulah’s fragile balance between tradition and conservation.
This honesty is part of what makes diving here meaningful: understanding why the sharks are here and how humans can now coexist with them sustainably.
Dive Sites & Conditions
Tiger Harbour (Tiger Zoo):
The island’s signature site — shallow (7–9 m), clear, and photogenic. Encounters are up-close yet controlled. Ideal for photographers, students, and shark enthusiasts seeking raw interaction under professional guidance.
Fari Kede:
An offshore site known for its strong currents and pelagic sightings. Expect hammerheads, threshers, mantas, silvertips, and oceanic wanderers in deep blue water.
Reef Walls & Overhangs:
All around the island, coral-lined drop-offs, overhangs, and swim-throughs host vibrant reef life and smaller shark species. Each side of the island — East and West — offers unique conditions depending on monsoon season.
Daily Dive Routine:
Most dives begin around 7 AM and continue until early afternoon. Between dives, the boat often returns to harbour unless scheduled for a two-tank trip offshore. Guests are briefed daily on conditions, currents, and site choices for safety and comfort.
Above the Surface — Surf, Sand & Island Life
Fuvahmulah isn’t just for divers. The island’s raw coastline and shifting sands create world-class surf breaks and stunning natural scenery.
Thoondu Beach, at the island’s northern tip, is its crown jewel — a white coral pebble beach that changes shape with the seasons. Occasionally, sand shifts eastward forming a natural pool called Bissaaveli, where locals and visitors gather to swim in calm turquoise water before the tides reclaim it.
On the southern and western sides, surf breaks like Black Stone attract surfers chasing hollow, powerful waves rolling over volcanic rock reefs. Depending on the season, you can find both left and right breaks suitable for intermediate to advanced surfers.
Away from the coast, two freshwater lakes, Bandaara Kilhi and Dhadimagi Kilhi, add another layer of wonder. Bandaara Kilhi offers paddle-boats and a floating café for sunset tea in the middle of the lake, while Dhadimagi Kilhi’s park area hosts water-sports and scenic trails.
For a small island, Fuvahmulah feels like a miniature world of its own — ocean, forest, lakes, surf, and sharks coexisting in harmony.
Accommodation & Lifestyle
Fuvahmulah has an expanding range of guesthouses, hotels, and homestays. Many properties include in-house cafés or restaurants, full-board meal plans, and modern facilities like rooftop pools, gyms, and saunas.
The island’s hospitality is casual yet genuine. Whether you’re staying for a week of shark dives or a full month of photography and surf, you’ll find comfort without losing that off-grid charm.
Responsible Diving & Conservation
Off Grid Holidays believes that shark tourism, when practiced with integrity, can protect the very animals it depends on. By educating divers, respecting shark space, and working with local authorities and scientists, Fuvahmulah can continue to thrive as both a cultural and ecological success story.
Respect. Learn. Experience. Protect.
That’s the philosophy behind every dive.
Ready to Dive In?
Whether you’re here to capture your first tiger shark photograph, experience your deepest blue-water drift, or just sit at Thoondu watching waves crash under golden light — Fuvahmulah offers something rare: authenticity.
Join Off Grid Holidays and become part of the story of coexistence between humans and the ocean’s apex predators.