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Quick facts
- Where
- South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA)
- Trip price
- About US$60–100 per person
- Season
- Year-round, sightings not guaranteed
- Getting there
- Shared speedboat, about 2 hr, around US$60
Why Dhigurah
If swimming with a whale shark is the one thing you want from the Maldives, Dhigurah is where you go. It's a long, skinny local island in South Ari (Alif Dhaalu) Atoll, right on the edge of the South Ari Marine Protected Area, usually shortened to SAMPA. Whale sharks hang around this stretch of reef all year, which is pretty rare worldwide. A whale shark research team has been based on the island for years too.
The budget angle: resorts in the same atoll sell this exact trip for a lot more. On Dhigurah you're staying in a guesthouse, eating local, and getting on the same water for a fraction of the price. Our main Dhigurah island guide covers the island itself. This page is just about the sharks and the money.
What a whale shark trip actually costs
Prices vary by guesthouse, but they sit in a pretty tight band. Here's what's published right now:
| Source | Price per person | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HolidayVibe (agency, 2026) | US$60–80 | Half-day shared trip into SAMPA |
| Loft Maldives (guesthouse) | From US$85 | About 4 hours |
| Sands Grand Dhigurah (hotel) | From US$90 | Guided snorkel trip |
| Traveller report (Voyage with Mel, 2026) | About US$100 | Combined whale shark and manta trip |
So budget roughly US$60 to US$100 per person. A few things to know:
- You book through your guesthouse. Dhigurah doesn't really have walk-in excursion shops like Maafushi. Guesthouses share boats, so you'll be out with people from other places.
- "Whale shark trip" and "manta trip" are often the same boat. Many operators look for both on one outing, which is decent value if you're lucky.
- Ask if TGST is included. Tourist businesses add 17%. A US$70 trip can become about US$82. Our taxes explainer shows how it stacks.
- Groups can sometimes get a little off. Worth a polite ask if there are four of you.
Compare South Ari whale shark trips
See what's on offer and read reviews. On Dhigurah, also ask your guesthouse for their price.
Getting there cheaply
Getting to Dhigurah is the biggest cost after your room, so it's worth thinking about.
| Option | Cost one way | Time | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared speedboat | About US$60 per person (Akiri lists US$60; HolidayVibe says US$60–70) | About 2 hours | Most people |
| Domestic flight to Maamigili + boat | About US$140–205 per person | About 45 min to 1 hour | Late arrivals, rough seas |
| Seaplane + boat | About US$275 per person (Akiri) | Short and scenic | Splurging |
| Public ferry via Mahibadhoo | Cheapest | About 6.5 hours via Mahibadhoo, 3 days a week, not Fridays (times) | Honestly, almost nobody |
Shared speedboat times move around a bit by operator. HolidayVibe lists 11:00 and 16:30 from the airport/Malé on Saturday to Thursday, and 10:00 and 16:30 on Fridays. Akiri lists 11am and 4pm. Coming back, it's usually an early morning boat (around 06:30–07:00) and an early afternoon one (around 13:00–13:30). Your guesthouse books the seat once you send your flight number.
A sample 4-night budget (per person, twin share)
This is a rough plan built from the published prices above. Your room will be the thing that moves it most.
| Item | Rough cost | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Speedboat return | About US$120 | US$60 each way (Akiri) |
| Room, 4 nights, half of a double | Depends on the place | Check live prices below; add 10% service and 17% TGST if not included |
| Green Tax | US$24 | US$6 × 4 nights (MIRA) |
| One whale shark trip | About US$60–100 | See table above |
| Free stuff | US$0 | Bikini beach, house reef snorkelling, walking to the sandbank |
Without the room and food, that's roughly US$205 to US$245 per person for transfers, tax and the big trip. Food on Dhigurah is mostly guesthouse kitchens and a few cafés, which is why a lot of people book half board here.
Dhigurah guesthouses
Compare rooms near the beach. Check whether the guesthouse runs its own whale shark trips.
The rules in the water
SAMPA has proper rules for whale shark encounters, and good crews actually enforce them. The short list, from the SAMPA management plan and guide materials:
- Stay at least 3 metres from its body and 4 metres from its tail.
- Don't swim out in front of its head to get a look. Stay alongside.
- No touching, chasing or blocking its way. That's in the national whale shark encounter guidelines too.
- When other people are queuing, each person gets a maximum of 15 minutes in the water.
- No more than 60 people in the water within 250 metres of a whale shark at once.
- Snorkelling in the area is only allowed between 6am and 6pm.
If a crew is pushing people on top of a shark or letting guests grab fins, that's a bad operator. Say something to your guesthouse, and maybe leave an honest review.
Tips for a good trip
- Book it for your first full day. If the weather's bad or you don't see one, you've got time to try again.
- Start times change. Crews often decide the night before based on conditions, so check with your guesthouse each evening.
- Be a decent swimmer. Whale sharks cruise faster than they look, and there can be current. Fins help a lot.
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen and a rash vest. You'll be floating face-down in the sun.
- Don't expect a guarantee. Anyone promising a 100% sighting is overselling it.
- Dhigurah is a local island, so the usual local island rules apply: no alcohol, and swimwear only on the bikini beach.
Still choosing an island? Our island picker lines them all up, and travelling in the monsoon explains why the wet season can be a good time for big marine life.
Quick questions
How much is a whale shark trip from Dhigurah?
Usually about US$60 to US$100 per person for a shared half-day snorkel trip. HolidayVibe lists US$60–80, Loft Maldives starts from US$85, Sands Grand from US$90, and one traveller paid about US$100 for a combined whale shark and manta trip. Ask whether TGST is included.
Can you see whale sharks in Dhigurah all year?
South Ari is known for whale sharks being around in every month, which is why Dhigurah is such a popular base. They're wild animals though, so no operator can promise a sighting on a given day.
Can I book a whale shark trip online for Dhigurah?
Mostly no. On Dhigurah you normally book through your guesthouse, and guests from different guesthouses share boats. That's why picking a guesthouse with a good excursion setup matters.
How close can you get to a whale shark in the Maldives?
Under the SAMPA management plan, snorkellers keep at least 3 metres from the body and 4 metres from the tail, and must not swim in front of the head. Touching and chasing are off-limits. When boats are queuing, each person gets up to 15 minutes in the water.
What's the cheapest way to get to Dhigurah?
The shared speedboat from the airport or Malé, around US$60 per person each way and about 2 hours. A public ferry connection exists via Mahibadhoo (Malé 08:30, Dhigurah about 15:05 on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays), but it takes most of a day and doesn't run on Fridays, so it rarely works with international flights.
Sources & further reading
- SAMPA Management Plan, English (consolidated 9 March 2026)
- SAMPA guides study material (April 2026)
- Maldivian whale shark tourist encounter guidelines (EPA)
- HolidayVibe: things to do in Dhigurah (2026)
- HolidayVibe: Malé to Dhigurah transfer (2026)
- Akiri Dhigurah: transfer prices
- Loft Maldives: whale shark snorkelling
- Sands Grand Dhigurah: activities
- Voyage with Mel: whale shark snorkelling in Dhigurah (2026)
- MIRA: Green Tax
Last checked 18 October 2026. Prices and schedules in the Maldives change often, so always confirm with the operator before you travel.