— Journey
Reached, prepared for, and finished with deliberately.
— 01 / Getting Here
Three steps to the equator.
01
MLE — Velana International
Fly into Malé. All major international carriers serve Velana International Airport — the only international gateway to the Maldives.
02
MLE → FVM
The domestic carrier Maldivian operates direct flights on a Bombardier Dash 8. Flight time approximately 1 hour 25 minutes; typically two direct flights per day.
03
FVM → Maathundi
Six-minute drive from Fuvahmulah Airport. Our team meets you in arrivals, manages your bags, and transfers you by private vehicle.
— Visa
Free 30-day Tourist Visa on arrival for nearly all nationalities. Six months passport validity. IMUGA Traveller Declaration online within 96 hours of arrival.
— Currency
MVR locally; US Dollars widely accepted. Major credit cards at Maathundi, Maakuri and the dive centre.
— 02 / Stay
Local island, not a resort island.
There are no over-water villas. There are, instead, a small number of carefully run boutique guesthouses and hotels — the right model for the kind of trip we believe in.
Maathundi Boutique Hotel
Our sister property · Included
A beautiful boutique hotel in Fuvahmulah, three minutes' walk from Thoondu Beach. Modern rooms with en-suite bathrooms and private balconies in the upper categories — crowned by a rooftop swimming pool and the Maakuri rooftop restaurant, where full-board dining unfolds above the island skyline. A quiet, considered service standard from a team trained at international luxury hotel brands.
— 03 / Island Life
The diving is the headline. The island is the reason you come back.
01
Thoondu Beach
The only natural beach break in the Maldives — small white pebbles. Surfing season Jun–Aug.
02
Bandaara Kilhi
Largest freshwater lake in the Maldives. Endemic birdlife.
03
Dhadimagi Kilhi
Second freshwater lake, with the Fuvahmulah Nature Park.
04
Koda Kilhi
Natural mineral mud bath. A genuine local ritual.
05
Kalho Akiri Gando
Black pebble beach behind the airport. Photogenic.
06
Havitha
Pre-Islamic Buddhist stupa, at least 1,500 years old.
07
Vasho Veyo
Beautifully preserved circular communal well.
08
Gemmiskiy
Coral-stone mosque from the 1550s.
— 04 / Frequently Asked
Twelve answers, before you fly.
001 What is the water temperature, and what wetsuit thickness do you recommend? +
The water around Fuvahmulah sits between 27–30°C at the surface year-round and rarely drops below 25°C at depth. We recommend a 3 mm full wetsuit for most divers and most dives. We carry both 3 mm and 5 mm in dark colours as standard rentals.
002 Do I need to be a certified diver? +
For most Fuvahmulah dive sites, yes — Advanced Open Water with Deep specialty experience is recommended for the broader pelagic portfolio. The Tiger Zoo itself is accessible to Open Water divers in the right conditions. We run full PADI Open Water courses on island, ideally May–August.
003 Can children dive at Shark Expeditions? +
We accept junior divers from age 12 with parental consent and the appropriate PADI Junior certification. For under-12s travelling with diving parents, we offer a bubblemaker / snorkel programme in a sheltered environment.
004 Is Fuvahmulah suitable for solo travellers? +
Yes — a meaningful proportion of our guests come solo. We routinely match solo divers into compatible buddy pairs and offer single-occupancy rates at Maathundi on request.
005 How far in advance should I book? +
Three to six months in advance for expeditions in April–June (peak hammerhead window, first manta window, healthy thresher activity) and during the November–December second manta window. Four to ten weeks in advance for the rest of the year. Tiger Zoo dives are available year-round at near-100% sighting rate; flights, however, can fill on short notice during Maldivian school holidays.
006 What is your cancellation and rebooking policy? +
Deposits are refundable up to 60 days before arrival. From 30–59 days, deposits become flexible credit toward a future expedition within 12 months. From 0–29 days, deposits are non-refundable but may be transferred to a named guest.
007 May I bring an underwater camera? +
Absolutely. We accommodate full housings, video lights and dome ports. Flash and strobe photography are not permitted on shark dives. Continuous video lights at low output are acceptable on reef and pelagic dives.
008 What is the food like, and can you accommodate dietary requirements? +
Maakuri rooftop offers a daily-changing menu spanning Maldivian, South Indian, European and Mediterranean dishes. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal, kosher and allergy-specific menus are accommodated with advance notice. Alcohol is not available on the island.
009 Is the island family-friendly? +
Yes. Fuvahmulah is safe and walkable, with lakes, beaches, surfing lessons, dolphin cruises and cultural sites. We host families regularly.
010 What should I wear off the dive boat? +
Fuvahmulah is a local Muslim island. Out of respect, we ask guests to wear shoulders- and knees-covered clothing in town. Swimwear is welcome on the dive boat and at the Maathundi pool.
011 Is there mobile coverage and Wi-Fi? +
Yes. Mobile coverage is reliable; local SIMs at the airport. Maathundi, Maakuri and the Shark Expeditions dive centre all offer complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi.
012 Do you offer non-diving programmes for partners? +
Yes — snorkel-with-sharks at Femunu Kol and the eastern coral garden, freediving with our sister brand Freedive Expeditions (including a dedicated tiger shark freedive programme led by Andriana Fragola), surfing at Thoondu, fishing with Fishing Expeditions, and curated island, lake and cultural excursions. A non-diving partner can have an extraordinary trip without ever putting on a regulator.