One of the biggest atolls in the Maldives, this Marine Protected Area is a popular spot for whale watchers, divers, snorkelers and marine biologists, who often attach themselves to nearby island resorts to drive the urgent message of ocean preservation. Here, I learnt more about whale sharks with my guide, a strapping Australian marine biologist called Oscar Ignetik, who took a group of us out for a whale shark trip — one of the many extraordinary experiences offered by LUX* South Ari Atoll.
When it comes to getting up close to Earth’s wondrous aquatic life, the Maldives, with over 1,000 pearlescent islands and ring-shaped coral reefs, offers somewhat of a front-row seat. And if you are fascinated with sea creatures as I do, South Ari Atoll — located west of the archipelago — is the perfect place to be. Here, you will find manta rays majestically flapping by, sea turtles foraging for their next meal, and the highest concentration of young whale sharks plodding along and enjoying a leisurely life at sea.
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