Maafushi Island Tours
Whale Shark Tour
5

Whale Shark Tour

By SHADOWPALM TOURS
Recommended by 96% of travellers
96% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Our tour is designed to explore Maldives with lots of fun. Our guides are well trained to give best service to our guests. Taking perfect pictures while you enjoy the nature of beautiful Maldives is one of our specialities.

Ages 0-65, max of 20 per group
Duration: 7h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Pictures & Videos
  • Lunch
  • Use of Snorkelling equipment


Start:
  • Shadowpalm Tours, Kashimaage, Ziyaarai Magu, Maafushi 08090, Maldives
    Reconfirm tour and number of travelers joining latest by 8:30 pm on the night before the tour by visiting shadowplam tour office or by contacting us through whatsapp. To start tour meet at shadowpalm tour office in Maafushi at 07:00 am.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Infants must sit on laps
    • Near public transportation
    • Not wheelchair accessible
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 193055P5

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not recommended for travellers with back problems
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Not recommended for pregnant travellers
    • Most travellers can participate
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 193055P5

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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • SHADOWPALM TOURS
      455
      Maafushi Island, Maldives
      Joined in September 2019
    • Scroll Q
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      U GUYS WILL DEF SEE MEE AGAIN
      As a person who enjoyed the trips I did with Shadowpalm tours I just wanna let everyone who chooses Shadowpalm know that it’s gonna be the greatest decision that you will make in ur whole life, they are so easy going and hella friendly with me and everyone else on the boat, oooo and the food was so delish and swimming with the nurse sharks was an absolute life changer to me. And I loved how they handle the trips with so much passion and their love for the marine environment is why I’ll again choose Shadowpalm as my number one excursion place 😍 🫶🏼
      Written 8 February 2025
    • Scenic29672053862
      0 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      Disappointed with the service
      My son and I did the Vaavu tour with shadow palm. After the tour they charged us 25$ for a small knob missing from the snorkelling equipment. Even if there was a damage like they say, they refused to give us the damaged equipment even after paying 25$. They also did not give any receipt for the money paid. As tourists in a new country we were helpless.
      Written 29 January 2025
    • 302krist_nad
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      The best experience!
      @shadowpalmmaldives made my Maldivian adventure unforgettable. The experiences they organized changed my life, leaving me with memories I will treasure forever. Swimming with dolphins, sharks, mantas, and even a majestic whale shark was beyond my wildest dreams. Their team went above and beyond to ensure that every detail of the excursions was flawless. Their passion for the ocean and its incredible creatures is truly inspiring, and it shows in everything they do. If you’re visiting the Maldives, Shadow Palm is a must. They don’t just provide tours; they create life-changing experiences. Thank you, @shadowpalmmaldives for giving me the adventure of a lifetime. I will carry these memories with me till the day I die! 💙
      Written 19 January 2025
    • DMW1207
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Shadowpalm - leading tour agency in Maafushi
      Shadowpalm definitely deserves its 5 star rating as I tried a few other agencies while spending a week in Maafushi and they were the best in regards to professionalism, getting to the sights (whale sharks and mantas via drone searches that other boats followed), fun, and safety. They confirm everything via WhatsApp and followup accordingly so there’s no second guessing in regards to what to do. Note that in high season (now), their tours fill up and you may be with another 20+ people on the tour from around the world. Equipment is also good quality. For me, I brought ear plugs to mute the engine noise and sometimes the music which was fine for others but I have sensitive hearing. By no means it’s a negative for Shadowpalm as they do have fun during the journey!
      Written 9 January 2025
    • Tawney S
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing!!
      Shadow Palm have been amazing! The boat staff did everything they could to assure we saw all of the animals expected on the excursions, we even ended up seeing blue whales which wasn’t originally a part of one of our trips with them. They’ve all been really helpful and a lot of fun. We’ve had the most amazing time, thank you so much!
      Written 9 January 2025
    • utentedr
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Best Maldives Tours
      Amazing sea tours: whaleshark, mantas, dolphins, turtles and blue whales saw during 3 different tours. Special thanks to the incredible team mixed by local people from Maldives and foreign employees (Martina & Eeshan)!
      Written 5 January 2025
    • acsmalls
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Undeniable Trip of a Lifetime
      My friend and I booked four of the Shadowpalm Excursions. All four are exceptional!! We swam with the nurse sharks and met some stingrays on the beach the first day with a picnic lunch on a 360 white sand island. Highly recommend getting the drone footage too, it's worth the extra price! The second tour was swimming with the stingrays and we also saw coral black tip sharks, eels, and so much more. Then we went to a sandy area to swim with the nurse sharks, stingrays and everything else in beautiful waters. We booked the whale sharks and mantaray tour but it was an unfortunate day for us as we saw only the mantas. However, the plus to this is you know you are doing an eco friendly tour and trying to see these amazing creatures in their natural habitat without distrupting their natural patterns. Just gives us a reason to return. The last trip we booked was the shipwreck and island Tours which also provided amazing photography and tours of several nearby islands. On all of the Tours you are provided with personal underwater go pro footage. The guides, drivers and everyone involved are the perfect mixture of professionalism and fun/chill vibes. You will be well taken care of and given an undeniable experience. Highly recommend! Make sure to travel with coral reef safe sunscreen and American USD is commonly used around the islands for currency.
      Written 18 December 2024
    • O7741PXdaniell
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      1 of the best tour organizations that exist
      I was able to take 3 beautiful tours with you. Nurse sharks, coral reef and waleshark. where they dropped me off in dhigurah because I was staying there. and all the tours were great. nice atmosphere nice people good dancingmusic . greetings from Amsterdam
      Written 9 December 2024
    • 431ramong
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Impossible to forget my week at Retiro, great balance of activities and the team with best vibes!
      One week at their Retiro and everyday was a surprise and experience full of emotions! The team is the best, they make people happy!
      Written 8 December 2024
    • 960anetad
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Review for Shadowpalm in Maafushi, Maldives
      If you are looking for an unforgettable adventure in the Maldives, Shadowpalm is the right choice! These guys are total professionals who do their job with passion, enthusiasm and immense knowledge. I have been lucky enough to experience several trips with them that were full of breathtaking moments - swimming with sharks, dolphins, turtles, manta rays, whalesharks and countless species of fishes. There is also the opportunity to try snorkelling at night. In addition to the amazing sea adventures, Shadowpalm also took us to local islands where we were shown the life of the local people and guided to interesting places. The whole team is extremely fun, friendly and sociable. They put a lot of emphasis on safety during the trips while making sure you enjoy everything to the fullest. And the bonus? They take beautiful GoPro photos and videos during the trips, so you'll take home not only great memories, but also quality footage of your adventures. I would recommend Shadowpalm to anyone who wants to experience the beauty of the Maldives in its most authentic form. It was an experience I will never forget! Thank you to the whole team for their great work!
      Written 5 December 2024
    • 783aikak
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Short story of the day of unexpected luck with professionals
      This trip was an amazing experience what I’ve ever had. I was alone in the Maldives and a bit worried how am I going to swim with sharks etc but team from Shadow palms made it incredible. They take care about everything! From safety till nice photos and videos and even food! Tuna with rice and mango juice was so delicious. We couldn’t catch dolphins because of the weather and I was a little sad but guys called his boss to know if there any chance to see the blue whale? Can you imagine? I’m so happy. It was a day of unexpected luck! 2 of my dreams came true just in one moment. I highly recommend this agency. They are really THE BEST!
      Written 20 November 2024
    • 80shajedab
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Sensational experience
      The team are so knowledgeable, kind and lovely. The best tour group they were so helpful and kind. They were very attentive throughout the whole tour. They made us feel at ease when we were swimming with sharks. They are fun lively and kind. They ensured safety measures were in place at all times. We went with our 4 year old and they really payed attention to him at all times. Words can’t describe how fun they made our day. The best excursion company I have ever come across! They also take the most amazing pictures. They really go the extra mile.
      Written 27 October 2024
    • _N5311KI
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Best vacation of my life!
      ost amazing experience I’ve ever had!! Thanks to the whole Shadow Palm team for organizing the coolest excursions and activities, there was never a moment when I felt unsafe or bored. I’m not that good of a swimmer but the guys were always super professional, watching everyone and helping me swim when the current was too strong. Not only you get to enjoy the beauty of Maldives and its marine life but you also get multiple photos and videos to keep your memories captured forever. Special thanks to Anna (best of the best) and Eeshan for entertaining us on daily basis and taking care of us every second of this unforgettable trip. Definitely coming back in the drier season because there is still so much to do!
      Written 11 October 2024
    • C8239WG_
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing experience
      We had an amazing trip with Shadow palm team! All members are really professional, they really tried their best to give us the best experience in our beautiful trip to the Maldives and I can say that it was awesome! Many thanks for all members of the team❤️
      Written 29 September 2024
    • kristinavU1425YZ
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Best time ever
      Best time ever. We saw everything we could and maybe more. Boys were amazing. 100% recommend them. They tried their best to show us everything.
      Written 19 September 2024
    See all 455 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


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    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles27 reviews
    Excellent
    25
    Very good
    1
    Average
    0
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    1

    Ka Wai C
    Hong Kong2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2020 • Friends
    Because of the COVID-19, we could not get the hotel permit to join the tour. The business owner understood our situation and would like to grant us the 100% refund and bore the loss.

    Ahmed is so great and we have no hesitation to recommend other guest to join his tour and support this kind of conscience owner.

    Wish him all the best and we will join this tour in the future.
    Written 19 March 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Travel bug
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2022 • Friends
    We joined the whale shark snorkeling tour. Definitely a must try. Staffs were very tentative and helpful. They will do whatever they can to increase your chance of spotting and swimming with the whale sharks. On our tour, we saw at least 4-5 whale sharks.
    Written 12 November 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    andrea
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2021 • Friends
    I did all the activities they offer and it was such amazing.

    In the case of the Whale Shark activity, they can't guarantee you'll see it, but they spend as much time as possible finding it (which makes the difference, as we saw other companys that left).

    They make sure everyone enjoys the experience and has photos of it, the team is always up to everyone.

    The activities are very complete, the marine life you see and the areas you visit are simply spectacular.

    So if you are going tho Maldives, without doubt choose ShadowPalm!
    Written 5 October 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Steven P
    2 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020
    Very poor - I arranged and paid for whale shark snorkelling trip a few days ahead, but it was cancelled after 10.30pm the night before - they told me there were not enough people signed up. They did refund me but the lack of sufficient notice meant it was too late to find an alternative boat trip and this was the only free day I had available, having already travelled to Maafushi specifically for this trip. The cancellation email stated 'due to extreme weather forecast' which was simply untrue - the conditions were perfect.
    Written 3 February 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear Steven, Thank you for taking the valuable time to provide your review and feedback of Shadowpalm. We apologize that we had to cancel the trip because of the extreme weather forecast. Even though the weather seems good near Maafushi, there was a warning from authorities to travel only if needed and with extreme caution. To reach the whale shark point we have to travel 2 hours and the way is through a channel that connects two atolls, it is a very rough sea/ocean when compared to inner atoll sea/ocean. There were no other companies that did whale shark tour that day in Maafushi due to bad weather. We apologize for the trouble caused in getting to Maafushi just for this specific trip, for us the priority is the safety of our guests. Shadowpalm has upheld a level of service that our guests have valued for more than 5 years. Once again, we are truly sorry that you did not have the opportunity to experience our tour and the good side of our team.  I would personally look forward to the opportunity of welcoming you back again, for the true Shadowpalm experience as many of our guests have come to love. Kind Regards, Ahmed Riza General Manager Shadowpalm
    Written 5 February 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Maxi
    El Masnou, Spain4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2021 • Couples
    We did different trips along hollidays with these guys and the experience was incredible! We saw the whale shark in two different points, turtles, dolphins…amazing. Eeshan solved some problems like looking for hotel, scheduled PCRs and all that we needed to plan our stay there too. Also the pictures and vídeos are very nice shots along the different trips.
    You guys are the best travel agents, we’ll repeat for sure. Thanks mates!
    Written 12 September 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    farah
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2021
    We did all of their tours and they were all amazing. The best was the whale sharks. We got 5 different sightings into one morning, and they were super flexible depending on what the majority of the people wanted to do (it includes lunch on an island but they were prepared to stay out looking for the sharks if we couldn't see them).
    Compared to a different tour we had done, they searched for the mantas extensively even though it wasn't the season to try and get us to see it.
    The crew was super friendly, had great music, and wonderful vibes. They made our stay in Maafushi absolutely amazing.
    Food for lunch was simple but good.
    The boats were pretty clean all the time.
    The equipment was in really good shape.
    Overall, would definitely recommend them for anything you would like to do.
    Written 20 April 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    180kelly
    Perth, Australia26 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    These guys are the Apple of the tour company world on Maafushi - they’ve got the formula just right. The shop/centre on Maafushi is bright with lots of lights, simple, white, with pumping music outside to get you in the mood - really added atmosphere to that corner of town! All of this made it very welcoming to step in the door.

    The BEST equipment on the island - all Scuba Pro which they update every six months.

    We did the whale shark trip with them as they were the only company in all of town that had enough people to run one - speaks volumes on their excellent strategy (above) to draw tourists in.

    We had the biggest lunch out of all the companies we tried.

    Owned by a Maafushi local, all the guides are local too who know where the good spots are. They also belong to a Whatsapp group of 600+ divers to communicate where the whale sharks / turtles / manta rays etc are.

    We didn’t book in advance from home but we did go in low season.

    Shadow Palm offers the same types of trips to everyone else on the island with the same prices. These guys are just a bit more slick in their operation.

    As with all the companies, they film the trip on a Go Pro and give the footage to you for free - bring a USB stick in case you don’t have enough room on your phone!

    We got great experiences with other companies as well as Shadow Palm but I wouldn’t hesitate in doing another trip with Shadow Palm in the future.
    Written 26 October 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    SimonaSandi
    Kranj, Slovenia27 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2020
    We booked all three tours/activities by Shadow palm tours: Half day snorkelling, Vaavu Atoll explore and Whale Shark tour.
    We saw whale shark, nurse sharks and giant trevallies, a lot of fishes, turtles, sting rays, swimming with dolphins, ate lunch on a sand bank and beautiful Dhigurah Island, visited Fulidhoo Island.
    All three tours have been leaded very professional. Stuff have a lot of patient with the guests and give their attention to each single guest.
    They made underwater pictures and videos. Do not forget to bring USB key to save all your memories.
    All three tours were amazing and thank you Shadow palm for unforgettable memories and experiences.
    Written 10 March 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Katycakes87
    London, UK26 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2019
    Me and my friend loved every moment of the day! I was really nervous getting in the water in the beginning but the team really made me feel comfortable and safe. We had plenty of time at each location to get confident and enjoy the time in the water. The team is so much fun and is an absolute must do while at Maafushi. Pal up with Bisto as he was so helpful and you need to hear his laugh it will make your day! They have a female on the team too called Ana which makes a great change to all other tours!! She’s super encouraging and friendly. Make sure you get the drone package too!
    Written 5 December 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    lauren_bailey23
    Almaty, Kazakhstan117 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    My friends and I loved everything about these tours. The guys were fun, friendly, ethical and knowledgeable. We saw whale sharks, humpback whales, dolphins, turtles and so many fish. Thanks to these guys I snorkeled with spinner dolphins and saw the only live coral reef in a week of exploring. They take lots of photos and videos and let you take them all for free. It was an amazing experience. Thanks Ali and Eeshaan for a great and memorable two days!
    Written 26 October 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Showing results 1-10 of 23
    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Whale Shark Tour provided by SHADOWPALM TOURS

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