Chasing Shadows: The Thresher Shark

With their disproportionately long caudal fins and large, soulful eyes, Thresher Sharks are the unicorns of the diving world. Fuvahmulah is one of the few places on Earth where you can see them reliably, specifically at the shallow cleaning stations.

Threshers are strictly pelagic and usually deep dwellers. They come up to the shallower reefs (30m - 40m) in the early morning to be cleaned by wrasse. The key to spotting them is low light and patience.

Unlike the tigers, threshers are incredibly shy. Exhaling bubbles loudly or swimming aggressively will send them darting back into the abyss. We advise rebreather diving or very controlled open-circuit breathing for the best encounters.

The 'Farikede' dive site on the south tip is the hotspot. Here, the deep ocean currents hit the island wall, bringing up nutrient-rich water that attracts the small fish, which in turn attract the threshers.