Trip Report Fuvahmulah 1-5 March 2025

[Dan]

Yeah. We get a more intense & close encounter with Tiger Sharks in Tiger Beach, hence higher potential accidents.

 

[boqurant]

@Volleyball Sure, the feeding at Tiger Zoo is a little more hands-off, and it doesn't seem unreasonable to me. But, the feedings co-occur alongside a big group of divers a few meters away, crouching behind a downslope. I'm notmarine biologist but I'd be surprised if long-run this doesn't lead to the sharks becoming overly confident when there's divers around. Seems like a bad idea

 

[Volleyball]

@Volleyball Sure, the feeding at Tiger Zoo is a little more hands-off, and it doesn't seem unreasonable to me. But, the feedings co-occur alongside a big group of divers a few meters away, crouching behind a downslope. I'm notmarine biologist but I'd be surprised if long-run this doesn't lead to the sharks becoming overly confident when there's divers around. Seems like a bad idea

100% agree with you; I'm pointing out that while past events cannot predict the future, if one wants to dive with tigers, the Bahamas is the more dangerous option. There have also been more non-feeding fatalities by tigers in the Bahamas than in the Maldives

Also, this is quite gruesome, someone claiming to be a safety diver during the Tiger Beach fatality tells their story here. There's no way to know for sure but it seems more likely than not:

 

[Dan]

100% agree with you; I'm pointing out that while past events cannot predict the future, if one wants to dive with tigers, the Bahamas is the more dangerous option. There have also been more non-feeding fatalities by tigers in the Bahamas than in the Maldives

Also, this is quite gruesome, someone claiming to be a safety diver during the Tiger Beach fatality tells their story here. There's no way to know for sure but it seems more likely than not:

WOW!

We were lucky. We just had a near miss, when one of us didn’t keep his eyes on teething Tiger.

 

[Volleyball]

WOW!

We were lucky. We just had a near miss, when one of us didn’t keep his eyes on teething Tiger.

Wow, a bite from behind! They do multiple dives in Tiger Beach per day, I'm sure 99% are fine, although I believe they only go out for 4-6 months out of the year; Tiger Zoo, they brag "is open 365 days a year." I've dove in Nassau a dozen times and a few times in Bimini, but not at Tiger Beach. Flew to the Maldives twice in the past 9 months, visiting Fuv/Tiger Zoo once, and the other time, unexpectedly saw a tiger cruise by in Hulhumale

 

[boqurant]

100% agree with you; I'm pointing out that while past events cannot predict the future, if one wants to dive with tigers, the Bahamas is the more dangerous option. There have also been more non-feeding fatalities by tigers in the Bahamas than in the Maldives

Also, this is quite gruesome, someone claiming to be a safety diver during the Tiger Beach fatality tells their story here. There's no way to know for sure but it seems more likely than not:

Gotcha, and wow that's one hell of a story....

 

[Dan]

100% agree with you; I'm pointing out that while past events cannot predict the future, if one wants to dive with tigers, the Bahamas is the more dangerous option. There have also been more non-feeding fatalities by tigers in the Bahamas than in the Maldives

Also, this is quite gruesome, someone claiming to be a safety diver during the Tiger Beach fatality tells their story here. There's no way to know for sure but it seems more likely than not:

Now I remember reading this accident here:

https://scubaboard.com/community/threads/german-woman-missing-tiger-beach-grand-bahama.640173/

 

[Blackcrusader]

Great video, and thanks for sharing.

I am in the early stages of planning a trip to Fuvamulah in 2026, how long do you think it is sensible to stay on the island? My current plan is to split my stay between Fuvamulah and Addu Atoll.

I am going to Fuvamulah arring 9th May diving from 10 - 21 May so plan on 33 dives there then back to Male for another 5 days of diving. I would say at least a week on each island if you have time.

In Fuv I stay at an Inn not a hotel and the rate is US$40 each a night as I stay long term. Has two bedrooms ( I travel with a buddy ) nice kitchen dining room, washing machine and drying area.. small living room and TV which we did not use.

 

[Blackcrusader]

@Volleyball Sure, the feeding at Tiger Zoo is a little more hands-off, and it doesn't seem unreasonable to me. But, the feedings co-occur alongside a big group of divers a few meters away, crouching behind a downslope. I'm notmarine biologist but I'd be surprised if long-run this doesn't lead to the sharks becoming overly confident when there's divers around. Seems like a bad idea

When I was there in November and December last year there was a working Marine Biologist at FDS and I dove with him several times.

You are provided a pole but yes you cannot just depend on guides you need to pay attention yourself.
Divers do 30 mins at the site then leave and you sometimes pass the next group coming in.

I'll do another 7 - 10 dives at Tiger Zoo this month.

 

[Dan]

@Volleyball

We were supplied with a metal pole when diving in Tiger Zoo. Had Nina Erich been holding such pole on her hand, Zesty would not have a chance to chomp on her hand in that Tiger Beach accident

So, guys, make sure you carry and hold that pole when you are diving in Tiger Zoo. Hold it vertically and point it to the Tiger Shark when it gets too close to you.

Make sure to wear dark color gloves, fins & hood (especially those blond-hair divers). My dive buddy had a blond hair and I forgot to tell her about wearing hood. Luckily no Tiger getting too close to her head and there were several guides behind us watching our backs.