Seeking Ecologically Responsible Liveaboard Advice for Maldives

[v g]

Hi,

My wife and I have previously joined liveaboards in Komodo, Raja Ampat, the Sea of Cortez (Mexico), and the Red Sea. We've also done land-based diving in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Mexico. We're now considering a liveaboard in the Maldives, as Galápagos and Socorro are currently a bit out of budget.

However, I have some serious concerns about shark/ray feeding and the general “circus-like” atmosphere that can sometimes occur on certain dives (with Oslob being an extreme example). I’d honestly prefer a dive with no shark sightings at all over one where animals are lured or stressed for human entertainment. I get easily agitated when divers or guides shine lights directly into animals' eyes during night dives, touch corals, or otherwise disturb marine life.

Given this, I’d love your input:

• Does a liveaboard in the Maldives make sense for someone with these concerns?
• Can we realistically avoid feeding dives altogether?
• Even if our boat doesn’t participate in feeding, is there a risk we’ll encounter it due to other boats in the same area?
• Is it truly possible to isolate ourselves from such non-ecological practices while still enjoying the Maldives diving experience?

I really appreciate your help and any insights you can share.

 

[Jcp2]

Flying to the Maldives to scuba dive on a liveaboard with compressed gas is already very “non-ecological”. Not liking shark feeding dives is just a matter of personal taste at that point.

 

[JustSurfaceInterval]

Leaving aside the question of how ecological a flight to the Maldives is, perhaps for a separate thread...
Two comments:
1. Ask the liveaboard of your choice what their policy regarding what is getting you agitated
2. Eventually refer to attached circular from the Ministry of Tourism: "Shark feeding is illegal".
Some resorts are known to practice this regardless. They seem to take the view that this law only applies to divers and not to fish waste thrown into the sea from land

 

[Damselfish]

Hi,

My wife and I have previously joined liveaboards in Komodo, Raja Ampat, the Sea of Cortez (Mexico), and the Red Sea. We've also done land-based diving in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Mexico. We're now considering a liveaboard in the Maldives, as Galápagos and Socorro are currently a bit out of budget.

However, I have some serious concerns about shark/ray feeding and the general “circus-like” atmosphere that can sometimes occur on certain dives (with Oslob being an extreme example). I’d honestly prefer a dive with no shark sightings at all over one where animals are lured or stressed for human entertainment. I get easily agitated when divers or guides shine lights directly into animals' eyes during night dives, touch corals, or otherwise disturb marine life.

Given this, I’d love your input:

• Does a liveaboard in the Maldives make sense for someone with these concerns?
• Can we realistically avoid feeding dives altogether?
• Even if our boat doesn’t participate in feeding, is there a risk we’ll encounter it due to other boats in the same area?
• Is it truly possible to isolate ourselves from such non-ecological practices while still enjoying the Maldives diving experience?

I really appreciate your help and any insights you can share.

There was no feeding on the one Maldives LOB we did. Given that it’s not legal, I doubt that it is common on LOBs if at all. I get the sense they like their rules there. Ask the specific boat for policy if you are concerned.

Once we were away from the airport area, we saw no other liveaboards. It’s a big place.

Crappy diving including harassing critters can occur anywhere in the world. Whether you encounter this is luck of the draw. You can also ask that about an ops practices, but I’d say dive staff that will say anything to a customer is somewhat rare anywhere, and also the luck of the draw. Also maybe somewhat cultural.

 

[Blackcrusader]

Can we realistically avoid feeding dives altogether?

• Even if our boat doesn’t participate in feeding, is there a risk we’ll encounter it due to other boats in the same area?
• Is it truly possible to isolate ourselves from such non-ecological practices while still enjoying the Maldives diving experience?

I really appreciate your help and any insights you can share.

Check the itinery offered. There are sites like the Shark Tank in Male and Tiger Zoo in Fuvamulah. .Tiger wall which is near the Tiger Zoo you will have Tigers passing by and they also follow divers out to the boats.

Just avoid these dive sites as feeding stations are there and divers enjoy seeing both Tigers and Rays Hammerheads Bull Sharks etc. If it's not for you just don't do those dives. The LOB will often contract with a local dive op for those sites so it is the local dive op bring Tuna for the feeding stations.

 

[scubaozy]

I have done 8 LoB trips in the Maldives, one every second or third year, and never experienced shark feeding or irresponsible diving directly. So it is possible to avoid it. Having said this, you will have to hook into the reef and yes, not everyone is a great diver, so, you need give certain level of slack to the people.
I was recently there on a boat with former Emperor guide, they followed roughly the same procedures as Emperor. We did not do the shark tank dive as it was forbidden by the owners, nor any feeding. You might want to check them out, it might be good fit.
But, we did a night dive where guides planted tons of torches onto the sand and mantas swimming over the light beams to feed on plankton exposed by the light. This is not exactly ecological either. Additionally, every night strong lights at the back of the boat were on to attract mantas, whale sharks and nurse sharks, this is not ecological either. There are some dive spots where snorkelers from islands also come to swim with nurse sharks and they do throw bait into the water to keep them around the boat.
Bottom line is you will have to compromise, pick a decent boat, if you do not like a certain dive, sit it out. I would also avoid southern itineraries as they generally focus on the sharks.