Start here: which sharks you will see
Before choosing a destination, it helps to know which species you are likely to meet and how each one behaves around divers.
Whale sharks
The largest fish in the sea, and the one most divers ask about first. Sightings are seasonal and depend heavily on where the plankton is.
Where to see whale sharks
Best whale shark liveaboard destinations, seasons, typical depths and realistic expectations for divers.
Whale sharks in the Maldives, South Ari Atoll
Where and when to see whale sharks in the Maldives, focused on South Ari Atoll, with dive level and liveaboard route tips.
Tiger sharks and hammerheads
Two of the big encounters divers plan whole trips around. Both are strongly seasonal and both ask for the right dive level.
Where to dive with tiger sharks
Best tiger shark diving destinations, diver level advice and why DiveScanner does not recommend shark-feeding dives.
Where to dive with hammerhead sharks
Where and when to dive with hammerheads: schooling scalloped hammerheads in the Galapagos and Red Sea, and great hammerheads in the Bahamas, month by month.
Where to go
The routes and destinations that put you in the water with sharks, and what each one asks of you as a diver.
Best liveaboard diving destinations for sharks
The best shark liveaboard destinations, from the Red Sea and Maldives to the Bahamas, Galapagos, Socorro, Raja Ampat and Australia, and which suit your dive level.
Bahamas liveaboard diving guide
When to go, where the shark routes run, what level you need and real DiveScanner price examples for Bahamas liveaboards.
Galapagos liveaboard marine life guide
Marine iguanas, penguins, sea lions, hammerheads, whale sharks, mantas and the species that make Galapagos feel different.