shark
Oceanic whitetip shark.
Carcharhinus longimanus · also: Not the reef whitetip
A stocky open-ocean wanderer with huge, rounded, white-mottled fins — once among the most abundant large animals on Earth, now one of the most endangered. Bold and persistent, it is unforgettable in the blue. Encounters are now a rare highlight in deep Maldivian waters.
Size
~3.0–3.5 m
Weight
Up to ~170 kg.
Diet
Pelagic fishes (tuna, dolphinfish), squid, plus turtles, seabirds and carrion.
Lifespan
~13–25 years (newer ageing suggests older; uncertain).
Depth
Mainly the sunlit surface layer, 0 to ~150–200 m.
Reproduction
Live-bearing; ~1–14 pups, gestation ~10–12 months.
Snorkel or dive
Dive only — advanced
Best season
Opportunistic
Conservation
Critically Endangered
How to recognise it
Stocky; very long rounded paddle-like pectoral fins with mottled white tips.
Behaviour
Bold, slow-cruising open-ocean predator; persistent around divers; rarely near reefs.
Where to see it in the Maldives
Deep south, Fuvahmulah and outer oceanic waters; uncommon and opportunistic.
Conservation
Critically Endangered — collapsed by over 90% in places, from longline bycatch and the fin trade.
IUCN · Critically Endangered
Watch them responsibly
Hold a confident posture, stay with the group, keep distance, never feed (it is naturally bold).
Cousteau called it the most dangerous shark; it's now among the most endangered, down ~75%.
Often escorted by pilot fish; today you are vastly more dangerous to it than it is to you.
Collective noun: a shiver of sharks
Want to dive with oceanic whitetip shark?
Our Maldives specialists match you to the right atoll, season and resort.
Sightings are typical, not guaranteed — encounters vary with season and conditions.