Explore the Wildlife Underwater
Thulusdhoo located in the North Male’ Atoll region may be significantly close to the capital city Male’ compared to the majority of inhabited islands in the Maldives, however it does not exempt the island from the beautiful marine ecosystem of the Maldives. While some reef patches are still pumping with wildlife, most of the house-reefs and marine habitats have been bleached or damaged due to the busy channels and urban development within the region.
Shark & Stingray
You will be heading out to search for White Tip / Black Tip Sharks & Stingrays with the ability to snorkel with them. All marine species are harmless if or unless you disturb them so no touching.
Turtle Reef Discovery Tour
It is quite difficult to find turtles near the shoreline but there are significant turtle habitats in the region about 8 km (5 mil) to where we visit. Usually within the region it is common to find Green Sea Turtle or Hawksbill Sea Turtle. By law you are required to stay 5ft from turtles whereas if they come towards you, you are to stay idle until they pass by. Turtles are endangered species in the Maldives therefore touching or disturbing them is prohibited.
CORAL GARDEN & SANDBANK
A sandbank is a dried patch island on a reef or one may say an infant island that form naturally due to tide formations. Sandbanks can only be visited during low-tide and are amazing for sunbathing, swimming and drone shots. On the way we can visit the Coral Garden with a wide range of reef fishes.
SUNSET DOLPHIN CRUISE
The channel between Thulusdhoo and Kuda Villingili Resort is a common region for Dolphin Pods, which renamed the Eastern Bikini Beach to “Dolphin Beach”. Dolphins sightings are very common in the region and are usually found during Morning and Late Afternoon. Sunset Dolphin Cruises are not for snorkeling, only to observe, explore and meet our mammalian neighbors.
NURSE SHARKS AT GAMARU
Gamarugiri Private Island (recently Champagiri) is a Nurse Shark breeding point. They allow visitors with a visitation charge to swim with their sharks. Nurse sharks are cute and look harmless, but they are still sharks so no touching
EXPLORE SOUTH MALE’
Coming Soon
Safety First
All guests are required to undergo a snorkeling safety briefing before the tour with the following requirements as follows;
- You are required to follow the instructions and briefings provided by the Guest House, Boat Crew and Local Guides to which if the rules are not followed the trip can get cancelled with no refund.
- You are required to declare their underlying health conditions (esp. cardiac history), swimming ability and in any case if you are not confident to swim, you are required to carry and wear a lifejacket provided by the tour operator.
- Wearing heavy sunscreen (min. SPF-30) is very important for guests with low-melanin as you will be exposed to direct sunlight with no shade in addition to exposure to sea salt as you may face serious UV burns for your skin.
- You are never allowed to go snorkeling alone
- You are not allowed to touch, grab or collect any corals, shells and any or every marine specie in the ocean. The existence of Maldives, the ecosystem and the biodiversity and the centuries old heritage entirely depends on your responsibility in the ocean
- Dumping and littering in the ocean is illegal, however biodegradable waste is exempted
- Trips will be cancelled if the currents are too strong, which is not safe or suitable for travel or swimming
- Marine animals are located in their natural habitats in the ocean, therefore we can never give a 100% guarantee that the animals you seek would be there at the exact point during that time (it is not a zoo). Likewise, in a case where after hours of searching the guides were not able to find the animals, you can still be charged for the fuel of the boat.
- If you cause any damage to any gear provided by the tour operator it can be chargeable.
- You are required to learn the common sign language to “Help”, “OK” and direction signs prior to jumping in the water
- You are not allowed to jump of the boat when the engine is running
- You are always advised to wear bright colored swim suits or rashguards (basically any color other than blue or white) for visibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the Whale Sharks & Mantas?
Whale Sharks and Mantas are rare in the North Male’ Atoll region as they are very peaceful creatures who will easily migrate if the oceans are too busy (with speedboats and urban development noise). You can find Whale Sharks in South Ari Atoll and Mantas in North Ari Atoll, South Male’ Atoll or Baa Atoll, all of which are too far for a day-excursion from Thulusdhoo to do at a reasonable price range (due to fuel). However, our very lucky guests have had encounters with Mantas and Whale Sharks during their snorkeling tours, despite the fact.
What if we are a group less than the minimum pax required?
Minimum pax allows cheaper per pax rate, as the cost will be divided into the group. In cases where our group is less than the minimum pax required, you will be required to pay the full trip price divided into the group or we can join the tour with other interested parties. Usually, we collect smaller groups the night before the excursion during planning so it will be a cheaper rate for all.
Prices and Payments
The Prices mentioned on this article are the average market price in United States Dollars (USD $) where the prices may fluctuate with the changes in fuel prices. Payments are highly recommended to be paid via Cash (USD/MVR/EUR) whereas card payments will incur 4% bank charges.
Can we get pictures?
Yes. Your local guide on the trip can take pictures on their Go-Pro for you if you do not have one which will be provided to you within maximum 48 hours. Trip with pictures will charge an additional USD 5 per pax.
How do we book?
Just let us know which tours you will be interested in. Every day during season, there is a tour happening from multiple tour operators so just let us know the night before and we would reserve a spot for you on those tours. You are free to choose any tour operator or organize with them directly as well, however you have to inform the guest house prior to leaving for tour, so we can keep an eye out for you.