THE
BIG STUFF
The word “megafauna” refers to the large animals we see in the ocean, including sharks, sea turtles and rays. Owing to their large size, these animals are often targeted across the world by fisheries but their slow reproductive rates make them especially sensitive to exploitation. Most megafauna species are globally threatened or endangered. Fortunately, in the Maldives sharks, rays and turtles are all protected by law. This is why the Maldives is considered as one of the best diving locations in the world. Conservation of these charismatic creatures is crucial for tourism business and the Maldivian economy. Here are just some of the endangered megafauna found in Laamu:
Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Whale Sharks (Rhincodon typus)
Ornate eagle ray (Aetomylaeus vespertilio)
Zebra shark (Stegostoma fasciatum)
Scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini)
False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens)
Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)
On every dive and snorkel the MUI and Deep Blue Divers (Six Senses Laamu’s dive centre) teams collect data on any megafauna sighted. In 2019 this totalled over 1870 hours of survey time across 2256 surveys. Over time, this gives us a picture of seasonal shifts in abundance and hotspots which require greater protection. All of this information feeds into planning Laamu’s network of locally managed marine protected areas, in addition to understanding seasonal and tidal shifts in site preference for these animals.
Visiting us at Six Senses Laamu? Join us on MUI’s daily guided snorkel where we conduct our house reef megafauna surveys!