Meemu Atoll · Maldives · Reef · Drift
Sharks Tongue
Grey reef sharks and silvertips resting on the slope at 15–25 m
Area photo: Sutirtha Das wiki · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sharks Tongue is a reef slope east of Mulah island on Meemu's eastern rim, and its reason for being dived is the stretch of slope at 15–25 m that Scubago calls the utmost in shark dormitories. On an incoming current grey reef sharks and silvertips are often seen there, but the same current can make the dive tricky and it needs some skill.
Where it is and how deep
2.9406° N, 73.6019° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The dive is timed for an incoming current, because that is when the sharks are on the slope. The boat drops the group on the reef and the descent goes straight to the slope between 15 and 25 m, which is the highlight of the site: Scubago describes it as the utmost in shark dormitories, the stretch where grey reef sharks and silvertips settle when the tide is pushing in.
Once on the slope the group holds position low against the reef and lets the sharks come past rather than chasing them. The current is what makes the site tricky, so the guide will pick a spot with some shelter and keep the group together. The dive ends by drifting off the slope and ascending in open water under a surface marker for the boat pick-up.
Marine life and season
- Reef sharks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime |
Season follows Meemu Atoll: Calmest seas and clearest water on the north-east monsoon, Nov–Apr. Sources disagree on manta timing at Mantas and More (Dec–May versus May–Dec), so do not plan a trip around it.
Know before you go
- The current can make the site tricky and it changes with the tide; hold low against the slope, keep with the guide and ascend under a surface marker for the pick-up.
Questions divers ask
What sharks are at Sharks Tongue?+
Grey reef sharks and silvertips are often seen on the slope at 15–25 m when the current is incoming.
Is Sharks Tongue a difficult dive?+
The depth is moderate at 15–25 m, but Scubago warns that the currents can make it a tricky site that requires some skills, so it suits divers with drift experience.
Sources
- Sharks Tongue — Scubago
In The Logbook
- Where to see reef sharks on your first divesBig animals · 14 min read
More dive sites in Meemu Atoll
Pinnacle
A 4 m coral top, soft coral at 15–25 m and almost no current
Reef
An overhang-lined reef from 5 to 40 m with easy navigation
Reef
Manta cleaning stations at 10–15 m, with 8–9 mantas at once on a good day
Wall
Coral walls to 35 m turning into a sheer drop to the blue, cut with overhangs
Channel & pass
Rays and sharks on the descent to 30 m, then a soft-coral overhang on the drift
Cave & cavern
A cavern about 10 m high running from 15 to 30 m
Coral garden
Soft, leather and fan corals with sponges at 15–25 m, and no current
Wreck
A 30 m wooden dhoni on the sand at 20–33 m, open enough to enter
Similar dives elsewhere
Groups of eagle rays and barracuda on the incoming current
A canyon cut diagonally through the middle of a channel reef
One of the few places whale sharks stay all year
A gentle drift along a reef with big reef fish