Calm
Slow to a no-wake speed near marine mammals, and keep engine noise down.
Koamas by Reefscapers · Report
Submit a sighting
Saw a dolphin or whale? One WhatsApp message is all it takes — our bot walks you through the rest.
Watch responsibly
The Koamas Code
Five rules for every encounter with a dolphin or whale in the Maldives — and a sixth that turns your sighting into science.
Course
Hold a steady, predictable line. Never block their path or cut across it.
Clearance
Keep at least 100 m from whales and 50 m from dolphins — never head-on or from directly behind.
Calves
Give mothers and young extra room, and never position your vessel between them.
Choice
Let the animal decide. If your presence changes its behaviour, give it more space.
...and the sixth C
Contribute
Send us what you saw — it takes one WhatsApp message, below.
Read the full watching guidelines
Why this matters
Watching with care
The Maldives is home to a remarkable diversity of dolphins and whales, offering some of the world's most memorable marine wildlife encounters.
Currently, there are no national guidelines governing dolphin and whale watching in the Maldives. While most encounters are conducted responsibly, increasing vessel traffic has the potential to impact cetaceans through disturbance, reduced resting opportunities, and vessel strikes.
These recommendations have been developed by Koamas — drawing on international best-practice standards and adapted for Maldivian waters — to promote safe, respectful, and sustainable encounters for both marine mammals and people.
For all encounters
General guidelines
Let the animals choose
Allow dolphins and whales to approach your vessel on their own terms. Never chase, pursue, or pressure animals into an interaction.
Slow down
Reduce speed when marine mammals are nearby, and hold a steady, predictable course.
Never block their path
Always leave a clear, open route so animals can move freely.
Give mothers & calves extra space
Avoid close approaches, and never position your vessel between a mother and her calf.
Wildlife comes first
Photographs and close encounters should never come at the expense of animal welfare.
Support conservation
Share your sightings and photographs with Koamas to help us understand marine mammals in the Maldives.
Extra care
Additional considerations for whales
Whales are particularly vulnerable to vessel disturbance and collisions, due to their size, their behaviour, and the time they spend at the surface.
Approach with caution
Slow down and give whales ample space to continue their natural behaviour.
Do not pursue
If a whale changes direction, dives repeatedly, or moves away, do not follow.
Take extra care around mothers & calves
Increase your viewing distance and minimise vessel movement around mothers and young calves.
Reduce vessel strike risk
Maintain a slow speed and keep a careful lookout whenever whales are present.
At a glance
Recommended distances
Recommended minimum distances and limits when watching cetaceans, based on international best practice. Always give animals more room if they show any sign of disturbance.
Whales
Keep at least 100 m away; do not approach head-on or from directly behind.
Dolphins
Keep at least 50 m away; let them set the distance.
Caution zone
Within 100–300 m, slow to a no-wake speed and hold a steady course.
Vessels present
No more than 2 boats with a group at once; others wait their turn or move on.
Time with a group
Limit close viewing to about 20–30 minutes, then move away.
The Koamas Golden Rule
If the animal chooses to approach, enjoy the encounter. If your presence causes it to change its behaviour, give it more space.
Adapted from international responsible-watching standards (the International Whaling Commission, IFAW, and the World Cetacean Alliance) and tailored for the Maldives.
Three steps
How to submit
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Message the bot
Tap the WhatsApp button on this page (or scan the QR code below). The chat opens with a ready-made first message — just press send.
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Answer a few questions
The bot asks what you saw, where, and when. Share whatever you have — a best guess at the species is fine, and a photo helps our team confirm it.
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We take it from there
Our team reviews every report. Once verified, your sighting appears on the public map and in the dashboard statistics.
Good reports
What to include
- Species — your best guess is enough; the species guide can help
- Location — share your GPS position or name the nearest atoll or island
- Date and time of the encounter
- Group size — a rough range like "10–20" works
- A photo, if you managed one — it makes verification much easier
Your privacy is protected: phone numbers are stored only as a one-way hash and never appear on the public site, and map locations are rounded to about 5 km. Read more on the About page.
