Shark
Tawny nurse shark
Nebrius ferrugineus
IUCN status: Vulnerable
A large, docile nocturnal shark, sandy-brown with a small mouth and prominent barbels, that rests by day in caves and under coral ledges, sometimes stacked in groups. It suction-feeds on reef invertebrates and fish at night and is untroubled by divers.
- Max size
- Up to ~3.2m
- Habitat
- Reef caves, ledges, sandy channels and lagoons
Best places to dive with Tawny nurse shark
rareoccasionalcommonly seenpeak season
Baa Atoll
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Resident year-round, resting in caves and under overhangs by day and active at night; often seen sheltering at sites like Kakani Thila.
Sources & last checked
Checked July 2026
This is a researched draft, not yet human-verified. The seasonality and logistics are drawn from the sources below — confirm specifics (permits, fees, closures) with an operator before you book.
- Tawny nurse shark — Wikipedia
- Tawny Nurse Shark — Shark Research Institute