A Whale Shark Encounter to Remember: Hussain Rafaal’s 2019 Highlight

Hussain Rafaal observing a whale shark feeding

For Hussain Rafaal, a PADI SCUBA Instructor now working with Liquid Salt Divers in Dharavandhoo, Maldives, the most unforgettable memory of 2019 wasn’t on land—it was underwater.

Here’s how he recounts the experience:

"At 14:30 we set out for a dive. We ended up not diving in the usual sense because outside Angafaru there were four whale sharks and some mantas feeding due to the abundance of plankton in the area. I jumped in expecting to swim after the sharks, and while we did try to catch up with two of them, I ended up alongside this massive whale shark feeding with its mouth pointed toward the sun. He took continuous gulps of plankton for a solid 40 minutes. The first 25 minutes felt like it was just me and my divers, observing this gentle giant."

"It was the first time I could truly observe the anatomy of the largest fish in the ocean. I even got a chance to see the gills, the rakes inside its mouth, and swim down to its tail fin. The slow, graceful movement of the pectoral fins, spinning on its own axis, was mesmerizing. While the whale shark fed, a group of mantas appeared out of the blue, performing loop-de-loops and backflips under it. It was a celebration of life in every size, color, and movement—an underwater party thanks to the phase of the moon."

Location: UNESCO Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve

Date: August 2019

Tour Operator: @liquidsaltdiversPhoto

Credit: @aquanautindia

Rafaal’s journey with Dive Desk began with the PADI Rescue Diver course. Since then, he has progressed through Open Water Scuba Instructor Course and multiple specialty courses.

Today, we are proud to see him pursuing a career he truly loves.

"Being a dive professional exposes me to the marine life I want to conserve and study," Hussain shares. "The extended exposure this career provides prepares me for my ultimate goal of becoming a marine biologist."

At Dive Desk, we love seeing ambitious, driven young Maldivians chasing their dreams and making a difference in marine conservation. We hope the new decade brings Rafaal even closer to achieving his goals.