Which destination offers a year-round contingency for sightings when migratory hotspots are quiet?
Answer
South Ari Atoll, Maldives
While most whale shark viewing is temporal, dependent on seasonal plankton blooms or specific migration corridors, the South Ari Atoll in the Maldives stands out because of its resident population. The presence of these resident whale sharks, often juveniles near the surface, offers a crucial advantage: the probability of sightings remains high year-round. This makes the Maldives an essential contingency location for snorkelers and divers when other major migratory aggregation sites are temporarily inactive.
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