More orcas in Maldivian waters – or more cameras?

For decades, fishermen who reported seeing orcas were met with skepticism. But now drone footage and underwater cameras are proving them right, and raising questions about what’s drawing them to Maldivian waters.

On December 18, a pod of around six orcas was spotted near Fuvahmulah. Incredible underwater footage and drone footage showed the pod swimming near the southern island. A week later, eyewitnesses near Hulhumalé reported spotting orcas. The recent sightings follow reports in November of four orcas near Vaavu atoll.

“Orcas have been spotted in the Maldives before, even in the 90s and 80s. People used to not believe these sightings, but near Vaadhoo kandu, near the Crossroads [resorts] now, orcas have been spotted before," Hassan Hameez, a veteran diver told the Maldives Independent.

“Another reason [for more frequent reports] is that the number of people out there with drones and cameras looking for marine wildlife is a lot more now.”

Orcas have previously been seen near Fuvahmulah in 2023 as well as Raa atoll and Jawakara resort.

The Maldives lies in the midst of migratory routes for whales, Hameez noted. All kinds of whales cross through channels between atolls in certain times of the year.

“Orcas are an intelligent species, my theory is that we might see more of them as ocean currents and migratory routes get altered due to human impact. I am not an expert but that is my theory.”

A 2012 study by Charles Anderson and Shiham Adam documented 57 orca encounters between 1990 and 2002, including 21 sightings in northern atolls, 31 in central atolls and five in southern atolls. The study found that killer whale schools ranged in size from five to 11. They saw six large whales with pink objects in their mouths. That could have been the carcasses of dolphins, sharks, or large tuna, the researchers thought. They also saw approximately six killer whales shadowing dolphins. 

Since 2020, a specific subpopulation of orcas referred to as Gladis pods have made headlines after systematically ramming sailboats and yachts near Spain. 

Local yacht operators have not reported any concerns.