Maldives · Spearfishing zone
South Ari Atoll Marine Protected Area (SAMPA)
What this zone is
Overview
How spearfishing is treated at South Ari Atoll Marine Protected Area (SAMPA).
The South Ari Atoll MPA (SAMPA) is a 42 km-long protected area in Alif Dhaal (South Ari) Atoll, running from the north-western tip of Rangali island to the north-eastern tip of Dhigurah island, extending 1 km seaward from the outer reef. Designated protected in 2009 with a management plan from July 2019, it is a globally significant whale-shark aggregation site with regulated activities and rangers; spearfishing is prohibited under the national ban and MPA rules. Coordinate given is a representative central point near Dhigurah island.
On the coast
Location
Approximate reference point for this zone. See the full picture on the interactive map.
3.5264°N, 72.9239°E
View on the mapSource
This zone is documented in the official source below.
Before you dive
License for Maldives
Whether you need a license to spearfish here, and how to get one.