Shark Sensei
Guide6 min read
About Shark Sensei
A shark diving academy in Fuvahmulah, Maldives, founded by a local instructor and an Italian marine biologist, where divers learn to understand tiger sharks and professionals learn to lead dives with them safely.
Written byIbbeyzIbrahim MohamedCourse author
What Is Shark Sensei? Tiger Shark Diving Education in Fuvahmulah, Maldives
Shark Sensei is a tiger shark diving education and professional training academy based in Fuvahmulah, Maldives. We combine local knowledge, professional diving practice and marine science to help divers better understand tiger sharks and make more informed, responsible decisions in the water. Our programmes are designed for different levels of experience — from recreational divers who want to understand tiger sharks better to professionals preparing to lead others during shark encounters.
Experience, Knowledge and Local Expertise
Fuvahmulah already has a strong local diving community with years of first-hand experience in its waters. Local dive professionals know the island, its currents, conditions and tiger sharks through repeated encounters and time spent in the water. That experience provides an important foundation for understanding tiger sharks. But it also raises questions: Why does a shark behave differently in certain conditions? How do individual animals respond to divers? How can our own position or movement affect an encounter? For us, experience is the starting point for learning, not a substitute for it. Shark Sensei grew from this idea. We are not trying to replace local knowledge, but to build on it by bringing practical experience, professional diving skills and marine-science knowledge into a structured approach to tiger shark education. The result is training that goes beyond simply being comfortable around sharks. It helps divers understand what they are observing and develop the judgement to respond appropriately to the situation around them. Explore Fuvahmulah →
Why “Shark Sensei”?
The word sensei is Japanese and is commonly used for a teacher, instructor or someone who guides others through knowledge and experience. We chose the name because it reflects how we think about learning to dive with sharks. There is always more to observe, question and understand. A diver may know a particular site extremely well. Another may have spent years observing tiger sharks. A marine scientist may bring a different perspective on biology and behaviour. A professional instructor may approach an encounter through the lens of group management and safety. Each perspective adds something. For us, becoming better at shark diving is not simply about how many encounters you have had. It is about learning from those encounters and developing the judgement to apply that knowledge in the water. Experience gives us a foundation. Understanding gives that experience meaning.
From Knowledge to Responsible Shark Diving
Good shark diving starts before entering the water. Understanding the animal is only part of it. Divers also need to recognise the conditions around them and understand how their own behaviour can influence an encounter. That includes learning how to:
- recognise changes in shark behaviour
- understand environmental conditions
- maintain appropriate positioning
- move calmly and predictably
- manage your presence around the animal
- communicate effectively with other divers
- respond when an encounter does not go as expected
For professional divers, the responsibility becomes greater. Leading a tiger shark dive is not simply about being comfortable around sharks. It means being responsible for the people in your group, reading the situation as it develops and making decisions that prioritise safety and responsible interaction.
Tiger Shark Diving Courses
Shark Sensei currently offers two SSI programmes for tiger shark diving, designed for different levels of experience and responsibility.
SSI Tiger Shark Eco Diver
The Tiger Shark Eco Diver is an entry-level specialty for divers who want to better understand tiger sharks and learn how to approach encounters responsibly. The course covers tiger shark biology, ecology, behaviour, photo-identification, conservation and responsible interaction, combining online learning with practical tiger shark dives in Fuvahmulah. It is designed to help recreational divers become more informed and lower-impact participants in the water. The Eco Diver course is also the first step towards the professional-level Tiger Shark Safety Diver programme. Explore the Tiger Shark Eco Diver course →
SSI Tiger Shark Safety Diver
The Tiger Shark Safety Diver is a professional-level programme for divers who may be responsible for leading others during tiger shark encounters. The training focuses on practical decision-making, group management, reading shark behaviour, positioning, redirection and emergency response. Rather than simply testing whether a diver can complete a set number of dives, the programme focuses on whether they can apply their knowledge and make appropriate decisions in real-world situations. Explore the Tiger Shark Safety Diver course → Not sure which programme is right for you? Compare the Tiger Shark courses →
Our Instructors
Shark Sensei was founded by Ibrahim Mohamed (Ibbeyz) and Francesca Gagliardi (Franci), whose different backgrounds come together in the academy's approach to tiger shark education.
Ibrahim Mohamed — Ibbeyz
Founder · Professional Shark Diver · Scuba Instructor Ibbeyz is a Maldivian dive professional from Fuvahmulah who grew up swimming in the waters surrounding the island. His knowledge of tiger sharks has developed through years of regular diving in their environment, observing individual animals and experiencing the changing conditions of Fuvahmulah's dive sites. Along the way, he has continued to question his own observations and exchange knowledge with other experienced shark divers while developing the practical training approach behind Shark Sensei. His familiarity with Fuvahmulah and its tiger sharks forms an important part of the academy's foundation. Meet Ibbeyz →
Francesca Gagliardi — Franci
Co-founder · Marine Biologist · Scuba & Freediving Instructor Francesca is a marine biologist and scuba and freediving instructor with two Master's degrees in Marine Biology and Marine Science and Climate Change. Her scientific background informs Shark Sensei's approach to shark biology, behaviour, ecology, conservation and responsible interaction. She has lived and worked in the Maldives since 2022 and combines her marine-science background with professional experience in diving and dive operations. Together with Ibbeyz, she helped develop the educational and professional framework behind Shark Sensei. Meet Francesca →
More Than Diving with Sharks
Tiger shark diving can be an extraordinary experience. But understanding what we are observing can change the way we experience an encounter. Shark Sensei exists to make that understanding part of the experience. We believe that better shark diving comes from knowledge, preparation, observation and respect — for the animals, the environment and the people sharing the water. That is the foundation of our approach to tiger shark diving education in Fuvahmulah.
Want to Know How It All Began?
Shark Sensei grew from two different paths in diving that eventually led to the same idea: creating a structured way to learn about and prepare for tiger shark encounters. Read our story: Two Paths. One Ocean. How Shark Sensei Began→