GUIDE TO SWIMMING WITH MANTA RAYS MALDIVES


Maldives bucket list things to do swim with manta rays

 

To celebrate World Manta Day, 17th September, we have put together a one-stop guide for the ultimate bucket list adventure of swimming with manta rays in Maldives. You’re probably wondering when is the manta rays season Maldives, where are the best places for manta rays Maldives and where to stay.

WHY SWIM WITH MANTA RAYS IN MALDIVES?

Swimming in manta rays in Maldives

maldives manta ray
photo: Elle Mayell

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The warm crystalline waters that surround each tropical atoll of the Maldives, makes the spectacular experience of swimming with manta rays in Maldives one of the best wilderness dive and snorkel destinations in the world. Getting to swim with manta rays in Maldives is one of the most popular & unforgettable experiences for tourists visiting Maldives.

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WHEN IS THE MANTA RAY SEASON MALDIVES?

manta trust maldives
photo: Elle Mayell

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Reef manta rays in Maldives are year-round residents, voyaging across the twenty-six atolls in correlation with the changing monsoons. As a general guide, there are two distinct manta ray seasons Maldives. From May to October, reef manta rays in Maldives are found across the eastern side of atolls and from November to April, they’re sighted on the western side of atolls. Generally the best time of year to visit Maldives for reef manta rays is from May to November – between these months these majestic creatures feed in plankton-filled water. Oceanic mantas are much more rare & are found passing through the southern atolls of the Maldives, especially between March and April.

It’s common to spot a dozen of manta rays feeding at a time in shallow waters and around the atolls, as the reef becomes a cleaning station during manta season in Maldives. Whilst manta rays hover to be cleaned, it’s the perfect time to observe them closely. When swimming with manta rays in Maldives, the rays are very curious and content with humans.

 

BEST PLACE TO SWIM WITH MANTA RAYS IN MALDIVES: HANIFARU BAY – BAA ATOLL – UNESCO WORLD BIOSPHERE RESERVE

manta rays Hanifaru Bay
photo: Elle Mayell

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Hanifaru Bay in Maldives is undoubtedly the best place to swim with manta rays in Maldives – it’s renowned as the world’s largest manta ray feeding location. Perched inside Baa Atoll and boasting UNESCO status, the bay is a highly protected marine area since 2011. The UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve is famous for its annual gathering of manta rays and occasional whale sharks between the months of May to November. Hanifaru Bay is also one of the few places in the world to witness manta rays ‘cyclone feeding’, with up to 247 individuals being recorded during one of these mass feeding events. This incredible behaviour is almost exclusive to Hanifaru Bay. Hanifaru in the local Dhivehi language translates to narrow ‘hani’ reef ‘faru’. Hanifaru Bay is a small, cul-de-sac inlet with a sandy bottom surrounded by shallow reef.

During the South-West Monsoon (Hulhangu) from July – November, large groups of feeding manta rays are found inside Hanifaru Bay. Strong tides affect the force of the monsoonal current, drawing plankton-rich water from ocean depths outside the atoll back into the shallow channels, forming a reverse current, which traps and concentrates an abundance of plankton in the shallow bay. It is surly one of the greatest phenomena in the world – you won’t want to miss it!

 

REMEMBER – NO DIVING WITH MANTA RAYS IN HANIFARU BAY

swimming with manta rays in Maldives
photo: Elle Mayell

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Did you know that diving inside Hanifaru Bay is strictly not permitted – only  45 minute snorkelling sessions are permitted, with a certified Hanifaru Bay guide.

There’s something so mesmerising about being in tropical waters and swimming with these almost alien-like creatures inside Hanifaru Bay – it will leave you feeling excited, alive, in awe and adrenalin-filled as it will be one of the most extraordinary experiences of your life which you will cherish forever – definitely NOT to be missed!

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HOW TO GET TO HANIFARU BAY?

manta ray season maldives
photo: Elle Mayell

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Beautiful Dharavandhoo Island in Baa Atoll is a local island situated just 10 minutes from the heart of Hanifaru Bay. It is just a twenty-minute flight or a two hour speedboat journey from Male Airport to Dharavandhoo Airport. Indulge Maldives can book flights for you cheaper than you will find online.

5 BEST PLACES TO STAY FOR SWIMMING WITH MANTA RAYS IN MALDIVES – LOCAL ISLANDS & RESORTS

Local island #1:  Dharavandhoo, Kiha Beach – the Gateway to Accessing Hanifaru Bay

best place to stay to swim with manta rays in Maldives

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To swim with manta rays in Maldives on a budget, we recommend staying at Kiha Beach Hotel, a luxury local island hotel, set along a white-sand beach, located ten minutes via speedboat transfer from Hanifaru Bay. This family-friendly hotel features sea view rooms with modern amenities, scenic balconies, lavish bathtubs to soak in the ocean views, a salt water infinity pool, relaxed open-air restaurant, spa, wide choice of water sports, diving (equipped with qualified guides) and excursions.  Download Manta Trust’s 2019 Baa Atoll Manta Report here 

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Local island #2:  Dhigurah  – South Ari Atoll
White Sand Dhigurah manta rays
 

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Stay at White Sand Dhigurah or Bliss Dhigurah and you can swim with manta rays in South Ari Atoll, with qualified local guides .The guides have grown up on the island and have valuable local knowledge cto share, informing you of the habits, behaviours and best sighting opportunities for manta rays in Maldives.

Dive and snorkel centres are located on the island and White Sand, Dhigurah has its own dive centre – Oceanholic Divers – a PADI 5 star dive school.

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Local Island #3 Fuvahmulah

Fuvahmulah is one of the best diving and marine research regions in the world and the main region for oceanic manta ray sightings in Maldives. Oceanic Mantas can have a wing span of up to 5m and they are much more rare to sight. Research conducted by Manta Trust shows they most frequently sighted passing through the southernmost tip of Fuvahmulah at the reef spur – the site commonly known as Farikede. Download Manta Trust’s 2019 Oceanic Manta Report here 

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RESORT #1 DUSIT THANI MALDIVES

resort close to hanifaru bay

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We recommend staying at Dusit Thani to experience special Thai hospitality combined with a touch of Maldivian style.

Just a 25 minute sea plane flight or a 30 minute domestic flight combined with a 10 minute speedboat journey will put you in the luxurious surrounds of this Thai Brand Resort. Beautiful 5-star, Dusit Thani, a sophisticated, island resort is the SECOND closest resort in Baa Atoll to Hanifaru Bay, located just five minutes away.

This resort has a huge choice of nine villa categories from luxurious beach villas with private pools, beach residences and two bedroom over-water pavilions. All have private terraces, outdoor rain showers, free Wi-Fi, and luxe bathrooms. Amenities in upgraded villas include private pools, extra bedrooms, kitchenettes, outdoor dining areas and wine cellars.

Dining and drinking options include a chic Thai restaurant and a romantic bar with sunset views. There’s an ocean-edge infinity pool, a gym, a kids’ club and a spa with treetop pods. As well, yoga, tennis, diving and fishing are offered.  Complimentary snorkel hire for ALL guests is perfect for discovering the great ‘house reef’.

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RESORT #2 AMILLA FUSHI RESORT

hanifaru bay resort

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If you prefer to stay in Ultra Luxury we recommend a stay at the 5-star Amilla Fushi Resort, rated amongst the top 5 resorts to visit in the Maldives, and just happens to be where celebrity actor Leonardo DiCaprio and a group of Victoria’s Secret models party. Luxurious villas sit over crystalline waters in the Baa Atoll UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The name ‘Amilla Fushi’ translates to ‘Your Island Home’ and it is… with its welcoming atmosphere and personalised service to complement the world-class luxury villas and amenities.

A 30 minute flight from Malé International Airport to Dharavandhoo Domestic Airport plus a spectacular 15 minute speedboat ride will have you relaxing in this luxurious resort.

Amilla Fushi Resort is the THIRD closest resort in Baa Atoll to Hanifaru Bay – just ten minutes by speed boat. Here you will encounter majestic manta rays and whale sharks, gain knowledge from the resident Marine Biologist & have your own personal Dive Butler! This is seasonal from July to November.

To top it all off another highlight is the 30-minute picturesque sea plane flight over the incredible isles of Baa Atoll. Along with swimming with manta rays this is another unforgettable experience on offer!

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TIPS FOR SWIMMING RESPONSIBLY WITH MANTA RAYS IN MALDIVES

tips for swimming with manta rays

Manta rays are not harmful, they are curious & will come very close to you. They do realise human presence are completely unaffected by our presence. You can have YOUR very best experience swimming with manta rays in the Maldives if you follow these tips:

  • Manta rays are very sensitive to disturbance, please enter the water quietly and calmly and stay at least 3m (10ft) away from the rays.
  • Keep splashing to a minimum by keeping your fins below the surface of the water.
  • Approach only from the manta’s side.
  • Do not chase after them as you will scare them away.
  • Do NOT touch a manta ray. If you touch a manta ray you will scare it away but, more importantly, you can also cause damage and death to the ray. Even a slight touch of a human hand can disturb the mucus coating covering their skin, causing bacteria infiltration and infection. (You may also be fined depending on local laws).
  • You may be required to stay in designated areas. Be sure to follow any rules specific to your swim and heed the advice of local guides.
  • If a manta swims towards you, do not block their path, they will swim overhead. Stay low and still.
  • Be sure to wear reef-safe sunscreen.

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MANTA TRUST – MANTA RAY RESEARCH IN MALDIVES

manta trust maldives

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The Maldivian Manta Ray Project (MMRP) is the founding project of the Manta Trust – made up of a collective of dive instructors, marine biologists, local island communities and tourism operators, with staff based across several atolls. Founded in 2005 with the goal of learning more about the life cycle, population and habitat practices of the Maldivian manta ray population, whilst also working with the government, tourists, local communities and tour operators, to create greater appreciation and protection awareness for these ocean giants and their habitat. Researchers are present in the Hanifaru Bay daily during the manta ray season Maldives. The Marine Biologists provide educational talks, activities and briefings, plus an exhilarating manta-on-call speedboat safari at Hanifaru Bay.

Manta Trust collects data on Maldivian manta rays, their movements and how the environment and tourism and human interactions affect populations. Since its inception, the project has identified, with the public’s help, close to 5,000 individual reef manta rays, from more than 70,000 photo sightings. It makes this one of the most intensive studied manta populations in the world.

This specialised research helps to improve the protection, habitat and understanding of manta rays in Maldives, encourage responsible tourism and ultimately help to minimise human impacts on manta rays. These guidelines outline how divers and snorkellers should behave in-water, to enhance their experience and to ensure their presence does not disturb the mantas they encounter.

In addition, it includes recommendations for tourism operators (that are committed to sustainable manta tourism) on how best to approach and depart manta sites and how to help crews manage their manta excursions. With the implementation of the Maldives Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) management plan in 2012, sustainable tourism practices and strict regulations are enforced within Hanifaru Marine Protection Area. These include limiting numbers of tourists and boats, scuba and fishing bans, scheduling alternate days between liveaboards and resort boats, speed limits, and specified use of entrance and exit routes.

Four Seasons Resort Landaa Giraavaru is the home of the Mana Trust. During the manta season the resort is home to MMRP researchers, scientists and annual interns for their onsite research. Combining innovation, wellness and conservation, this resort is home to a 44-acre marine sanctuary in the Baa Atoll.

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Manta rays in Maldives
photo: Elle Mayell
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KEY ACHIEVEMENTS of the Manta Trust:
  • Saw all ray species, including manta rays, be included in the Maldivian National Protected Species List (2014).
  • Identified almost 5,000 individual reef mantas from over 70,000 sightings, thereby identifying the world’s largest reef manta population.
  • Drove the designation of Baa Atoll as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve (2011) & Marine Protected Areas in the Maldives including Hanifaru Bay and Anga Faru (2009).
  • Assisted government with development & implementation of a Management Plan for Hanifaru Bay MPA (2011), to minimise impact of tourism to the site.

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MALDIVIAN MANTA RAY FACTS:

Did you know that manta rays have the largest brain to body ratio of all fish? The mouth of the manta ray is positioned along the front edge of its body. Also, manta rays, like their stingray cousins, have a long, whip-like tail, but they DON’T HAVE a poisonous tail stinger like many of their relatives – manta rays cannot sting you. They can even jump out of the water to get rid of parasites. They are totally harmless and each one can be individually identified by dot markings and scars.

Manta Trust identifies each manta by their unique dot pattern. Indulge Maldives identified a manta on our 2019 Kokoh & Koi group retreat, in August 2019 at Goidhoo Island, & we called her ‘Kokoh’, which we were so thrilled about.

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manta ray in maldives
photo: Elle Mayell

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Are you ready to book the manta ray adventure of your dreams? Get in touch with our team to organize your swim with manta rays at pristine, Hanifaru Bay, by pre-filling the form below or emailing us at holidays@indulgemaldives.com. Swimming and snorkelling in the Baa Atoll is a must for any manta ray enthusiast. You will never forget this experience. Come explore and make memories for this once in a lifetime opportunity!

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