Baa Atoll is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and the reason most marine biologists know its name is Hanifaru Bay, twenty minutes from the island by speedboat. During the southwest monsoon, roughly June to November, currents trap plankton in the bay and manta rays arrive to feed, sometimes dozens at once, wheeling in feeding chains just below the surface. Whale sharks come too.
How a manta safari works
Hanifaru is a protected area: only snorkelling is permitted, visits are limited in number and time, and a licensed ranger accompanies every group. Our resident marine biologist checks the conditions each morning and takes guests out when the mantas are feeding. Outside the bay, cleaning stations around the atoll are visited by mantas through much of the year.
Good to know
- No sightings are ever promised; the animals are wild and the plankton moves with the tide.
- Snorkellers need to be confident in open water; life vests are provided.
- The safari is Rf 3,100 per person and can be booked at any time during your stay.