Swimming with the Mantas of Hanifaru Bay

Hanifaru is a small inlet in the reef of Baa Atoll, but its shape traps the plankton the tide pushes in, and the manta rays come to feed. On strong days more than a hundred crowd into this narrow space, sometimes forming chains that wheel around one another, and whale sharks may pass through as well.

The season runs from June to November, with the south-west monsoon, and usually peaks in the middle. The bay is a core protected zone within the Biosphere Reserve, so the rules are strict: snorkelling only, no scuba, sessions of no more than 45 minutes, a limited number of boats at a time and a certified guide with every group.

Mantas keep no timetable, so some Baa resorts run alert programmes that let you go out when they appear. At Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru, marine biologists track the mantas every day and call guests when they arrive; the programme is open to confident snorkellers aged eight and over.

We place you at a resort close to the bay, book the session ahead and choose the best weeks with you. If the mantas miss your day, Baa has other cleaning stations to visit outside the bay.