Liveaboard diving vacation in the Maldives is always associated with great mantas and whale sharks encounters. There are more places to impress! Hanifaru Bay is a sanctuary for people who love snorkeling with manta rays and whale sharks. This UNESCO biosphere reserve in the Maldives is legally designated as a Marine Protected Area. It is best known for its concentration of the enigmatic, graceful, inquisitive and charismatic reef manta rays!
The reef at Hanifaru Bay is like a funnel that is about 1300 meters, the inner narrow part of the funnel is about 600 meters and that is where whale sharks and mantas are found more common. The season is from June to November. In this period, planktons gets trapped in the funnel-like reef and concentration of planktons attracts whale sharks and schools of manta rays. At any time there could be over a hundred mantas and several whale sharks feeding off the coral reef. This is the world’s largest feeding station known to exist.
Liveaboards visiting Hanifaru Bay:
- Sachika Liveaboard
- Adora Liveaboard
- Blue Force One Liveaboard
- Maldives Master Liveaboard
- Conte Max Liveaboard
- Emperor Voyager Liveaboard
Useful links Manta Rays & Whale Sharks in Hanifaru Bay, Maldives | Scubatravel.co.uk