It is surly one of the greatest phenomena in the world – you won’t want to miss it! 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. Hanifaru Bay is a small, cul-de-sac inlet with a sandy bottom surrounded by shallow reef.ĭuring the South-West Monsoon (Hulhangu) from July – November, large groups of feeding manta rays are found inside Hanifaru Bay. Hanifaru in the local Dhivehi language translates to narrow ‘hani’ reef ‘faru’. This incredible behaviour is almost exclusive to Hanifaru Bay. 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. The UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve is famous for its annual gathering of manta rays and occasional whale sharksbetween the months of May to November. Perched inside Baa Atoll and boasting UNESCO status, the bay is a highly protected marine area since 2011. 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. When swimming with manta rays in Maldives, the rays are very curious and content with humans.īEST PLACE TO SWIM WITH MANTA RAYS IN MALDIVES: HANIFARU BAY – BAA ATOLL – UNESCO WORLD BIOSPHERE RESERVE photo: Elle Mayell

Whilst manta rays hover to be cleaned, it’s the perfect time to observe them closely. 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.

Oceanic mantas are much more rare & are found passing through the southern atolls of the Maldives, especially between March and April. 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. 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. As a general guide, there are two distinct manta ray seasons Maldives. Reef manta rays in Maldives are year-round residents, voyaging across the twenty-six atolls in correlation with the changing monsoons. WHEN IS THE MANTA RAY SEASON MALDIVES? photo: Elle Mayell Getting to swim with manta rays in Maldives is one of the most popular & unforgettable experiences for tourists visiting Maldives. 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. You’re probably wondering when is the manta rays season Maldives, where are the best places for manta rays Maldives and where to stay. 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.

Swim with rays