Hanifaru Bay Manta Snorkeling
When we first stumbled upon videos of manta rays in Hanifaru Bay in the Maldives, our bags were practically packed. We aimed for the sweet spot—between June and November—to hopefully catch these magnificent creatures during the southwest monsoon.
Table of Contents
Our Base
We chose the Royal Island Resort to be our base. Their dive center stood out, with its focus on sustainable trips. We appreciated their commitment to ensure Hanifaru Bay and all of the surrounding dive sights remained as pristine as ever despite the growing number of visitors.
Mifrah, our dive guide, broke the news when we arrived at the dive center to inquire about the trip. There were no manta sightings for two weeks.
But hope wasn’t lost. The attentive rangers, who manage both tourists and the bay’s health, seemed optimistic about our chances.
A couple of days breezed by at the resort, filled with snorkeling the house reef, good food and relaxation. Out of the blue, Mifrah approached: “How about a dive at 9 am tomorrow?” We didn’t think twice.
Hanifaru Bay
The next morning came quickly. After a light breakfast, we met a smaller-than-expected group at the dive center. Post a brief safety chat, our boat sped towards Hanifaru Bay. In about 25 minutes, we were there.
And to our delight, the first manta ray appeared as we dived in, with more soon joining the spectacle.
Yet, despite the morning’s slightly rough seas and a hint of rain, the visibility underwater remained surprisingly clear.
Being submerged in that environment, watching the mantas execute their barrel rolls was just breathtaking.
We could have spend all day watching the elegant rays. That is probably why each visiting group in Hanifaru Bay is given a window of 45 minutes, ensuring the space isn’t overwhelmed.
Despite being the only boat there at that time, the guides were on their toes watching our group carefully. Their primary concern was, of course, keeping an eye on everyone for safety. This meant staying close, a precaution that occasionally made capturing the perfect photo challenging—often a fin would sneak into the frame.
That is why we usually prefer solo or smaller group trips. This particular journey felt just right in every way, though. A private tour would just have blown the budget.
Special Thanks
Big thanks to Mifrah for enhancing our experience. He explained, with his unique humor, why Hanifaru Bay is a manta hotspot. The bay’s channel funnels in waters abundant with plankton. As it narrows, the waters flow into the sea, leaving behind a plankton feast. This not only draws manta rays but occasionally, if you’re in luck, whale sharks or even dolphins hunting smaller fish, too.
olaf
27. September 2023 at 05:17Ich liebe eure Photos
😉 ich war auch schon mal in der Gegend, aber solche Photos habe ich in den Jahren nicht hinbekommen — sehr sehr schoen- Danke fuers teilen
Gerrit
1. October 2023 at 15:36Danke Dir wir fanden die Hanifaru Bay auch mega schön! 😍 Und ein bischen Glück hatten wir auch…