HANIFARU BAY

Hanifaru Bay is one of the Maldives’ most remarkable marine destinations, located on the eastern side of Baa Atoll, within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It is internationally famous for the extraordinary seasonal gatherings of reef manta rays, making it one of the world’s most important manta-feeding sites.

The Manta Ray Spectacle

The magic of Hanifaru Bay is driven by plankton, tides and monsoon currents. During the southwest monsoon, particularly from around May/June through October or November, plankton-rich water is concentrated inside the bay. This creates an enormous natural feeding ground for manta rays.

At peak times, dozens and sometimes more than 100 manta rays can gather together. They often perform a spectacular behaviour known as “cyclone feeding”, swimming in large spirals and circles as they concentrate and filter-feed on plankton.

The Maldives is home to the world's largest recorded population of reef manta rays, and Hanifaru Bay is one of the most important locations within this population's seasonal movements. More than 1,800 individual manta rays have been recorded in Hanifaru waters.

Whale Sharks Too

Although Hanifaru Bay is primarily famous for manta rays, whale sharks can also occasionally enter the bay to feed on the same plankton-rich waters. Sightings are particularly possible during periods of intense feeding activity and around certain tidal and lunar conditions.

Part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Hanifaru Bay sits within the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve, recognised by UNESCO for its exceptional marine biodiversity.

A biosphere reserve is not simply a protected area. UNESCO describes biosphere reserves as places where biodiversity conservation and sustainable human activity are intended to work together, combining conservation, research, education and sustainable development.

Baa Atoll covers more than 139,000 hectares and contains coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves and numerous islands. Its waters support around 1,200 reef-associated marine species and approximately 250 species of hard and soft corals, together with turtles, manta rays, whale sharks and many other marine species.

A Protected Marine Environment

Because Hanifaru Bay is such an important ecological site, visitor activities are carefully controlled. Scuba diving is not permitted inside the bay, and visitors experience the manta gatherings primarily through guided snorkelling. There are also restrictions on the number of boats and rules designed to minimise disturbance to the animals.

The wider Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve is divided into core, buffer and transition areas, with the core areas receiving the highest level of protection. Extractive activities are prohibited within the core areas, while sustainable activities are permitted in designated transition areas.

Best Time to Visit

For travellers specifically interested in manta rays at Hanifaru Bay, the key season is generally:

May/June – October/November

The most spectacular encounters tend to occur when plankton concentrations, tides and weather conditions combine favourably. However, manta sightings are naturally dependent on the conditions of the day, so no responsible operator can guarantee a particular number of manta rays.

Getting There

Hanifaru Bay is approximately 118 km from Malé. One of the most convenient gateways is Dharavandhoo Airport, which has domestic flights from Velana International Airport taking roughly 20 minutes. From the surrounding islands and resorts, Hanifaru Bay can then be reached by boat.

Why Hanifaru Bay Is Special

Hanifaru Bay is more than simply a place to see manta rays. It is an example of how the Maldives' reef ecosystems, ocean currents, seasonal monsoons and marine wildlife are interconnected.

For visitors, the experience can be extraordinary: entering the water and finding yourself surrounded by enormous manta rays gliding silently through the blue, sometimes with dozens of animals feeding together. At the same time, the protected status of the bay reminds visitors that this is a wildlife encounter rather than an aquarium experience.