NORTH & CENTRAL ATOLLS
Incl. Hanifaru Bay
North and Central atolls
incl. Hanifaru Bay
Start/End: Male
2-3 dives per day / 7-14 nights aboard
Atolls: North Male, Baa, Raa, Lhaviyani, North Ari Atoll (depending on conditions)
For who: minimum number of 30 dives, AOWD or Deep specialty
Thila and reef diving
Exact routing depends on the weather! We will choose the best routing!
BAA ATOLL:
Hanifaru Bay
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. There are strict regulations are in place to protect and preserve this amazing wonder. The whale shark season is from May to December. 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.
At Hanifaru Bay you can do snorkeling, diving is not permitted any more.
At some point whale sharks and manta population in Hanifaru Bay went to a drastic drop. The creatures might have been disturbed by human intervention. Hence, the regulations are important to keep this amazing wonder preserved.
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