Conditions referenceSeason, water and visibilityBest Jun–Nov · Moderate current · 28–30.5°C (coldest Jan, warmest Apr)
- Current
- Moderate
- Water temperature
- 28–30.5°C (coldest Jan, warmest Apr)
- Visibility
- 5–30m: Good on the outer reefs, but reduced during the southwest-monsoon manta season (down to about 5-15m in Hanifaru Bay) because the same plankton bloom…
- Experience
- Many reef and thila dives suit Open Water divers.
01 · Marine life
What you may see
Sightings are never guaranteed. The bars show typical likelihood by month.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | peak season |
| July | peak season |
| August | peak season |
| September | peak season |
| October | peak season |
| November | peak season |
| December | occasional |
The Hanifaru Bay signature species.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
A territorial reef resident, present year-round on Baa's outer reefs: one Baa site is named Napoleon Reef for its resident giants.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Resident on Baa's outer reefs and channels year-round, with a grey reef shark nursery at Anga Faru.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Resident reef turtle in Baa, seen year-round on house reefs and cleaning stations, recorded at Hanifaru and nearby reefs.
02 · Dive sites
Dive sites worth knowing
A starting point, not a ranking. Conditions decide what works on the day.
Anga Faru
A reef on the eastern edge of Baa Atoll cut with canyons and overhangs from 12-30m, known as a grey reef shark nursery where juveniles patrol the reef.
12–30m · Moderate current
Dharavandhoo Thila
A submerged reef off Dharavandhoo island and a major reef manta cleaning station, with more than 500 individual mantas and over 1,600 sightings logged as of 2020.
8–30m · Mild current
Dhigali Haa (Horubadhoo Thila)
A long, narrow submerged thila with caves, overhangs and steep sides, and one of the first marine areas the Maldives protected: declared in 1999 and extended in 2011.
7–35m · Moderate current
See all 7 dive sites
03 · LogisticsGetting there and costsModerate. Fly to MLE. Typical trip $–$$$.
Route overview
Moderate
Reachable but with some friction: 1 domestic flight.
Airport options
MLE
Velana International Airport (Malé)
International gateway; onward to Baa Atoll by ~25-minute domestic flight to Dharavandhoo, seaplane, or liveaboard
DRV
Dharavandhoo Airport
Domestic airport within Baa Atoll, the closest gateway to Hanifaru Bay; roughly 20-25 minutes from Malé
Typical trip cost
$–$$$
under $2,000 to over $4,000
Per person, excluding international flights.
- A wide spread.
- Budget: a Baa liveaboard from around $1,470-1,500 for 7 nights, or a Dharavandhoo guesthouse from ~$35-63/night with single dives ~$60 and a Hanifaru Bay session $20-30.
- Luxury: Baa resorts such as Soneva Fushi and Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru run from ~$1,400 to over $5,000 per night, with diving charged per dive on top.
- Flights and the Hanifaru fee are additional.
Permit or park fee
What you pay
Hanifaru Bay carries a conservation fee of roughly $20-30 per person per 45-minute session, usually collected through the tour operator.
How it works
Hanifaru Bay is a protected marine area within the UNESCO Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve (designated 2011). It is snorkelling only: no scuba: with ranger-managed sessions of about 45 minutes and limited numbers of people in the water at once.