Dive site · access from Baa Atoll
Hanifaru Bay
A small protected cove that becomes one of the world's largest manta feeding sites in the southwest monsoon, when tidal currents trap plankton against the dead-end reef and reef mantas gather to feed, sometimes cyclone-feeding in stacked columns with whale sharks alongside.
- Depth
- 1–15m
- Current
- Moderate
- Minimum level
- Open water
- Access
- Boat
The case for it
Why dive here
- Snorkel-only manta feeding aggregation, up to 247 mantas documented in one event
- Cyclone and chain feeding behaviour, with whale sharks joining
- Ranger-enforced 45-minute sessions and capped numbers
Check before booking
What may rule it out
- Moderate current can affect whether the site is suitable on the day.
Access and timing
Plan this through Baa Atoll
Best overall months: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov. Check the destination planner for operating season, wildlife and other matching sites.
Wildlife
Seen around Baa Atoll
These are destination-level records, not confirmed sightings at Hanifaru Bay.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | not seen |
| February | not seen |
| March | not seen |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | rare |
| November | rare |
| December | not seen |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | rare |
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | not seen |
| February | not seen |
| March | not seen |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | rare |
| December | not seen |
Nearby alternatives
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Sources & last checked
Checked July 2026
Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.
View 2 sources and checking notes
- Snorkeling Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll, Snorkeling Report
- Protected Areas — Hanifaru Bay, Manta Trust / Maldivian Manta Ray Project
Note on the data: Schema gap: this is a snorkel-only site, but diverLevelSchema has no 'snorkel' value, so diverLevelMin is set to the lowest cert (open_water). The description makes the snorkel-only status explicit. Coordinates are the one published Baa site location.