Diving With Mantas And Whale Sharks At Baa Atoll: Hanifaru Lagoon's Plankton Rich Waters

One of the most incredible experiences any diver can have is that of encountering majestic whale sharks and enormous manta rays.  One of the best places to dive with these amazing creatures is in Baa Atoll’s Hanifaru Lagoon, where abundant plankton brings the animals to feed in droves.  Let’s take a closer look. 

Baa Atoll 

This circular atoll, which is located northwest of North Male Atoll, is approximately thirty kilometers across, and contains fifty little islands.  Only now becoming a popular destination for divers, the coral reefs are magnificent and untouched, and the marine life, which includes a full roster of reef occupants and pelagics, is equally amazing.  

The atoll’s structure is such that after high tides and during the equinox, the already abundant plankton present in the atoll gets stuck inside Hanifaru Lagoon.  This same plankton does reduce visibility, making it much lower than most dives the Maldives have to offer.  Still, there are very few places in the world like this one, where enormous, diver friendly filter feeders come to gorge themselves in a spectacle that has been observed year after year. 

Diving With the Mantas and Whale Sharks 

The manta rays and whale sharks that come to Hanifaru Lagoon during plankton blooms are present in Baa Atoll’s waters between June and November, so if your trip does not coincide with a bloom, you’ll still have the opportunity to dive with them at other sites nearby.  Local dive operators have identified other areas where masses of filter feeders graze when they are not in Hanifaru Lagoon, and they are experts at predicting when which creatures will be seen, and where best to see them.  

Besides the feeding that happens here, there is also a manta ray cleaning station, where mantas patiently wait to be tended to by cleaner wrasse and other small fish.  While you might be tempted to run a hand over one of the mantas at some point during the dive, don’t do it.  Manta rays are coated in a gel-like covering that protects their delicate skin from sunburn and infection, and touching them can cause damage.  Like other marine animals, manta rays will often approach you and come close to you, so remember to enjoy these encounters on their terms, not yours!   

Many of the whale sharks and manta rays you will see on this dive have been coming here year after year, and dive operators are familiar with different individuals.  The best action takes place between May and July, and you should contact Baa’s dive professionals well in advance of a trip to find out how their trips are structured and learn more about what to expect. 

There are lovely resorts nearby, and the area surrounding Baa offers other fantastic diving opportunities.  While this dive might very well be your best while visiting the Maldives, it will certainly be one of the most memorable you will ever make.  Unlike some other manta ray and whale shark encounters, it takes place in open water, and it is a purely natural phenomenon.   Remember to bring your camera!