INDIAN OCEAN
Baa Atoll · Hanifaru Bay
- Maldives
- Snorkel & dive (seasonal rules)
- May - November
Plan your dive
- Experience level
- Snorkel & dive (seasonal rules)
- Depth guide
- Snorkel surface; nearby reefs 5-25 m
- When to go
- May - November
- Site type
- Manta Aggregation
Featured wildlife
- Reef manta ray
- Whale shark
- Green turtle
- Whitetip reef shark
About this dive site
UNESCO biosphere bay where mantas stack during plankton blooms.
Hanifaru is a shallow bay in Baa Atoll famous for mass reef manta visitations when plankton concentrates. Access is tightly regulated-many operators offer snorkel-only slots or dives on nearby thilas outside the core zone.
Manta cleaning stations need calm positioning - let your guide set the line and keep a respectful distance. Calendar peak is May - November, but skippers still move sites when wind, swell or current change. Book with a crew that knows Baa Atoll day to day, not just the map pin.