When tide and current turn a tiny bay into a bowl of plankton, manta rays in the Maldives gather for a roiling, whirling feast - Bruce Barcott. Hanifaru Bay is a marine protected uninhabited island located in the Baa Atoll of the Maldives. Its size is no greater than that of a football field and yet it has become the hottest spots on the planet for underwater photographers and videographers. The reason for this modern day phenomenon of underwater diversity is because plankton is trapped in the funnel-like lagoon during the West monsoon from May until November. If the plankton stays at the surface, it would wash over the bay's coral walls and out to the safety of the open sea. But instinct forces them to dive away from daylight. When they do, they get trapped in the lagune. In just a few hours a massive concentration of plankton builds up attracting manta rays by the hundreds. At any one time there can be up to 200 manta rays feeding off the coral reefs as well as plenty of whale sharks which do the same. Hanifaru Bay has become the world’s largest Manta Ray feeding destination and this trip is specially for the divers / snorkelers to witness teh majestic creatures. This phenomenon has made Hanifaru Bay one of the greatest attractions for snorkelers and divers in the world today as no marine life enthusiast would want to miss the opportunity of watching hundreds of manta rays and whale sharks feed in their natural environment. National Geographic recently made some video and photo documentaries about Hanifaru Bay that have caught the attention of underwater enthusiasts around the world by showing the incredible sights that can be discovered at Hanifaru Bay.
ITINERARY TRIP 1 ROUTE - MALE' TO BAA ATOLL 01- 08 OCTOBER 2014 DAY 1: ORIENTATION DIVE DAY 2 & 3: 2-3 DVES PER DAY DIVE SITES – TRIX CAVES , BLUE CAVES , BLUE CANYON ADVANCE DIVERS: WOSHIMAS THILA DAY 4: 2-3 DIVES CHANNEL CROSS TO BAA ATOLL DAY 5, 6 & 7: 3 DIVES PER DAY INCLUDING 01 NIGHT DIVE MANTA SNORKLING THILA DIVING TO HANIFARU BAY EASY DIVES TO ANGA THILA, AIDOO NORTH, ORIGAA HAA ADVANCED DIVES TO HORUBADHOO THILA, MAADHOO CORNER, NELIVARU THILA DAY 8 DEPARTURE TO DHARAVANDHOO AIRPORT