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How to Enjoy the Best of Manta Rays in Maldives – An Enthralling Sight for the Visitor

The lovely Maldives has established a firm reputation as a foremost holiday destination, offering an array of attractions for the visitor.

By Traveling WorldwidePublished 3 years ago 3 min read
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image via https://www.kandolhu.com/

The lovely Maldives has established a firm reputation as a foremost holiday destination, offering an array of attractions for the visitor. One of them would be the magnificent manta rays that you will have the opportunity to observe in the waters surrounding these islands. If you have an interest in these exotic marine creatures, you will find the information provided below regarding encountering manta rays in the Maldives to be useful.

Visit at the right time to spot manta rays

It can be said that mantas are present throughout the year in different areas of the Maldives, but they migrate and move according to the seasons. To stand a better chance to encounter them whilst diving or snorkelling, you must be at the right place at the right time.

Climatic conditions in the Maldives, as well as the prevalence of mantas, are mostly influenced by the two monsoons which arrive at different times of the year. During the time of the south-western monsoon, which approximately takes place from May to October, the ocean currents within this part of the Indian Ocean run from the west towards the east. The currents bring with them, zooplankton which the mantas love to feed on. Consequently, during this time, mantas migrate towards the atolls' eastern areas.

Similarly, during the north-eastern monsoon which usually runs from December through to March, the same occurs but in the opposite direction; therefore, in this period, mantas can be spotted on the atolls' western regions.

Choose the right places to spot mantas

When it comes to spotting mantas in the Maldives, one of the finest localities would be Addu Atoll. Here, you will have the opportunity to spot manta rays throughout the year. However, you must dive to encounter them here as you will not be able to do so by snorkelling. Addu Atoll is an outstanding scuba diving location and you may be able to spot mantas with a 5 m wingspan.

Another great site for observing manta rays would be Hanifaru Bay in the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Here, you may be able to view as many as 200 mantas with the best period for sightings being from May through to November.

To observe mantas, another outstanding locality would be the South Ari Atoll. The optimal period for spotting manta rays here would be from September to May. A choice of accommodation to consider from which you could visit Moofushi Manta Point on South Ari Atoll's border with the North Ari Atoll would be Kandolhu Maldives which could be regarded as a well-located Maldives luxury resort.

Consider the type of excursion

Generally, you will have the opportunity to view mantas on both diving excursions and snorkelling / swimming tours. Many resorts as well as guesthouses provide both kinds of excursions and will transport you to the desired sites in their boats. It may be said that of these two alternatives, diving would usually be a better option than snorkelling for encountering manta rays, though this would greatly depend on the location as well.

Additionally, some operators also provide mixed tours. On these excursions, both divers and snorkelers are taken together to the chosen sites where both categories can engage in their desired activities.

Take note of these tips when travelling

It would be advisable to do your research thoroughly and compare the various airline rates carefully before flying to the Maldives. The vast majority of flights will take you to Male, the capital, but direct flights to other locations in the islands may be available.

To get to your chosen private island resort from Male, there are three popular options. A distinctive experience that would depend on where the property is located would be flying by seaplane which offers stunning aerial views. Another option would be taking a domestic flight to one of the smaller island airports from where you will need to take a speedboat to your accommodation. On the other hand, resorts closer to Male can be reached via speedboat, but this option will not be available for far-flung locations.

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