- Location: Hanifaru Island, Baa Atoll
Marine reserve Hanifaru Bay in the Maldives - the spawning site of gray reef sharks and stingray rays, known and loved by divers from around the world. Here you can not only appreciate the underwater beauty, but also with your own eyes to watch the feeding of whale sharks, rays and mantises.
Location:
Hanifaru Bay is part of the Baa atoll and is located in the bay of the uninhabited island of Hanifaru to the south of the other island - Kihadu.
History of the reserve
Over the years, Hanifaru Bay was used by local fishermen to hunt whale sharks. The situation changed in the mid-90's. XX century, when this place was opened by divers, and in the bay daily arrived up to 14 boats, waiting for an underwater show. In order to preserve the ecology and natural habitat in 2009, the Government of the Maldives declared Hanifar Bay a marine reserve. After only 2 years, the bay was recognized as the main territory in the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, covering the islands of Baa atoll. Since 2012, Hanifar Bay has been banned from diving , so you can watch sharks and mantles only with a tube and mask.
What interesting things can you see in Hanifar Bay?
The bay is the largest place in the world for feeding underwater inhabitants. Every year from May to November, during the Southwest monsoon and on certain days of the moon phase in Hanifaru Bay, a large amount of plankton is accumulated, which is food for whale sharks and mantises. This phenomenon is due to the onset of tides in this place and due to the effect of upwelling (lifting plankton to the upper layers of the ocean waters). Plankton quickly tries to descend to depth, but falling into the trap of the current, makes the water quite cloudy. Then comes the culmination moment, in which dozens, and sometimes even hundreds of mantises, accompanied by several whale sharks, line up, fins twist the funnel and suck plankton.
Rules of conduct in the reserve
During a snorkeling excursion, tourists and underwater photographers are not allowed to approach whale sharks and stingrays (the minimum distance is 3 m from the head and 4 m from the tail), touch, iron and swim alongside them. You can take pictures only without a flash.
How to get on a tour?
The greatest activity of mantas is observed from the end of July to October. It is during this period that most tourists tend to get into the marine reserve.
In order to visit the Hanifar Bay reserve in the Maldives, you must first register in the visitor center on Dharavandhoo Island. The center is managed by the Atoll Baa Nature Conservation Fund (BACF). After paying for a snorkeling excursion accompanied by a guide, you will become a full participant in an amazing sea trip to the slopes. The price of the tour is approximately $ 35. Also, some hotels and travel agencies have permission to visit the reserve, organized by groups that bring tourists to the bay.
How to get there?
To visit Hanifar Bay, you must first fly to the International Airport of Male . Then you get to Dharavandhu by using domestic airlines (20 minutes flight, ticket price - $ 90) or a speed boat (2.5 hours, fare - $ 50). The boat leaves on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, on the remaining days the only option is an airplane. From Dharavandhu to Khanifaru bay, you need to make a path in 5 minutes by boat.