WHALE SHARKS AND MANTA | MALDIVES | HANIFARU BAY | BAA ATOLL | UNESCO BIOSPHERE | SNORKELLING

Hanifaru Bay is a sanctuary for people who love snorkeling with manta rays and whale sharks. This UNESCO biosphere reserve in the Maldives is legally designated as a Marine Protected Area. There are strict regulations in place to protect and preserve this amazing wonder of nature. Hanifaru Bay is part of the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve and many of the resorts in this area are licensed to arrange excursion for their guests. Such trips are led by licensed Tour Guides and there are special rules for both boats and guests. The rules play a vital role in keeping the mantas and whale sharks at peace while guests enjoy watching them up close. The reef at Hanifaru Bay is like a funnel that is about 1300 meters, the inner narrow part of the funnel is about 600 meters and that is where whale sharks and mantas are found. The whale shark season is from May to November. In this period, planktons gets trapped in the funnel-like reef and concentration of planktons attracts whale sharks and schools of manta rays. At any time there could be over a hundred mantas and several whale sharks feeding off the coral reef. This is the world’s largest feeding station known to exist.

[@dwarfgalaxy7081]

Great footage again. Love it…! I‘m still kind of sad that these giant fish did not show up when I went out. But anyway…. so it goes….

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