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MapSpeciesParksDiving
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  2. Diving and snorkelling
  4. Maldives
  5. Baa Atoll (Hanifaru Bay)
Feeding bayMarine Protected Area

Baa Atoll (Hanifaru Bay)

Near Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve

Depth: 5–20 mLevel: Open WaterMay-November
Spotted something wrong?

A funnel-shaped dead-end bay some 1,300 m long that acts as a scoop, gathering the plankton rising from deep water. The combination of that shape, the south-west monsoon current and the lunar tide concentrates a plankton soup that draws the manta rays in.

Depth

5–20 m

Recommended level

Open Water

Average visibility

20 m

Protection status

Marine Protected Area since 8 June 2009; core zone of the Biosphere Reserve. Capacity limited to five boats and 80 people at any one time

UNESCO designation

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (Baa Atoll, declared in 2011; the first in the Maldives)

Sources consulted: ZuBlu Diving; Manta Trust; Kuoni; diveintolife.blog; kinbimaldives.com

Location

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1 park within 30 km.

Baa Atoll (Hanifaru Bay): 54 documented species

Nearby parks

What is there to see on land, near this site?

7 km away

Similar dive sites

Which other dive sites are like this one?

Same country: Maldives

Same country: Maldives

Same country: Maldives

Keep exploring

Based on what we already know about this dive site.

Comments

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Water temperature

28 °C

Current

Moderate

Access

Boat

Best season

May-November

Recommended certification

Open Water

Approx. price

90 USD / dive

Plan your dive

Best season
May-November
Approx. price
90 USD / dive
See location

Same country: Maldives

Maldives · Indian Ocean
See on the interactive map→
Giant ClamCritically Endangered

Giant Clam

Tridacna gigas

Giant AnemoneNot Evaluated

Giant Anemone

Stichodactyla gigantea

Disc AnemoneNot Evaluated

Disc Anemone

Discosoma nummiforme

Ritteri AnemoneNot Evaluated

Ritteri Anemone

Heteractis magnifica

Spotted Garden EelLeast Concern

Spotted Garden Eel

Heteroconger hassi

Harlequin Snake EelLeast Concern

Harlequin Snake Eel

Myrichthys colubrinus

Warty SlugNot Evaluated

Warty Slug

Onchidium verruculatum

Scarlet Cleaner ShrimpNot Evaluated

Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp

Lysmata amboinensis

Peacock Mantis ShrimpNot Evaluated

Peacock Mantis Shrimp

Odontodactylus scyllarus

Brown-line PaperbubbleNot Evaluated

Brown-line Paperbubble

Hydatina physis

Geography ConeLeast Concern

Geography Cone

Conus geographus

Green SnailNot Evaluated

Green Snail

Turbo marmoratus

See all 54 species found here

Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve

Reef/Pelagic

Ari Atoll

Maldives

Up to 30 m · Advanced Open Water

Whale shark · manta rays

See dive site
Pinnacle/Wall

Vaavu Atoll (Fish Head)

Maldives

Up to 30 m · Advanced Open Water

Grey reef sharks · Napoleon wrasse

See dive site
Bioluminescence phenomenon

Vaadhoo (bioluminescent tides)

Maldives

Up to 10 m · Open Water / Snorkel

Bioluminescent plankton (dinoflagellate phytoplankton)

See dive site
ParkBaa Atoll Biosphere Reserve7 km away
CountryMaldives
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Nearby park (7 km away)Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve
More places in the Maldives
Cleaning station

North Male Atoll (HP Reef)

Maldives

Up to 30 m · Advanced Open Water

Manta rays · grey reef sharks

See dive site
Marine protected area