Hanifaru Bay is, in fact, a reef that is protected under the Marine Protected Area. The reef is home to stingrays, manta rays, and serves as a baby shark nursery. It can be considered as one point where the essence of Maldivian atolls culminate.
Although there is much to see and learn in Hanifaru Bay, it is a “Look, Do Not Touch” area, meaning diving is prohibited here. (If you want to dive through beautiful corals and observe marine life, you can head over to the tiny coral island of Baros Maldives.) A focal attraction for visitors of all Maldives Resorts, the Bay has become one of the most popular places in the world to observe and photograph manta rays. Although the manta ray is an opportunistic feeder, there is usually method and rhythm in their feeding which is beautiful to watch. However, once the seasons change and planktons are trapped within the bay, a feeding frenzy ensues. The chaotic behaviour of the manta rays in feeding off the trapped planktons is a sight to behold, that will give you a rare glimpse into the world that lies beneath you. During this time as many as 250 manta rays can be seen at once, creating a whirlpool of bodies in the small bay. It is to allow for this natural behaviour that visitors are forbidden from disturbing the ecosystem in any way.
The best times to visit Hanifaru Bay is between May and November. This is the season of South West Monsoon, that washes in thousands of planktons, drawing in a plethora of manta rays and whale sharks. If you are looking for an experience that you are likely to never forget, make your way to Maldives in May and immerse yourself in a battle for survival that happens but once a year.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, Joanna James ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought. Her interests include Politics, law and Philosophy. Google+