If you have a wild imagination, you might look into the Hanifaru Bay and imagine the place to be the Jewel of Morro from Finding Nemo. The baby sharks that swim around unaware of their reputation in the wider world, the sting rays floating along as usual, being their serene selves, and the breeding ground for many a love story, Hanifaru Bay is a reef famous as a nursery for sting rays, sharks, and a mating ground for whale sharks.
The Bay has been recognized for its important role in the natural marine ecology. Thus, it si protected under the Marine Protection and is the heart of Biosphere Reserve in Baa atoll. While visitors from resorts beyond its reach like Kandolhu Island Maldives come here to observe the marine life, it is prohibited to dive in the bay. However, this does not stop you from taking underwater photographs, and the site, in fact, is highly popular in the underwater photography circles. Thus, no matter which Maldives hotel you stay at, if you express a desire for photographing the marine life, you are very much likely to be directed here.
At the turn of the season, with the currents reversing, thousands of plankton get entrapped within the Hanifaru bay. This is feast time for the manta rays, who descend upon the bay in flocks to devour their favourite food. The usually calm and collected manta ray finds this an opportunity too hard to resist. Thus ensues a feeding frenzy in the bay, a once a year activity that has visitors holding their breath. If watching this frantic action of the manta rays, and the mating of the mighty whale shark is on your bucket list, make sure you visit the Hanifaru bay between May and November.
Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+
