Manta Point in the Maldives is commonly known as Hanifaru on Baa Atoll. This is an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and just permits snorkeling. Manta Point is a diving area where one can enjoy seeing large numbers of manta rays being fed and cleaned by wrasses. I booked my visit through the resort so that a piece of the expense goes towards the ecological upkeep of the reserve.
It's essential to go at the right phase of the tide at the ideal time of year. For Manta Point, the ideal time of the year is May-November at the time of the West Monsoon. The purpose behind this is that there are great opportunities to discover mantas here, sustaining on the plankton rich water going out of atoll. Along the reef top I could simply find the moray, scorpion fish, octopus and substantial napoleon wrasse.
From the Maradhoo harbor to the dive site it would take around 35 minutes; I meanwhile listened to the dive instructions. The dhoni, a local dive boat, stopped initially at the Maa Kandu channel and the chief gave the sign to enter the water.
It's essential to go at the right phase of the tide at the ideal time of year. For Manta Point, the ideal time of the year is May-November at the time of the West Monsoon. The purpose behind this is that there are great opportunities to discover mantas here, sustaining on the plankton rich water going out of atoll. Along the reef top I could simply find the moray, scorpion fish, octopus and substantial napoleon wrasse.
From the Maradhoo harbor to the dive site it would take around 35 minutes; I meanwhile listened to the dive instructions. The dhoni, a local dive boat, stopped initially at the Maa Kandu channel and the chief gave the sign to enter the water.
Manta Point Maldives | Image Resource : flicker.com
Our gathering of eight divers was separated into two groups of four, each with a dive guide. We dropped down onto the sand by an expansive rock. Off and on again there was very much a solid current so we needed to cling; at different times it was calm. We held up patiently underwater for the mantas to come.
We saw and snorkeled with more or less 30 mantas, all of which were around 3-4 meters in size. All the mantas sailed to all directions with their giant mouths completely open not beyond a couple of feet of us. With little concern, we looked fearing and at the same time stunning for we had never had such an experience.
We looked for more than 30 minutes; a few mantas come so close that I could see their eyes from a safe distance, an experience so stunning that for a few moments I simply forgot to breathe. While we were down there, there were many to see other than the mantas, an experience of a life-time, which must be accepted.
We saw and snorkeled with more or less 30 mantas, all of which were around 3-4 meters in size. All the mantas sailed to all directions with their giant mouths completely open not beyond a couple of feet of us. With little concern, we looked fearing and at the same time stunning for we had never had such an experience.
We looked for more than 30 minutes; a few mantas come so close that I could see their eyes from a safe distance, an experience so stunning that for a few moments I simply forgot to breathe. While we were down there, there were many to see other than the mantas, an experience of a life-time, which must be accepted.
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