Manta Season:
Hanifaru Bay

Seaplane transfer from Velana International to Baa Atoll — twelve minutes over open ocean and reef rings. Afternoon orientation snorkel inside the bay boundary. Initial plankton density assessment and current direction mapping for the days ahead.

Two full bay sessions timed to the incoming southwest current. Snorkel protocol only inside the UNESCO boundary — scuba bubbles disrupt feeding behaviour. Photographic ID documentation of ventral markings submitted to the Manta Trust longitudinal catalog.

Channel dive at the protected reserve boundary. Grey reef sharks and whitetips hold station on the corner wall in the incoming current at 20–25 metres. Population count and individual behaviour logging. The aggregations here run concurrent with the manta bay activity — the same nutrient pulse drives both.

Pinnacle topping at 16 metres with large red gorgonian sea fans on the outer wall — an indicator of strong current and high water chemistry. Eagle rays circuiting the pinnacle on every recorded dive. Extended safety stop at 6 metres over the coral garden.

Day trip to Rasdhoo for the hammerhead circuit — early morning dives at 30–40 metres on the outer wall before the thermocline breaks. Hammerheads aggregate here year-round, concentrated by the same Indian Ocean upwelling system that feeds the manta bay.

A final morning bay session before the seaplane back to Velana. Complete GoPro footage submitted to the Manta Trust. Any catalog matches are typically returned within 48 hours — individual ID, sighting history, and any recorded injury markings.