Hanifaru Bay.

Type

Snorkel site

Depth

0–12 m

Skill level

beginner

Current

moderate

Best season

May–Nov; busiest on spring tides

Protected

UNESCO Biosphere core MPA — snorkel only, no scuba, ranger-controlled access

A cul-de-sac reef inlet on the eastern edge of Baa Atoll, roughly 700 m long and 200 m wide, with a maximum central depth around 24 m. When tidal flow concentrates plankton, large aggregations of reef manta rays (occasionally over 100) gather to feed, and whale sharks appear seasonally. It is a UNESCO Biosphere core marine protected area where only snorkeling is permitted, no scuba. The season runs with the southwest monsoon, May to November, and feeding is busiest on the spring tides around the full and new moon.