Ideally situated just north of the Ari Atoll, Baa Atoll is ranked among the country’s finest scuba diving hubs for spotting manta rays as it is where the largest aggregate of the species is found.
Size Doesn’t Matter
When it comes to the top scuba diving locations in the Maldives, the Baa Atoll barely registers as it is a tiny atoll when compared to its neighbour to the north, the Ari Atoll. In spite of its size, the Baa Atoll is globally renowned to have the largest aggregate of manta rays on the planet while other species such as whale sharks and tropical fish are also found in large numbers.
Time the Trip
Often regarded as one of the best things to do in Maldives, snorkelling or diving off the coast of Baa Atoll is ideal from the month of June to November when tourists based at Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences and other resorts in the area will find a great number of marine species in the water.
A Massive Population
A whopping 1600 manta rays have been thus far identified in Baa Atoll and that number makes up nearly half of the entire population of manta rays occupying the seas of the Maldives. This is why Baa Atoll is considered one of the best locations in the world to spot creatures in the wild.
Manta Rays 101
As a part of the elasmobranchs group of marine species, manta rays have inhabited the world for nearly 5 million years and are identified as “flat” sharks.