Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Baa Atoll became the Maldives' first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2011, formalizing protection for a western atoll whose channels and thilas were already famous among divers — and for one bay in particular. Hanifaru Bay, the reserve's flagship core zone, funnels plankton on lunar tides between May and November until dozens, sometimes well over a hundred, reef manta rays cyclone-feed in an area the size of a soccer field, with whale sharks weaving through. The reserve layers core sanctuaries, conservation zones, and use zones across the atoll's reefs, mangroves, and seabird islets, and its ranger corps manages what may be the most tightly choreographed wildlife encounter in the Indian Ocean.

The rules that bind divers

Hanifaru Bay is snorkel-only: scuba diving inside the core zone was banned early in the reserve's life, and access now runs in short, ranger-supervised sessions with capped swimmer and boat numbers, entry fees per person, licensed guides, and hard no-touch, no-chase, no-flash rules — approach distances to mantas are enforced. Elsewhere in the atoll, core zones prohibit fishing and anchoring while resorts and liveaboards dive under standard Maldivian regulations. Boats wait outside Hanifaru for ranger clearance, and drone use over the bay is restricted.

Fees & permits: Per-person Hanifaru Bay entry fee per session, collected via licensed guides/resorts; ordinary Baa Atoll diving carries no special reserve fee beyond normal Maldives charges.