Amilla Fushi has announced Manta Adventure Excursion to Hanifaru Bay to allow guests to swim with the majestic manta rays.

In the southern Baa atoll of the Maldives, the summer months of June to November mean only one thing; manta ray season. This is when hundreds of majestic manta rays migrate to the atoll’s plankton-rich waters for astounding animal-viewing opportunities unequalled anywhere else on the planet.

Baa atoll’s Hanifaru Bay, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is carefully managed with entry limited to a small number of visitors every day to conserve the environment. Known as the world’s largest manta ray feeding station, it is also famous for being nursery grounds for grey sharks and sting rays and is one of the very few places in the world where whale sharks congregate to mate. It is best known for its concentration of reef manta rays, where on good days it is possible to see and swim alongside a hundred mantas.

The Manta Adventure Excursion to Hanifaru Bay, organised by Amilla’s HUB marine adventure centre, costs USD 175+ per person per trip, which takes place on alternate days depending on the tide. Guests will be accompanied by the resort’s resident marine biologist and a team from the HUB.

Additionally, guests can sign up for the resort’s Manta-on-Call register: a thrilling experience that sees them notified of and collected from wherever they are in the resort when mantas are spotted, and whisked away for a spontaneous outing.

Manta rays with wing-like pectoral fins that stretch to a length of 13 to 15 feet (4 to 4.5 metres) move gracefully through the water while feeding with their enormous mouths. Having one of the largest comparable brain sizes of any marine animal makes them highly curious, resulting in some very close snorkelling encounters.

Accessible by a 30-minute scenic seaplane flight from the Maldives’ main Velana International Airport, Amilla offers a choice of 59 houses that sit gracefully over crystal clear waters, nestled among lush tree tops or hugging the shores of pristine white sand. Additionally, the resort offers eight spectacular four to eight bedroom Beach Residences ideally suited to large families, groups of friends and VVIPs seeking the ultimate in space and privacy.