I present you here a handpicked selection of 5 of the finest Maldives luxury resorts where you can fulfill your dream of swimming alongside Manta Rays.
Among the countless aquatic creatures you will meet underwater in Maldives, the majestic manta rays are the most extraordinary.
If you’re dreaming of a holiday that blends luxury with incredible underwater experiences, the Maldives is undeniably the place to be. Luxury resorts dot the entire archipelago, just as marine life do.
Yet, not every corner of the destination is equal when it comes to manta rays. Some areas in the Maldives offer a more exceptional experience for swimming with these graceful creatures.
Stay in style and live the Manta Dream in these 5 Stunning resorts
Top luxury resorts like Milaidhoo Island Maldives, The Nautilus Maldives, Amilla Maldives Resort & Residences, Kudadoo Maldives Private Island, or Four Seasons Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru offer extraordinary manta ray swim experiences along with opulent amenities such as personalized concierge services, gourmet dining options, superb villas and endless exclusive activities.
Remark : Four of these resorts are located in Baa Atoll, where the extraordinary Hanifaru Bay, hosting the world’s largest known aggregation of Manta Rays, takes center stage.
Undoubtedly, Hanifaru stands out as the premier Manta spot in the Maldives. However, another remarkable location with a cleaning station, Fushifaru Thila, exists in Lhaviyani Atoll.
Although less frequented, Fushifaru Thila is equally breathtaking. Fortunately, in close proximity lies the opulent Kudadoo, a private island for those seeking luxury amid the wonders of nature.
Map of Baa and Lhaviyani atolls with :
Hanifaru Bay and Fushifaru Thila Manta cleaning station locations.
The best time to stay in these resorts to see manta rays:
BAA ATOLL
Hanifaru Bay cleaning station : The best time to visit and snorkel in Hanifaru Bay is between the months of May and November when the currents bring plankton and krill. It’s also a peak for whale shark mating.
The peak season, with the highest concentration of planktons and individuals really starts from July until September.
LHAVIYANI ATOLL
Fushifaru Thila cleaning station : It’s best to stay during the northeast monsoon, particularly from September to March ( with a peak in November-December ), you will have the extraordinary opportunity to encounter manta rays. This is the time of the year that these graceful creatures gather to feed on plankton at the Fushifaru Thila cleaning station before migrating to Baa Atoll.
Swim With Manta Rays at Milaidhoo Island Maldives.
Baa Atoll
Milaidhoo Island Maldives is perfectly located for prime manta ray viewing, being only about 12-minutes by speedboat from Hanifaru Bay, which is known as the biggest manta feeding station in the world.
Milaidhoo celebrates Manta season by actively making this experience truly special for guests. From setting up personalized alerts to crafting unique manta watching tours, the team is dedicated to ensuring a meaningful encounter with these spectacular creatures.
Milaidhoo Island Maldives is an elegant hideaway made for lovers. The 5-star luxury boutique resort, which is known to be one of the most romantic resort in the Maldives, features 50 spacious and spectacular land and overwater villas and residences decorated with local art crafts objects and designed in a typical Maldivian architecture where guest wishes are catered by an island host.
Read more about Swimming with Manta Rays at Milaidhoo Island Maldives
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Swim With Manta Rays at The Nautilus Maldives.
Baa Atoll
Swimming with mantas at The Nautilus Maldives is one of the many tailored activity you will have the chance to experience. The exclusive hideaway benefits from its proximity with the biggest manta feeding hotspot in the world – Hanifaru Bay.
Each year, The Nautilus’ guests can take part in snorkeling sessions, which can even take place during full moons, to get closer to the group of up to 200 manta rays who congregate in the bay.
The very private resort is a chic Bohemian hideaway featuring 26 beach and ocean houses with direct access to a vibrant house reef. Here, every moment is personalized for guests, creating an atmosphere that feels more like being home than staying in a hotel.
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Swim With Manta Rays at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru.
Baa Atoll
Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru actively contributes to manta ray conservation efforts and takes pride in hosting the Maldives’ only full-time manta ray research project, led by the pioneering Manta Trust research team based at the resort.
Manta Trust offers additional manta ray education experiences, such as ‘Manta-on-Call’ snorkelling adventures and a Trainee Manta Biologist module designed to provide conservation-minded teens with a profound insight into the world of Manta Trust scientists.
Landaa Giraavaru combines innovation, healthy lifestyles, eco-friendly initiatives alongside fine dining, and the highest levels of service. The resort incorporates 103 sophisticated retreats offering a traditional Maldivian architecture complemented with chic contemporary interiors.
Read more about Swimming with Manta Rays at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru.
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Swim With Manta Rays at Amilla Maldives.
Baa Atoll
Located at 15 mns by boat from Hanifaru Bay, Amilla Maldives Resort & Residences is another luxury haven for those who dream of swimming with manta rays in the Maldives.
The resort is truly blessed with a sensational and rich house reef – also home to the Blue Hole, a tropical reef wonder and one of the most sought-after snorkeling and diving spots in the Maldives.
As a guest, you will enjoy the services of the resort expert team who excels in the precise location of manta rays within the Maldives.
The experience can be lived in groups or privately on board of the vessel of your choice, with your own private guide and/or marine biologist..
Glamorous and edgy, Amilla focuses on the concept of “Your Island Home“. The resort offers a chic minimalist and unmistakable design with 67 mediterranean style villas and Residences, including a fabulous Treetop Pool Villa perched at 12 meters above the ground.
In addition to the resort design and highly personalized services, Amilla Maldives Resort & Residences is also surrounded by one of the best house reefs we’ve seen in the Maldives.
Read more about Swimming with Manta Rays at Amilla Maldives Resort & Residences in my interview with the resort Dive Center Manager.
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Swim With Manta Rays at Kudadoo Maldives Private Island.
Lhaviyani Atoll
378 mantas rays have been identified in the vicinity of Kudadoo maldives Private Island.
If you dream of swimming with manta rays and are looking for an exclusive hideaway in the Maldives, Kudadoo Maldives Private Island should be at the top of your list.
The exclusive resort highly benefits from 2 assets : first it is located in the region of Fushifaru Thila, a manta hot spot in the Maldives, and second, it is on the busy road of Mantas who pass-by the resort sandbank to reach their cleaning station.
Kudadoo Maldives Private Island is an All-Inclusive adults-only private island. The exclusive private retreat boasts 15 private residences over the water with private pools located right at the edge of a stunning house reef.
Read more about Swimming with Manta Rays at Kudadoo Maldives Private Island.
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