Hanifaru Bay is located within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and is one of the world's top feeding hotspots for mantas. Its a lovely place to go snorkling and see mantas and whale sharks.
The History
Hanifaru was long known to local fishermen who would travel to the site to hunt whale sharks feeding in the bay. In the early 1990s dive safari boats began to visit and word soon got out about the beautiful lagoon reef.
At some point, the popularity of the bay reached its climax. The sheer number of tourists was not good for it. Therefore, in 2009, the Maldives government decided to declare the islands of Baa Atoll and Hanifaru a protected marine reserve. Since 2011, Hanifaru Bay has been a natural UNESCO World Heritage Site.