The magic of the Maldives Migration
When you hear the word ‘migration’, you probably think of vast herds of wildebeest crossing the plains of the Serengeti or Masai Mara. Beneath the Indian Ocean, an equally remarkable migration takes place around the picture-postcard tropical islands of the Maldives, and it features two of the most iconic marine species.
Despite their impressive size, whale sharks and manta rays are mild-mannered and non-aggressive, which means you can enjoy swimming close to them and marveling at their beauty. Unlike many other species of shark, whale sharks feed on tiny plankton – they actually don’t have any teeth in their mouths.
Plankton are also the favorite food of manta rays, and they hoover up these creatures as they ‘fly’ gracefully beneath the waves.
Filtering the information
Plankton are the key to finding these two species of filter feeders, and the greatest concentrations are created by the prevailing monsoon winds. The wind and currents push the plankton ahead of them, and create irresistible feeding opportunities for the whale sharks and manta rays on their Maldives migration.
The prevailing direction of the wind changes at different times of the year. From December to April, dive sites on the western side of the Maldives tend to be the most prolific. This situation reverses during May to November, when the eastern side of the Maldives tends to be more rewarding in terms of sightings.
Much like the Great Wildebeest Migration, there are rarely any guarantees, but this guide – combined with the expertise of the journey specialists at Private Ocean Islands – can help you maximize your chances of enjoying memorable marine encounters.
December to April
This is traditionally regarded as the high season in the Maldives, when the weather is typically cooler and dryer. A great place to look for manta rays is at established ‘cleaning stations’ where manta rays congregate so that smaller fish can remove parasites from them – the underwater equivalent of a spa.
One of the most prolific locations is Sola Corner at Raa Atoll, while Embudhoo Express at South Amle Atoll combines manta ray sightings with the thrill of being swept along by a fast but safe current.
Perhaps best of all during this season is South Ari Atoll, and Rangali Madivaru in particular. Because the water here is so rich in nutrients, it exerts a magnetic pull over many species, including manta rays.
May to November
If you’re visiting Maldives outside of the traditional high season, you can still enjoy exceptional viewing of whale sharks and manta rays – you just need to know where to go. You’re unlikely to find a better spot than Hanifaru Bay at Baa Atoll, where you may well be sharing the ocean with literally hundreds of rays and whale sharks when you snorkel.
The nearby cleaning station at Lankan Manta Point is, as its name suggests, a great place to dive with manta rays – as is Dhigu Thila at South Male Atoll.
If you’d rather focus on whale sharks than manta rays, the renowned Maamigili Reef on South Ari Atoll offers the closest you can get to guaranteed sightings, and unusually, the sharks can be seen here year-round.
For more information on the making the most of the Maldives migration as part of your tropical island getaway, please contact us via email: info@privateoceanislands.com