MALDIVES 
CENTRAL-NORTH

This expedition has been carefully timed to coincide with the most productive monsoon and lunar currents, which strongly influence the movements and feeding behaviour of reef manta rays. Guided by a Manta Trust expert, the goal of this journey is to locate these feeding aggregations and offer you the unforgettable experience of diving among a swirling frenzy of these gentle giants.

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Join us on a journey through the heart of the Maldives — an island nation celebrated for its turquoise lagoons, coral-draped reefs, and the graceful manta rays that glide through its waters. This itinerary takes you across four of the country’s most iconic atolls — North Malé, Ari, Rasdhoo, and Baa — each offering its own breathtaking seascapes, distinctive marine life, and the promise of extraordinary manta encounters.

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Your adventure begins in North Malé Atoll, home to one of the Maldives’ most renowned manta cleaning stations — Lankan Beyru — where mantas glide effortlessly above the reef as clouds of cleaner wrasse attend to them. The atoll also features some of the region’s most vibrant dive sites, adorned with soft corals, schooling butterflyfish, reef sharks, and much more.

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Next, journey to Ari and Rasdhoo Atolls, a true highlight for lovers of big marine life. Its lagoons and outer reefs attract mantas year-round to feed and clean. Here, you’ll have the chance to witness both feeding and cleaning behaviour — sometimes in large numbers — as well as dive shark-filled reefs and colourful coral gardens teeming with reef fish. Ari Atoll also offers one of the most spectacular experiences in the Maldives: night dives with feeding mantas — an unforgettable encounter for any manta enthusiast.

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The expedition culminates in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and home to the legendary Hanifaru Bay — site of one of the world’s most extraordinary natural spectacles. Between June and November, seasonal plankton blooms transform this sheltered lagoon into a feeding ground where dozens of mantas may gather at once, occasionally joined by the ocean’s largest fish — the whale shark. Witnessing their synchronized ballet as they loop and spiral through plankton-rich waters is an experience beyond compare, and a true highlight of any diver’s life. Baa Atoll also offers a wealth of other spectacular dive sites, rich with marine life from turtles and sharks to fascinating macro critters.

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While the weather during this season can be variable, the monsoonal conditions are precisely what trigger the plankton blooms that draw manta rays and whale sharks to feed. Although nature offers no guarantees, this itinerary has been carefully designed to maximise your chances of being in the right place at the right time — guided by the expertise of a Manta Trust scientist.

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With its mix of exhilarating drifts, peaceful reef dives, and once-in-a-lifetime manta encounters, this expedition showcases the very best of Maldivian diving. Between dives, enjoy engaging presentations, learn from your dedicated Manta Expert, and reconnect with the ocean through meaningful, purpose-driven exploration.

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Note: The inclusion of Hanifaru Bay is dependent on the time of year, the number of mantas in the bay (or lack thereof) as well as the availability of government-licensed guides and restrictions imposed by the rangers.