The best place in the world to swim with manta rays
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is leading manta ray conservation efforts and offering guests unique encounters with the charismatic creatures
"Where do gentle giants give birth?” is a favourite question posed by marine biologist Jessica Haines, because no one expects the answer: “In the lagoon of a five-star resort”.
Jessica started diving at eight years old, always dreamed of working in the ocean, and has spent the last three years as a research officer for the Manta Trust, based at InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort, set on the fringes of the Raa Atoll. She’s now doing a masters degree at Exeter University, writing up what she’s been learning about mantas at Maamunagau, to be shared with the world through research papers.
Jessica explains: “We believe mantas utilise the resort’s lagoon as a nursery ground, and my research is working on proving that Maamunagau is the first official nursery site in the Maldives.”
From 2019 to 2022, the Manta Trust identified 360 mantas that had used the lagoon between December and April, of which 60% were juveniles and 19 individuals that have been newborn pups. “That’s an awful lot of individuals using a very small lagoon,” she says.
Jessica has spent many hours with them. “I speak about them like they are my children or my dogs,” she says. “Each manta has different characteristic, a very special personality and a unique belly pattern, so I know instantly which one we’re looking at. We share these traits with guests so they know, for example, they swam with Kids Drawing, who does this dive bomb or Lulu, who likes swimming upside down. She’s swimming with you, there’s no swimming with her... she’s checking you out.”
Jessica adds: “The mantas are incredibly inquisitive and make for these incredible encounters. Knowing all of them individually leaves a lasting impact on the guests.”
PIONEERING RESEARCH
The Manta Trust also conducts research, all non-invasive: “We are the first organisation to take contactless ultrasounds of manta,” Jessica says. “We don’t touch them, we don’t have to interfere with their natural ways at all.”
Jessica’s biggest achievement to date has been to secure protected status for the area: “It’s all going through, everyone is incredibly supportive, and hopefully very soon, we’ll get the news it’s officially a protected area.”
The house reef is directly accessible from the resort island: “On our lagoon villa side, that’s where the mantas are, so when we talk about the house reef and the mantas, you can really go out and see them for yourself, without going on a trip, which is very special and not many places can say that and it actually be true,” explains Jessica.
As part of a Manta Ray Experience package offered year-round, as well as joining a snorkelling excursion with the Manta Trust team to swim among the mantas, guests can listen to educational talks and as a “thank you” for any financial contribution made to the Trust, they can adopt and name a juvenile manta. “There are really personal stories behind naming mantas, it maybe after a loved one or a pet, and that becomes their name for life.”
Children are also encouraged to get involved. Jessica says: “We host a weekly mini manta biology class. Many young guests become our new best friends and help us in our office. Our door is always open, we love to share what we do with guests.”
In addition, the resort hosts an annual Manta Retreat, with the next week-long retreat due to take place in March 2024, which is peak manta season, offering hands-on experiences in manta research and exploration. “You can spend a solid week in the life of a manta scientist, doing the plankton tow, collecting manta IDs,” explains Jessica. “No other resort is doing this. It’s something that people can take home as one of their top memories of a holiday in their lifetime.”
Jessica adds: “Staff at InterContinental really care in their hearts, from every department, for the resort to be as sustainable as possible. What we [the Manta Trust] do out there, wouldn’t be possible without the support of the resort.”
Book it: Carrier offers seven nights at Intercontinental Maldives from £25,260 per family based on two adults and two children sharing a Family Lagoon Pool Villa half-board. Includes Manta Ray experience package, seaplane transfers and flights, departing 19 October 2023. carrier.co.uk
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Place of registration: England and Wales.
Company number 08723341.
Registered address: 6th Floor, 2 London Wall Place, London EC2Y 5AU
