Can you swim with manta rays

Why it's so hard to treat pain in infants. This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city. Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city Caracals have learned to hunt around the urban edges of Cape Town, though the predator faces many threats, such as getting hit by cars.

India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big. Environment Planet Possible India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big Grassroots efforts are bringing solar panels to rural villages without electricity, while massive solar arrays are being built across the country. Go Further. Animals Climate change is shrinking many Amazonian birds.

Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city. Animals This frog mysteriously re-evolved a full set of teeth.

Animals Wild Cities Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London. Animals Wild Cities Morocco has 3 million stray dogs. Meet the people trying to help.

Environment COP26 nears conclusion with mixed signals and frustration. Meet our locals. Get to know those who live and breathe the Coral Coast. Stories from the Road Blog. Stories from fellow travellers. Holiday Fun Generator. Let US choose your next adventure! Turtle Mating, Nesting and Hatching Season. Visit Ningaloo late November to March to watch turtles lay their eggs! Learn More. InstaFamous - Carnarvon's Cactus Garden. Learn more. Meet Australian Wildlife. Check our Aussie wildlife calendar to know what to see, when and where to visit.

National Park Entry Fees. Get the Guide! Download the guide which is full of itineraries, images, operators and accommodation options. Read or Download it today. Follow our Maps. Make tracks with our Maps. Luxury Accommodation. Everyone wants the five-star experience, what about a million star rating?! A Million Star Accommodation. Pet Friendly. Pack the pooch in the car these holidays.

Roadtrip with Rover. Budget-conscious doesn't mean you go to forgo the beach! Book a Beach-side Chalet. See the Monkey Mia Dolphins. Say G'day to a Dolphin. There have been occasions where uncontrolled human interactions have negatively impacted local manta populations, driving them away from important areas where they clean, feed or breed. Whilst many dive operators around the world have taken it upon themselves to develop guidelines for manta encounters, none have been validated by scientific studies.

The Manta Trust want to address that, and after several years of research conducted in the Maldives, we have developed a Best Practice Code of Conduct for this kind of travel experience.

These guidelines outline how divers and snorkelers should behave during their encounters, to both enhance their experience and to ensure their presence does not disturb the mantas in their homes. Many venues follow these guidelines. For example, at Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru, Manta Trust researchers accompany guests during manta excursions and explain them to every group going underwater. During the South-west Monsoon May to October , Hanifaru Bay accumulates high densities of planktonic life due to its unique location and geology.

In turn, the vast amounts of zooplankton naturally attract large aggregations of reef manta rays and whale sharks. Hurai Faru is located close to Hanifaru Bay and is another great site to encounter feeding reef manta rays. Last year alone, we had sightings of manta rays at Hurai Faru. While Hurai Faru is not a Marine Protected Area just yet, It has been known to host huge aggregations of feeding manta rays, on a similar scale to Hanifaru Bay.

It is smaller, geographically, making it easier to find the rays, but large aggregations of feeding manta rays are seen less often. Having said that, wherever you find lots of plankton, is where you'll find the mantas.

Their movements are dictated by the two monsoon seasons. The Manta Trust have dedicated researchers in all four atolls, allowing us to collect data on these ocean giants throughout the year, whatever the weather. Her tips on how to swim responsibly with mantas can be found at Swim With Mantas. A manta ray swimming over a colourful coral reef in the Maldives Shutterstock. Manta ray swimming in the Maldives Manta Trust. What's better?