This March, the upscale InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort will host the second instalment of the wildly successful Manta Retreat.
Many visitors had the chance to observe the underwater giants up close while learning about the science and education surrounding these gentle giants during the first Manta Retreat, which was held in October 2022. The program, which was first introduced in close cooperation with the Manta Trust organization, is now back for a second go-around to excite guests once again.
The program is aimed at a variety of adventure seekers, including young explorers, nature lovers, and people wishing to give their vacations more purpose. The Manta Retreat will be an unforgettable experience for everyone, combining the ideal amount of a luxurious holiday with fun instruction.
With sightings occurring all year long, the resort's position gives it a distinct advantage when it comes to manta rays. The resort will give a wide range of cutting-edge educational opportunities as part of the retreat with the goal of revealing profound insights into the study, habitat, and behaviour of Manta rays. As a result, through the retreat, visitors will not only have the opportunity to snorkel with the huge rays but also to view them from the perspective of a conservationist.
During the retreat, participants learned important lessons about plankton, coral reefs, and the significance of marine conservation, among other topics. The Maamunagau Manta Season, during which this year's Manta Retreat takes place, is known for its abundance of young manta rays, which may be seen swimming nearby in the resort's lagoon. The Maamunagau Lagoon is regarded as a critical research area for scientists and a location where young manta rays congregate.
A short boat ride away is another Manta-Ray location known as Hanifaru Bay, which is renowned across the world for its Manta Ray congregation. Due to the large amounts of plankton that the turning current brings into the bay during the season, hundreds of manta rays frequent this feeding point.
The second edition of the Manta Retreat will take place from March 9 to March 13.
It will feature a wide range of snorkelling and research expeditions, in-person instructional workshops, and excursions designed to find turtles and coral reefs. The resort wants to drive manta ray protection through the education of retreat attendees and ocean enthusiasts as well as through generating money to assist the Manta Trust's activities.
