Maamunagau Resort Maldives wants to raise awareness of manta rays with its new manta retreat programme.
Manta rays are the largest rays in the world, with the largest brain-to-size ratio of any cold-blooded fish. However, they are under threat from overfishing and the growing demand for their meat, so a new programme is being introduced at the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort, the aim being to educate, explore and raise awareness of manta rays in their natural habitat. The programme is called “Manta Retreat” and will be launched in October 2022, the scheme set up in collaboration with the resort-based Manta Trust organisation.
The resort's location within the Raa Atoll, just a few boat miles away from Hanifaru Bay, is the largest manta ray feeding spot known worldwide, and should be perfect for spending time with manta rays all-year round. Maamunagau itself is a known juvenile manta ray aggregation spot, where young manta rays spend their days in a sheltered area until they are large enough to travel the atolls.
Manta rays are snorkellers' and divers' favourites, but further research is needed to understand these animals fully. The programme offers an opportunity to get involved and experience first-hand why manta rays need protection and attention, with participants in the Manta Retreat gaining insights into the work of the Manta Trust as well as getting the chance to get close to these gentle giants.
The Manta Retreat will take place over five days from October 23-28, 2022, and includes several snorkelling trips to search and identify the manta rays of the Maldives, as well as workshops and talks on several marine topics. Prices start from USD 10,950 for a single participant and USD 15,250 for a couple, staying in an Over Water Pool Villa including half board for five nights and return seaplane transfers. Included is a welcome cocktail, three manta ray snorkelling trips, a house reef night snorkelling experience, and a sunset cruise on a luxury yacht with champagne and canapes. There are also workshops about manta ray ID and research, turtles, coral restoration, the role of plankton in marine life, and much more.
“It is important for us to make this retreat an enjoyable but educational experience for all participants,” said Jessica Haines, the resort-based Manta Trust Project Manager. “We want to take this opportunity to raise awareness of how our marine life depends on each other. Understanding that the plankton in our ocean is the foundation for so much marine life is a great example.”
InterContinental Maldives began working in collaboration with the Manta Trust, one of the world's leading manta ray research organisations, in 2019. The area around the resort is home to a large and healthy population of manta rays, providing Manta Trust researchers at the resort incredible access to study these animals. Reef manta rays are listed as “vulnerable” and oceanic manta rays as “endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN, Red List.
