The moon and manta rays share a fascinating connection, playing a central role in one of the ocean’s most breathtaking spectacles: the mass gathering of manta rays in Baa Atoll’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
With the release of the 2025 Manta Hot Dates by Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, guests now have the best chance to witness this awe-inspiring event.
The Maldives Manta Conservation Programme, the founding project of The Manta Trust, has been studying the region’s mantas for two decades.
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By analyzing lunar phases, tidal movements, and plankton forecasts, they pinpoint peak times each month when mantas are most likely to gather at key feeding sites. In 2024, this research led to an estimated 4,477 manta sightings, alongside 26 whale sharks and nine devil rays.
For 2025, Manta Hot Dates span from May to November, with multiple periods each month offering prime opportunities for snorkelers to swim among the mantas.
Guests can maximize their experience with the resort’s Manta Watch package, which includes a Manta-on-Call speedboat safari, dolphin cruise, coral frame propagation, seaplane transfers, and daily breakfast.
For those who prefer spontaneity, the Manta-on-Call program provides real-time alerts when mantas are sighted, allowing guests to jump on a speedboat and head straight to the action.
Since launching in 2005, the resort’s manta conservation efforts have played a vital role in protecting these graceful creatures. “Seeing guests’ faces light up when they spot mantas for the first time is priceless,” says Elspeth Strike, Project Manager at Manta Trust Baa Atoll.
Manta Watch is a seasonal experience, with sightings dependent on weather conditions and manta behavior. For more details, guests can contact the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru.
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