Following huge success in recent years, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is delighted to launch their fourth Manta Retreat. This year’s Manta Retreat takes place in March from the 17th-20th March 2025 during Maamunagau manta season, where young manta rays are found in the resort’s lagoon just a few minutes away from shore. Spreading curiosity and excitement to learn about manta rays and their natural habitat, the Manta Retreat forms a great platform to learn, explore and understand these gentle giants and the work of the Manta Trust. Guests will be invited to experience dedicated workshops, snorkelling excursions and even partake in naming a Manta, leaving a part of their heart in the Maldives.
The retreat has been designed for travellers seeking more than just a traditional Maldivian holiday, offering an opportunity to explore what lies beyond the sandy beaches. Participants can look forward to an insightful and eye-opening few days with the island-based Manta Trust Team, spending time up close with manta rays in the resort’s exclusive lagoon.
The fourth Manta Retreat will focus entirely on meeting the manta rays that call the island’s surrounding waters their home and their protection and ocean conservation. Meral Hafeez, the Manta Trust base leader at InterContinental Maldives, will lead the retreat and take participants along to uncover the secrets of manta rays. “Leading this retreat again is one of the greatest joys of the year. No matter how many times I’m fortunate enough to encounter these animals and share them with eager learners, it’s always magical to see people in awe of these incredible creatures. I’m excited to share the wonders of Maldivian marine life and manta rays with the participants of the Manta Retreat. There can never be too many people learning about the significance of these animals and the marvels of the ocean, and I’m delighted to be part of this retreat to showcase it all.”
The Manta Trust is one of the world’s leading manta ray research organisations. Using coordinated global research to aid conservation efforts surrounding manta rays, their relatives and their habitats, the Manta Trust aims to achieve global conservation through Research, Education and Collaboration. Recognising the unique privilege of occupying an island in such close proximity to a newly discovered juvenile manta feeding ground, InterContinental Maldives began working in collaboration with the Manta Trust in 2019. The area around InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is home to a large and healthy population of manta rays which provides Manta Trust researchers based at the resort incredible access to study these animals.
In 2023, the Maamunagau Lagoon was recognised as an Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA), marking the first step in identifying it as a vital habitat for manta rays and a priority for conservation. The lagoon hosts a juvenile manta ray aggregation site and serves as a key research area for the Manta Trust team. Guests will have the chance to meet manta rays up close and get in touch with the research that the Manta Trust team has been conducting on the resort since 2019. As part of their research, the team identifies and records the young manta ray pubs in the lagoon based on their unique belly prints. Participants will learn all about the procedure in the Manta ID workshop and also get to adopt and name a manta ray.
Additional experiences such as diving and snorkelling trips, cruises, excursions or spa and wellness treatments can be booked individually for additional charges. Upon request, one-on-one sessions with the Manta Biologist can be arranged privately.
Guests staying at InterContinental Maldives also have the opportunity to enjoy the luxury resort’s facilities as well as their villa or residence accommodation. There is also plenty to keep adults and children entertained in case some family members or travel partners are not participating in the retreat.
For certified divers, options are available to ensure all guests find their individual way of interacting with manta rays. Dedicated dive spots are in the area around the resort that allow divers to observe the natural manta ray ‘spa’, known as cleaning stations, showcasing the incredible symbiosis of marine life in the Maldives.
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