Manta Trust Expedition
1st – 13th April 2017 (12 nights) | $3,880 per person
The Expedition: Extended South
From Gan to Male
On this expedition we will explore the pristine and less visited south of the Maldives, venturing into nine of the country’s twenty six atolls to dive on some of the most stunning and untouched reefs the country has to offer. Our trip will also allow us to gather critical data on the poorly studied manta ray population found in these southern atolls.
On this expedition we will explore the pristine and less visited south of the Maldives, venturing into nine of the country’s twenty six atolls to dive on some of the most stunning and untouched reefs the country has to offer. Our trip will also allow us to gather critical data on the poorly studied manta ray population found in these southern atolls.
The trip is timed to provide the best chances of encountering reef manta rays, large schools of sharks, whale sharks and especially the elusive giant oceanic manta rays. At this time of the year oceanic mantas aggregate in a remote southern atoll, allowing some of the most breath-taking underwater encounters with the largest rays of the planet!
During our journey we will have various chances to dive not just with manta rays. The far south of the Maldives hosts a vast population of sharks, and it’s here that we will have the opportunity to dive in some of the most shark-populated channels, where it’s not uncommon to encounter fifty or more grey reefs during a single dive. Pristine coral gardens, schooling eagle rays, resting turtles and the occasional hammerhead, thresher shark or even tiger shark are just some of the attractions we are likely to encounter on this unique expedition.
Certainly among the main highlights of the trip, is the incredible opportunity to swim with whale sharks and mantas at night just behind the boat, as these giants feed on the zooplankton attracted by our spotlights.
Starting from the southernmost atoll of Addu, we will navigate more than 500 km across the most remote regions of the country, where each atoll will provide us with memorable encounters, and make for a once in a lifetime adventure that you will never forget!
Predicted route from Addu Atoll to Malé.
Citizen Science – Get involved!
On this expedition, you’ll have the opportunity to experience and participate in cutting- edge conservation research to protect one of the ocean’s most majestic animals. Manta Trust scientists will be collecting photographic identification images of all mantas encountered throughout the expedition – a task that guests are welcome and encouraged to participate in. All new manta rays will be added to the database and guests will be invited to name these new mantas.
Every manta sighting is crucial information in developing effective management and conservation strategies for these increasingly vulnerable animals.
The Manta Trust
A UK registered charity, the Trust’s mission is to advance the worldwide conservation of manta rays and their habitat through robust science and research, by raising awareness and providing education, influence and action. The Manta Trust was formed in 2011 to co-ordinate global research and conservation efforts for these amazing animals, their close relatives and their habitat.
The Manta Trust has a number of research projects worldwide, incorporating population data, research on manta movements, and genetic analyses – to name a few – in order to better understand the general ecology of manta and mobula rays.
For more information about the Manta Trust, visit www.mantatrust.org or their Facebook page.
Annie Murray – Trip Leader
Annie has long had a keen interest in the marine world. After learning to dive whilst at university she flew out to Utila, the Bay Islands after graduating to complete her Divemaster training. Diving every day, she threw herself into learning as much as she could about the local reefs and here she had the opportunity to swim with whale sharks for the first time.
Four years later she hadn’t left; having trained and worked as an Instructor she knew she wanted to learn more and work in the marine field. Keen to experience as much diving as possible she moved to work in Mozambique and here was where she first dived with manta rays. Having read so much about mantas she was excited to spend time in the water with them but they proved to make more of an impact on her than she realised. Her time spent here diving with mantas made her realise she wanted to know more and work with these animals so she moved back to the UK and enrolled in the Marine Environmental Management MSc course at the University of York.
As part of her summer placement module, Annie volunteered at the Maldivian Manta Ray Project, researching the social behaviour of mantas. Working in the field and studying the mantas in Baa atoll further instilled the need to conserve these animals and Annie hopes to continue researching the population whilst working at the Manta Trust.