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Reef mantas, a large ray species, frequent Maldivian waters all year round but exist primarily in the western side of the atolls from November to April and on the eastern side from May to October. Scuba divers frequent the Baa and Addu atolls. The Baa atoll draws in hundreds of manta rays to feast on the zooplankton each year. Here, the mantas coexist with other creatures like whale sharks. At the Addu Atoll, manta rays glide through the water year-round, some of which have a wingspan of more than five meters. 

Despite their significant presence in the ocean and admiration from divers, manta rays remain a mystery. Formed in 2011, the Manta Trust is dedicated to research that furthers understanding and works to conserve rays and their habitats. Unfortunately, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the species are considered vulnerable due to pollution and commercial fishing threats. In response, the organization is founded on protecting this unique species of aquatic life.

The Manta Trust’s team has over 20 projects across the globe and collaborates with businesses, governments, individuals, and local communities to execute them. The organization is committed to education, specifically in using manta rays as an introduction to ecosystem conservation as a whole to ensure the long-term survival of these creatures.

The organization has also cataloged more than 5,100 manta rays in its database. This is done by logging the spot patterns on their stomachs as each manta ray’s spot pattern is unique, essentially acting as a fingerprint. In turn, this is used to track the mantas to learn their migration patterns, find which habitats are essential to their feeding and reproduction, and thus aids in the organization making educated decisions over how to best manage and conserve this species. Manta ray fanatics can take part in this effort to catalog the creature as the Manta Trust has an online portal in which people can submit images of manta ray stomachs that they find from their diving and snorkeling adventures.

In 2020 alone, the organization published 11 peer-reviewed papers exploring genetic analysis, behavior, and migration patterns. In addition to their research, the Manta Trust works with Fish Free February to raise awareness about the dangers of commercial fishing and works alongside the Protect Maldives Seagrass campaign to encourage businesses to protect seagrass beds instead of causing harm to them. The organization also played a role in adding manta rays to the Maldives’ protected species. 

The Manta Trust Maldives Team

 -->  Visit the Manta Trust Website  <--

• Round trip airport transfers to/from Matei Airport​
• Oceanview Suite accommodations​
• Meal Plan with Breakfast, 2-course Lunch, 3-course Dinner​
• 2-Tank boat dives, unlimited shore dives during shop hours​
• Add Nitrox - $168 for 10 tanks​
• Non-diver discount - $500 off 7 night package, $650 off 10 night package​
• Free room upgrade to Oceanfront Suite if available​

Our exciting Malapascua – Cebu charter offers some of the best diving in the Philippines, including Sumilon Island, Pescador Island & Malapascua’s Gato Island, home of a sea crate protected breeding sanctuary. This charter includes another Malapascua favorite, Monad Shoal, known for frequent sightings of thresher sharks as well as manta rays. In addition to these pelagic species, the Malapascua area offers a wide variety of critter diving not to mention abundant reefs and wall diving. Leaving Malapascua, we head to Calanggaman Island, one of Philippines most beautiful islands. Next we head to Bohol for again a wide variety of reef, wall & critter diving as well as some land tour opportunities for those so inclined. As a Grand Finale we finish the itinerary on the dramatic walls of Balicasag, one of our favorite dives. This itinerary is hard to beat if you want a wide variety of locations as well as incredible diving.

The Visayas are one of the three island groups in the Philippines; enjoy six fabulous days diving from the Atlantis Azores around one of the most beautiful and bio-diverse regions in Asia. Easy cruises each evening will take you from one great dive site to another. With easy transfers, consider a combo trip with Atlantis Dumaguete for a multiple-week first-class dive vacation at a very reasonable investment.

• KOMODO-ALOR | 05-Jul-22 ~ 16-Jul-22 | 11 nights | 1 single bed available (female) $7370 USD
• ALOR-KOMODO | 04-May-23 ~ 15-May-23 | 11 nights | 2 single beds available ( female and male)
• ALOR | 26-Jul-23 ~ 02-Aug-23 | 7 nights | 6 cabins available
• KOMODO-ALOR | 03-Sep-23 ~ 14-Sep-23 | 11 nights | 2 cabins available
• ALOR-KOMODO | 02-May-24 ~ 13-May-24 | 11 nights | 6 cabins available
• KOMODO-ALOR | 22-Jul-24 ~ 02-Aug-24 | 11 nights | 6 cabins available
• ALOR | 04-Aug-24 ~ 13-Aug-24 | 9 nights | 7 cabins available $6160 USD
• ALOR | 15-Aug-24 ~ 24-Aug-24 | 9 nights | 7 cabins available $6160 USD

• KOMODO-ALOR | 05-Jul-22 ~ 16-Jul-22 | 11 nights | 1 single bed available (female) $7370 USD
• ALOR-KOMODO | 04-May-23 ~ 15-May-23 | 11 nights | 2 single beds available ( female and male)
• KOMODO-ALOR | 03-Sep-23 ~ 14-Sep-23 | 11 nights | 2 cabins available
• ALOR-KOMODO | 02-May-24 ~ 13-May-24 | 11 nights | 6 cabins available
• KOMODO FOCUS | 15-May-24 ~ 23-May-24 | 8 nights | 7 cabins available
• KOMODO-SUMBAWA | 25-May-24 ~ 02-Jun-24 | 8 nights | 6 cabins available
• KOMODO-ALOR | 22-Jul-24 ~ 02-Aug-24 | 11 nights | 6 cabins available