InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort invites guests to the third Manta Retreat, held from 9th to 12th March 2024. The Manta Retreat enables a platform, for those who are interested, to learn, explore and understand Manta Rays and their natural habitat, as well as the conservation work of the Manta Trust. For discerning travelers interested in adding value to their vacations, the retreat aims to provide close-up time with manta rays and the island-based Manta Trust team.
The retreat comprises snorkeling and research trips, on-hand educational workshops that involve the work of the Manta Trust team, and a manta ray adoption. The purpose of the Manta Retreat is both to educate ocean aficionados and raise funds to support the work of the Manta Trust. The duration of March is the Maamunagau Manta Season, when young manta rays are found within the resort’s lagoon, which is a significant research ground for the Manta Trust team.
Meral Hafeez, the Manta Trust base leader at InterContinental Maldives, will lead the retreat. “Most of my days are spent out in the water looking for manta rays to record and observe their behavior to gain vital information relevant for their protection. No matter how many times I’m lucky enough to encounter these animals, each interaction feels like seeing them for the first time. The sense of awe never diminishes. I look forward to sharing the wonders of Maldivian marine life and manta rays with the participants of the Manta Retreat. The ocean is full of surprises, and I can’t wait for everyone to experience their first manta ray and the wonders of the deep.”