After August 2011, divers and tourists won’t be able to swim with whale sharks and giant manta rays in Hanifaru Bay of Maldives' remote Baa Atoll, as the Island authorities are likely to shut down the Bay.
Every year, hundreds of whale sharks and giant manta rays gather for their annual feeding frenzy of plankton in July and August, in the “geologically unique” Hanifaru Bay.
Though the marine creatures have been attracting tourists, divers and snorkelers to Maldives around this time of the year, for reasons of conservation, Maldives is likely to shut down Hanifaru Bay to them, making this the last season they can see this one-of-a-kind phenomenon, Reuters reported.
Below are the latest and “last” underwater pictures from just outside Hanifaru Bay as snorkelers and divers gather to search for whale sharks:
Photo: REUTERS/Tan Shung Sin
A snorkeler swims with a six meter whale shark just outside Hanifaru Bay of Maldives' remote Baa Atoll, August 11, 2011.
Photo: REUTERS/David Loh
Snorkelers swim with a six meter whale shark just outside Hanifaru Bay of Maldives' remote Baa Atoll, August 11, 2011.
Photo: REUTERS/David Loh
Snorkelers swim with a six meter whale shark just outside Hanifaru Bay of Maldives' remote Baa Atoll, August 11, 2011.
Photo: REUTERS/David Loh
A manta ray swims just outside Hanifaru Bay of Maldives' remote Baa Atoll, August 10, 2011.
Photo: REUTERS/David Loh
A four meter giant manta ray swims near a cleaning station just outside Hanifaru Bay of Maldives' remote Baa Atoll, August 11, 2011.
Photo: REUTERS/David Loh
A six meter whale shark swims just outside Hanifaru Bay of Maldives' remote Baa Atoll, August 10, 2011.
Photo: REUTERS/David Loh
A four meter giant manta ray swims near a cleaning station just outside Hanifaru Bay of Maldives' remote Baa Atoll, August 11, 2011.
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