Biosphere Reserveīaa Atoll is considered globally significant in terms of its biodiversity. In addition to Eydhafushi, Thulhaadhoo and Dharavandhoo are the only islands with a resident population over 1,000. The island of Eydhafushi is the atoll capital with a population of roughly 2,500. The atoll has a resident population of approximately 9,000. It consists of 76 islands of which 13 are local island towns, and 15 are tourist resorts. Situated in the central area of the country, the atoll forms part of the double chain of atolls at the archipelago’s central region.
Baa Atoll, which is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, offers a sample of the unique species of marine, fauna, and flora of the Maldives.īaa Atoll is one of twenty administrative regions of the Maldives and consists of three separate natural atolls, the largest of which is 42 kilometers long and 32 kilometers wide. The transfer to Baa Atoll will take 40 minutes by seaplane.With about 5% of global reef area, and 250 species of coral teeming with over 1,000 species of fish, the Maldives is rich in biodiversity. Male Ibrahim Nasir International Airport is well served by direct charter flights from Western Europe, but direct scheduled flights are rarer – it may require a lay-over in the Middle East first.
Coral rock cod are covered in florescent speckles.In the channels, you’ll find eagle rays, Napoleon wrasses, turtles and sharks. You’ll also see large table corals on the reefs.The small Maldivian sponge snail sits on sandy banks while midnight snapper, small-toothed emperor, moon fusiliers and moon wrasse swim by. The soft corals found in the overhangs are blue, yellow and green pairs of porcelain crabs rest in anemone coral. They bump into each other like bumper cars at a fairground.Amongst the coral, you’ll find whip coral, dark red sponges, black coral bushes and zoanthids growing like wild mushrooms. You won’t be disappointed by the diversity of fish and coral that you’ll see.If you’re visiting the atoll during manta season, you can expect their orderly feeding behavior to be disbanded while they feed. The Baa Atoll has been awarded UNESCO status for a reason.
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Expect to see lots of other fish: redtoothed triggers, black pyramid butterflyfish, parrotfish, angelfish and starry rabbitfish.The popular whale shark spots may be full of ravenous snorkelers, but Baa Atoll’s dive sites are well chartered and offer lots of diverse diving and marine life. Amongst the reef’s overhangs are yellow-lined snapper, soldierfish and cleaning wrasses. You’ll ascend to its exit at 59 feet (18 meters). Located at 82 feet (25 meters) is the base of a narrow swim through lined with black coral. The thila starts at 26 feet (8 meters), and as you descend you may see manta rays. Advanced divers can explore Dhonfanu Thila and its swim through. This entire reef becomes a cleaning station during manta season, and while they hover to be cleaned, you’ll be able to observe them closely. Amongst the caves and overhangs, you’ll also find stingrays, big groupers, friendly batfish or a school of oriental sweet lips. Star shaped canyons are found in the middle and overhangs, which are covered in hard and soft corals, are found on the reef’s walls. The top of the reef is found at 46 feet (14 meters) and drops off to 98 feet (30 meters). The topography around this site is unique. The coral appears through them, distorted, as though you’re wearing glasses with the wrong prescription.To the south-east of the atoll is Nelivaru Haa. Depending on the light and density of the shoal, it can be a spectacular sight.
Shoals of glassy fish also swim around the coral. The south-west monsoon (May to November) sees manta rays using the thila as a cleaning station. On either side of the thila are large rocks where schooling black jacks hunt fusiliers. The thila is covered in different hard and soft corals, lots of macro life and large pelagic. With the diverse marine life around its reefs, thilas (submerged islands), overhangs and swim throughs, Baa Atoll deserves its UNESCO status.Located to the east, and part of the atoll’s protected reef, is the Horubadhoo Thila at a depth of 39-52 feet (12-16 meters).
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