Intercontinental Maldives gets ready for the Manta Retreat in March 2024

Following the launch of the Manta Retreat in 2022, InterContinental  Maldives Maamunagau Resort is now inviting guests to the third Manta Retreat, which will  take place in March 2024. Spreading curiosity and excitement to learn about manta rays and  their natural habitat, the Manta Retreat forms a great platform to learn, explore and understand  these gentle giants and the work of the Manta Trust. 

Created for travellers who want to experience the little bit extra, who are interested in adding  true value to their vacations, and do not say ‘no’ to an adventure, Participants can look forward  to spending some refreshing and exciting days with the island-based Manta Trust team and  some close-up time with manta rays in the resort’s very own lagoon. 

The third Manta Retreat will focus entirely on meeting the manta rays that call the island’s  surrounding waters their home and their protection and ocean conservation. Meral Hafeez, the  Manta Trust base leader at InterContinental Maldives, will lead the retreat and take participants  along to uncover the secrets of manta rays. “Most of my days are spent out in the water looking  for manta rays to record and observe their behaviour 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!” 

This year’s Manta Retreat takes place in March yet again, which is also the Maamunagau Manta  Season, where young manta rays are found in the resort’s lagoon just a few minutes away from  shore. The Maamunagau Lagoon is home to a juvenile manta ray aggregation point and a  significant research ground for the Manta Trust team. Guests will have the chance to meet  manta rays up close and get in touch with the research that the Manta Trust team has been  conducting on the resort since 2019. As part of their research, the team identifies and records  the young manta ray pubs in the lagoon based on their unique belly prints. Participants will learn all about the procedure in the Manta ID workshop and also get to adopt and name a manta  ray. 

The manta retreat will take place from 9th to 12th March 2024, and included are several  snorkelling and research trips, on-hand educational workshops that involve the work of the  Manta Trust team, corals and a manta ray adoption. The purpose of the Manta Retreat is to  educate participants and ocean aficionados on manta rays and their protection whilst raising  funds to support the work of the Manta Trust.  

Guests staying at InterContinental Maldives also have the opportunity to enjoy the luxury  resort’s facilities as well as their villa or residence accommodation. There is also plenty to keep  adults and children entertained in case some family members or travel partners are not  participating in the retreat.  

For certified divers, options are available to ensure all guests find their individual way of  interacting with manta rays. Dedicated dive spots are in the area around the resort that allow  divers to observe the natural manta ray ‘spa’, known as cleaning stations, showcasing the  incredible symbiosis of marine life in the Maldives.  

THE MANTA RETREAT 

The Manta Retreat will take place from 9th to 12th March 2024 at the InterContinental  Maldives Maamunagau Resort. The participation fee for the manta retreat is USD 1490 per  guest. Activities included are two manta ray snorkelling trips, a guided house reef snorkelling  experience, name and adopt a manta ray and several workshops to learn more about manta rays,  plankton and coral restoration and planting. 

Additional experiences such as diving and snorkelling trips, cruises, excursions or spa and  wellness treatments can be booked individually for additional charges. Upon request, one-on one sessions with the Manta Biologist can be arranged privately.  

For more information, please visit https://maldives.intercontinental.com/sustainability/manta-retreat or contact the reservations team with the booking code “Manta Retreat”  at reservations.icmaldives@ihg.com or contact on WhatsApp at +960 730 9300.