A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2011, and the one atoll where the wet season is the reason to come rather than the reason not to.
Baa became the Maldives' first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2011, covering seventy-five islands of which thirteen are inhabited, and it is the one atoll whose calendar runs against the country's. Hanifaru draws feeding aggregations of manta rays and whale sharks on the south-west monsoon, roughly May to November — the half of the year the rest of the Maldives sells as its off season.
The ministry's account of Hanifaru explains why it happens there and not elsewhere: a water circulation system concentrates plankton into a feeding and mating hub, and the island inside the protected area is a nesting ground for green and hawksbill turtles. It is not the only such site in the atoll. Nelivaru, declared in 2023, is a manta cleaning station where 105 individual rays were recorded 119 times in 2020 alone.
Hanifaru is also the one protected area in this directory you have to book. The register sells a per-person visit permit for it, which is worth knowing before a resort offers the trip as though it were theirs to give.
SourcesMaldives protected areas registerMaldives Civil Aviation Authority — list of land aerodromesTrans Maldivian Airways — frequently asked questionsUNESCO — Baa Atoll Biosphere ReserveHanifaru RegionB. Nelivaru Area
Baa Atoll has one airport. The nearest to Velana is Dharavandhoo Airport on Dharavandhoo, 116 km north of it. The runway takes turboprops rather than jets, so every arrival connects through Malé or comes by seaplane.
Dharavandhoo Airport is in the atoll and takes turboprops, so a domestic flight and a short speedboat is the cheaper route and is not bound by daylight. Seaplane from Velana is the alternative and is what most resorts quote. Seaplanes fly between sunrise and sunset only, and the operator asks guests who want to reach the resort the same day to be in the Maldives by 15:30.
| Airport | Code | From Velana | Runway | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dharavandhoo AirportDharavandhoo | DRV | 116 km | Turboprop | Island Aviation Services Ltd. |
SourceMaldives Civil Aviation Authority, register updated July 2025checked 2026-09-21
14 protected areas are declared in Baa Atoll, covering 7,960 hectares. They were declared between 1999 and 2023, 7 of them together on 5 June 2011.
Part of it lies inside a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. three atolls in the Maldives hold one, and this is one of them.
High biodiversity and standing population of hard and soft corals and associated marine invertebrates and vertebrates (especially fin fish). High populations of IUCN red listed species including (Napoleon fish (Cheilinus undulatus), Hawsbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and groupers (Plectropomus sp., Variola sp., Cephalopholus sp.). It is known as a grouper may be a fish aggregation site for reproduction.
The Mendhoo region comprises four lagoons, featuring distinctive elements such as two lagoons with sandbanks and one lagoon hosting an island. The remaining two lagoons stand out for their remarkably high biodiversity, housing a thriving population of hard and soft corals, along with various marine invertebrates and vertebrates.
Notably, the sandbank serves as a nesting site for both green and hawksbill turtles.
On Mendhoo island, the environment is conducive to nesting and roosting for the Lesser, Black-Napped, Greater Crested, and Brown Noddy Terns, as well as the Lesser Frigate bird.
This diverse ecosystem contributes significantly to the overall ecological richness of the Mendhoo region.
B. Innafushi, located to the east-north of B. Fulhadhoo, consists of an island and sandbanks surrounded by the sea. On the eastern side of the area lies the Cobin Wreck Protected Area. The island of Innafushi serves as a crucial breeding ground for protected birds in the Maldives. The sandbanks in this area play a vital role as an environment for these birds, where they rest and lay eggs. Preserving these sandbanks without altering them is essential to maintain the current in the area. Innafushi and the surrounding sea area are rich in various species of corals and fish.
High biodiversity marine region and standing population of hard and soft corals and associated marine invertebrates and vertebrates. Reef system is directly associated with the unique dynamic water circulation system of Hanifaru that during western monsoons aggregated for feeding high numbers of endangered mega fauna animals (whale sharks and manta rays). This reef site is therefore biologically and biodiversity significant for the Baa Atoll, Maldives and globally for mega fauna animals. This marine area has a very high tourism value for mega fauna and recreational diving and snorkelling. This core area includes the internationally acclaimed dive site of Dhonfanu thila and “shark alley”. This site located on the southern section of the Angaafaru reef was renowned for the resident population of sharks. Unfortunately the population currently of sharks utilising this site has all but gone due to commercial fishing. Roosting site for the Roseate and black Napped Terns.
| Area | Hectares | Declared | Designation |
|---|---|---|---|
| B. Huraafaru Sarahahdhu | 694 | 9 November 2023 | EBSAs |
| Bathalaa Region | 692 | 5 June 2011 | EBSAs |
| B. Nelivaru Area | 665 | 9 November 2023 | EBSAs |
| Hanifaru Region | 529 | 5 June 2011 | UNESCO Biosphere Reserves · EBSAs · Managed Areas |
| The wreck of "Corbin" | 328 | 5 June 2011 | EBSAs |
| B.Dharavandhoo Thila | 133 | 2 November 2023 | EBSAs |
| Dhigali Haa and Dhigali Giri | 125 | 21 October 1999 | Protected area |
| Mathifaru Huraa Region | 54.80 | 5 June 2011 | EBSAs |
| Olhugiri | 51.80 | 14 June 2006 | EBSAs · Managed Areas |
| Goidhoo Koaru Area | 13.91 | 5 June 2011 | EBSAs |
SourceMinistry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Maldiveschecked 2026-09-21