Visitors in search of elegant Maldives hotels will be more than pleased with the Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas. Offering guests a strategic base from which to explore Maldives’ natural treasures this charming rest is ideal for holidaymakers and group travellers.

As one of the archipelago’s most captivating corners Baa Atoll is made up of two round shaped sub atolls divided by the Kudarikilu Kandu channel. Made up of nearly 105 reefs of coral the Baa Atoll boasts a coral reef surface of 263km2. As the first designated and protected biosphere in the Maldives Baa Atoll hold a special place in the world’s eco system as the site’s inherent biodiversity is globally recognized for its richness and the history of the unique environment it documents within its confines.  Spread out across a whopping 139700 hectares of pristine marine sites the venue was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO as recently as 2011. Similar to Indonesia’s Komodo Island and the Galapagos Islands this first designated biosphere in the Maldives is a testament to the country’s reputation as a marine life haven.

Attracting an impressive 350,000 foreign visitors annually the Baa Atoll Biosphere is a richly diverse marine eco system than contains a plethora of reef dwellers, marine turtles, various species of corals including soft corals and stony coral reefs the locale is a hotbed for a many fish varieties including reef fish, whale sharks and the formidable Manta Rays.

Part and parcel of the Global Environment Facility one of the chief attractions on a visit to the Baa Atoll biosphere is whale shark spotting off the coast of Hanifaru Bay. Also known as Vandhumaafaru Adi in the local tongue the venue is a popular breeding ground for the large marine creatures while Manta Rays are also known to congregate in large numbers in this area during high tide when nearly 100 Rays find themselves in the inlet of the bay with planktons.

Nigel Walters is a travel writer, who writes under the pen name, Fritzjames Stephen. His content is based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life.

Google+