DESTINATIONS WINTER SUN | MALDIVES
exper expert ASK THE Nikki Hain,
product manager, Premier Holidays
“The InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau is
close to a Unesco Biosphere Reserve right next to a lagoon – a renowned juvenile manta ray aggregation point, which means guests can snorkel with mantas year-round. The resort’s partnership with the Manta Trust means it’s the perfect spot to experience these
gentle giants up close and learn more about them.”
ABOVE: Aerial view of the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort, its pool area and a Lagoon Villa bathroom
Jess proudly shows me the mugshot of a recently spotted manta, taken by a guest and duly christened Manta Claus.
GRACEFUL MANTAS Jess also runs Manta Retreats, week-long events where guests can learn about everything from manta identification procedures to the threats they face in the ocean – there is high demand in Chinese medicine for their gills. Before we head out on the waves, Jess tells us the strict protocols that we must adhere to – including keeping a five-metre distance – before explaining some of the tech her team uses. This includes drones and the world’s first underwater ultrasound scanner, recently invented by a team at the University of Cambridge, allowing researchers to learn about the reproduction cycles of mantas.
28 31 AUGUST 2023 “It’s like a burrito!”
says Jess, showing us an ultrasound of an unborn manta, its tiny wings wrapped around its body
“It’s wrapped up like a burrito!”
says Jess, showing us an ultrasound shot of an unborn manta, its tiny wings wrapped around its body. Above us, grey clouds hang low
in the sky, potentially dampening our chances of a sighting, but suddenly our boat glides to a halt and we spot three mantas. They’re in no hurry to leave, and we spend 20 minutes in the water, watching these beautiful creatures slide through the ocean, their huge mouths agape as they feast on plankton.
How any creature can funnel vast amounts of food into its mouth while still looking graceful is beyond me, but as we clamber into the boat to make our way back to dry land, I vow to channel my inner manta when I work my way through the Fish Market’s menu later that night. The seafood restaurant is one of a cluster of restaurants back at the resort; breakfast spot Café Umi transforms into a teppanyaki restaurant in the evening, and The Collective serves wood-fired pizzas and delicious gelato. For fine dining, Lighthouse, with its cheery deckchair-inspired blue
BOOK IT
Premier Holidays offers a seven-night half-board stay at the Intercontinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort, departing on October 2 from £3,989, with complimentary daily afternoon teas, aperitifs and soft drinks between 11am and 6pm. Includes return flights from Heathrow with Gulf Air and seaplane transfers.
premierholidays.co.uk
travelweekly.co.uk
and white stripes, can be found at the southern tip of the island. Clients will also find a kids’ club, spa and fitness centre, as well as The Retreat, an adult-only area serving free soft drinks all day, as well as afternoon teas and alcoholic drinks between 5pm and 7pm. This lagoon-side haven becomes my favourite spot, largely because of its position. If I’m feeling guilty for not making it into the water that day, I can still tick off some sightings from the sunloungers, courtesy of the rays, sharks and huge shoals of tropical fish passing through these bustling waters.
TW
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