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27.04.2021 16:17:01
Mobula ray jumping out of the water. Mobula munkiana, known as the manta de monk, Munk’s devil ray, pygmy devil ray, smoothtail mobula, is a species of ray in the family Myliobatida. Pacific ocean
See full version: Best Places to Dive in January
Mobula ray jumping out of the water. Mobula munkiana, known as the manta de monk, Munk’s devil ray, pygmy devil ray, smoothtail mobula, is a species of ray in the family Myliobatida. Pacific ocean
Kudarah Thila and Rangali Madivaru in the south host cleaning stations with numerous mantas. There are also great manta dive sites in other parts of Ari Atoll, including the premier Ukulhas Thila cleaning station in the north and Donkalo Thila in the west. The sheer variety of cleaning stations throughout this atoll make it ideal for manta ray encounters. [links]
The El Duque liveaboard offers 2-night getaways to the Sea of Cortez, whilst the Valentina has 6-night Sea of Cortez safaris for those who want to spend longer there.
While the promise of winter sun is an undeniable draw, it's not just the weather that can be great in January; there are some exciting things happening underwater too if you know where to look. From witnessing the magic of turtle hatching in Oman and Mozambique to swimming with the ocean's largest fish, the whale shark, in Tanzania, there's a whole heap of underwater marvels to uncover.
Want to dive with sharks? The Bahamas in January is a shark diving mecca, with great hammerheads in Bimini and tiger sharks in Grand Bahama alongside resident Caribbean reef sharks, nurse sharks, lemon sharks (the list goes on…). While we're on the Caribbean, set the bar high with New Year's resolutions by learning to dive in the brochure-blue waters of Grenada, with wrecks, underwater sculptures and marine life aplenty. Further south in Belize witness the rare spectacle of a grouper spawning and dive the world's second largest barrier reef. more
January: dark mornings (and evenings), new year blues and the irresistible desire to perpetually push the 'snooze' button on the alarm clock. Needless to say January is not exactly our favourite month. That is unless you look to climes that do cover themselves in climatic glory, like the pristine beaches of the Maldives, the chic boutique hotels of the Caribbean and the bucket list-worthy sites of Latin America - diving Belize's Blue Hole, anyone? more
If you're planning a liveaboard trip in January, set sail on a liveaboard to Socorro (otherwise known as the Galapagos of Mexico) when humpback whales are passing through with their calves, not to mention manta rays, dolphins and several species of shark - including schools of juvenile hammerheads. Speaking of hammerheads, head to Rangiroa in French Polynesia and witness these odd-shaped sharks frequent the thrilling Tiputa Pass channel. Over in the Pacific, January is also a great time to go diving in Palau when the visibility is crystal clear, which also makes a wonderful twin centre with the Philippines.
January diving in the Maldives brings excellent manta viewing to the west side of the atolls, where plankton-rich currents stream into the open ocean. The manta rays gather around the currents’ exit points, attracted by the abundance of food, and divers can gather to watch them. In the Baja region of Mexico, January wildlife abundance is not determined by plankton, but by an ancient migration pathway, in which huge aggregations of humpback whales make their stately journeys between the poles and the equator. And in Djibouti, liveaboard diving is a new industry relative to its Red Sea neighbor Egypt, so you can be sure of a peaceful, uncrowded atmosphere for your whale shark encounters.
Ari atoll’s most famous manta spot is Donkalo Thila, one of Ari’s many pinnacles, which are famous for attracting big fish. However, Ari holds at least three more cleaning stations with high sighting numbers. Ari also offers the opportunity to dive into schools of hammerhead sharks at neighboring Rasdhoo Atoll. And whale shark viewing at Ari is the best in the country. North Male atoll also claims world-famous manta cleaning stations, such as Manta Point, among others. If you’re a manta-fan who’s wondering where to dive in January, luxury motor yachts like the Emperor Serenity get you up close and personal with the winged giants. more
Seas are calm and skies are blue in January in the Maldives, and it’s a perfect time to spot mantas at Ari or Male Atoll. By liveaboard diving here in January, divers catch a prime plankton season at the “outflow zone” of these atolls- when the monsoon wind is blowing from east to west, this means the western side. All that plankton (microscopic plants and animals which float in the current) is 5-star dining for manta rays, so they congregate on the atoll’s western rim and feast! more
Djibouti is the hottest new destination for Red Sea diving, and one of its star attractions is whale sharks. In January, whale sharks are drawn to the region by a crab spawning event that releases tons and tons of larvae into the water. The whale sharks need only open their gaping mouths and swim through the soup. But whale sharks aren’t the only reason to visit this small African country; scuba diving in January in Djibouti offers uncrowded scenes of colorful corals and fish, with a diversity of the Red Sea and Indian Ocean species. It also holds strikingly dramatic topography; for example, “The Crack” is a dive site where you descend between three tectonic plates! There are also walls which descend to depths of 200 meters, and a variety of submerged volcanic islands. Djibouti diving in January also has a comfortable air temperature, when you can enjoy the sunshine without overheating.
Large Manta Rays can be found in the plankton-rich waters of the Maldives - photo courtesy of Emperor Orion.
In the sheltered Sea of Cortez between Baja California and the rest of Mexico, another gentle giant can be found. A large whale shark population frequents the Bay of La Paz in Baja California Sur from early winter to late spring. Scuba diving is not allowed, but free diving and snorkeling are usually considered an even better way to immerse oneself in the experience, without the weight of tanks and gear.
Djibouti is the hottest new destination for Red Sea diving, and one of its star attractions is whale sharks. In January, whale sharks are drawn to the region by a crab spawning event that releases tons and tons of larvae into the water. The whale sharks need only open their gaping mouths and swim through the soup. But whale sharks aren’t the only reason to visit this small African country; scuba diving in January in Djibouti offers uncrowded scenes of colorful corals and fish, with a diversity of the Red Sea and Indian Ocean species. It also holds strikingly dramatic topography; for example, “The Crack” is a dive site where you descend between three tectonic plates! There are also walls which descend to depths of 200 meters, and a variety of submerged volcanic islands. Djibouti diving in January also has a comfortable air temperature, when you can enjoy the sunshine without overheating.