Tourism and Manta rays Part 2: Manta Tourism at cleaning stations By Dr. Anne-Marie Kitchen Wheeler Project Founder Manta Ecology Project

Manta Tourism Scuba diving and snorkelling with manta rays are economically important activities in the Maldives. Anderson et al. (2010) suggested that the direct income from manta tourism exceeded US$8 million per year in direct revenue derived from US$45 or US$70 per scuba dive (depending on the site) and US$20 per snorkeler. 2

Manta Tourism The $8 million figure is direct revenue based on 2007 figures. Indirect revenue (accommodation, food & beverages, additional diving, excursions) is likely to be in the $100’s of millions but is difficult to measure. The value of scuba diving with mantas is estimated to be 40x that of snorkelling. Most diving activity is conducted at “cleaning stations”. 3

North Male atoll has both eastern and western manta cleaning stations. The best known are Lankan and Boduhithi. Lankan (SE of Paradise Island/Lankanfinolhu) is probably the most famous site but manta activity has fallen since

5 North Ari atoll has NO reliable manta cleaning stations in the SW monsoon but several famous ones in the NE monsoon (Dhonkalo, Himendhoo). The resorts are equally distributed throughout the area of the atoll

South Ari atoll has many NE season manta cleaning stations visited by divers, including the famous Madivaru (an MPA) but fewer SW monsoon ones. The majority of resorts are located in the south of the atoll 6

Tourism data Tourist arrivals exceeded 1 million in % tourists arrive primarily to scuba dive (varies from 2 week+ diving safari to resort dive or learn-to-dive based on 2007 data) and others make unplanned dives or go snorkelling. Based on a diver making 15 dives in a trip and for every 8 dives a guide dives, an estimated 2.5 million dives are made each year. Diving with sharks and rays are listed as the top items requested by divers. 7

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