Baa atoll has the reputation of being one of the most beautiful and unspoiled parts of the Maldives island chain. The lush vegetation and white powder-sand beaches lapped by turquoise-blue waters make Baa atoll an excellent choice for an idyllic tropical holiday. Baa also encompasses many of the best snorkeling and diving sites in the Maldives.
Baa atoll is an administrative region covering three natural atolls with a total of 75 islands. Thirteen of the islands have native Maldivian settlements - most are on the eastern side of the atoll. Fishing is the main occupation for local people, and the island of Thulaadhoo in the south of Baa atoll is known for the production of fine lacquer-ware souvenirs, which are sold in markets throughout the Maldives.
Five of the islands have been developed as tourist resorts, with one resort on each island. These islands are renowned for their near-pristine beauty, and the resorts strive to match the nearby natural wonders with luxurious bungalow accommodations, swimming pools and fine dining for their guests. Windsurfing, sailing, canoeing, water-skiing, wake-boarding and jet skiing are all available - as well as on-shore facilities for sports like tennis and badminton.
Each of the resorts has a nearby "house-reef" for snorkeling and introductory scuba diving, and they will arrange boat trips to other sites in the atoll for more advanced diving. The coral reefs here are dazzling with the living colours of an uncountable number of fish species, and those who prefer to keep their feet dry can see it all from a glass-bottomed tour boat. Fishing trips are also popular, and lucky anglers may find themselves reeling in marlin, sailfish and barracuda. For beach lovers, a short voyage to one of the atoll's many uninhabited islands makes a popular day trip, where visitors can plant the first foot-prints of the day on a pure-white coral-sand beach, and make-believe they are alone in a tropical paradise like Robinson Crusoe - at least for a few hours.
Baa atoll also includes some of the top diving and surfing sites in the Maldives. Hanifaru Bay in this part of the island chain is best known its large population of manta rays. The mantas are attracted by the abundance of plankton in this area, and in the right conditions, groups of more than 100 mantas may gather to feed, flipping and turning with their giant wings in a frenzy of activity. The plankton also attracts whale sharks to these waters, and it is one of the few regions in the world where these giants are known to breed.
The heavily-forested island of Olhugiri in the North Maalhosmadulu atoll is uninhabited by people, but has become renowned for the rich diversity of its wildlife. In the past the island was a source of medicinal plants for local people from nearby islands, who also collected coconuts, palm leaves and firewood here until it was protected as a nature reserve in 2006. Olhugiri is one of the only nesting sites in the Maldives of the great frigatebird, a unique species famed for the bright red thoat-sacs displayed by males during the mating season. Green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles are also common in the surrounding waters, and lay their eggs on its beaches.