There is no site attendance register in the Maldives: the Ministry publishes arrivals, not visits. The objects themselves exist and are visited, so the section stands — what is missing is the figure, not the layer. Each row carries its own status.
| Zone | Atoll | Access regime | Season | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanifaru Bay | Baa | Permit and daily visitor cap | May–November, manta aggregation | confirmed |
| Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve | Baa | Protected area, fishing prohibited | May–November, manta aggregation | confirmed |
| South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA) | Alifu Dhaalu | Protected area, fishing prohibited | Year-round, whale sharks | confirmed |
| Fottheyo Reef | Vaavu | Open access from resort or dive centre | Year-round, best visibility Jan–Apr | verify |
| Rasdhoo Madivaru | Alifu Alifu | Open access from resort or dive centre | Year-round, best visibility Jan–Apr | verify |
| Addu Nature Park / Eydhigali Kilhi | Seenu | Protected area, fishing prohibited | Year-round | verify |
| Bandaara Kilhi, Fuvahmulah | Gnaviyani | Protected area, fishing prohibited | Year-round | verify |
| Hithadhoo Laamu mangroves | Laamu | Protected area, fishing prohibited | Year-round | verify |
The three that decide itineraries
Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll takes a permit and a daily visitor cap, and snorkelling only — no scuba. Rangers manage the slots. Between May and November it is the single strongest reason to place a client in Baa.
South Ari Marine Protected Area holds the world's only year-round whale shark aggregation. It is the rare Maldivian product that does not depend on season, which makes Alifu Dhaalu sellable in the monsoon trough.
The Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve covers the wider atoll under UNESCO designation. It is the frame within which Hanifaru operates, and it is why the atoll's rules are stricter than the national default.