Marine life at Royal Island Resort & Spa

Royal Island Resort & Spa delivers outstanding opportunities to observe marine life in its natural habitat. The reef surrounding the property hosts an exceptionally rich variety of species, with nearly all recent reviewers (May–July 2026) reporting sightings of sharks—particularly harmless blacktip reef sharks seen daily—sea turtles (both in reef and occasionally visible from villas), rays and eagle rays, and vibrant tropical fish. Multiple guests noted the ability to see marine life directly from their villa rooms or just 20 meters offshore, while organized and casual snorkeling consistently yielded encounters with manta rays, nurse sharks, and diverse fish populations. The corals themselves are described as vibrant and alive. One reviewer from Russia noted an absence of rays during their specific visit, but this represents a single outlier against overwhelming positive evidence of ray sightings across dozens of other accounts. The property's location in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO biosphere reserve known for manta ray encounters, is reflected in guest reports of multiple manta sightings during dives and snorkeling excursions. The transparency and specificity of reviews—often naming exact species and describing behaviors such as manta cleaning sessions—strengthens confidence in the authenticity of these observations.