News
Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu welcomes Manta Trust for an educational event focusing on manta rays
Maldives.net.mv – This summer, Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu is host to a group of Marine Biologists from the Manta Trust who will be spending 2 days at the resort, engaging guests in interactive presentations and inviting them to join a spectacular snorkeling excursion in South Baa Atoll, where they hope to encounter some Manta Rays gliding through the deep blue.
On Saturday, 21st June 2014, Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu will grant a warm, sunny welcome to a group of Marine Biologists from Manta Trust that includes Niv Froman, the Project Manager of Manta Trust Maldives, as well as Annie Murray, the Operations Manager of Manta Trust Maldives. The team will kick-start the program with an interactive presentation for the associates of Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu, to which the resort has invited students of schools from surrounding local islands. In the evening, the visiting scientists together with Chiara Fumagalli, the resort’s own resident marine biologist, will hold an educational presentation for the resort’s guests at Conch Bar focusing on Manta Trust’s work alongside Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu. Both presentations will highlight the work that Manta Trust has been contributing towards the Maldivian Manta Ray Project and will offer guests and students alike a chance to enrich their knowledge regarding these mysterious creatures.
On Sunday morning, 22nd June 2014, Coco Collection’s Resident Marine Biologist, Chiara Fumagalli, together with the team from Manta Trust will lead guests and associates on an adventurous snorkeling excursion that will hopefully include the extraordinary opportunity to swim with these peaceful ocean giants. Afterwards, Chiara will mingle with guests at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu to share photos of the expedition along with the analysis of any identification, should the team have happened upon new individuals to the database.
For guests looking to experience the Manta Ray expedition, Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu is offering a “Stay Longer and Pay Less” deal where a 5 night’s stay will receive a discount of 25% while a 3 night’s stay will receive a discount of 10% from room rates. Additionally, guests can book their stay with Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu now to enjoy discounts of up to 7% from room rates.
“This exciting expedition with the fellow Marine Biologists from Manta Trust is truly an amazing opportunity to experience these marvelous creatures gliding through the ocean. It is my absolute pleasure to welcome guests of Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu to join us in this snorkeling excursion for a once in a lifetime chance to swim alongside Manta Rays while witnessing their natural behavior in person”, comments Chiara Fumagalli, Resident Marine Biologist at Coco Collection.
Manta Rays are gentle and charismatic, and to this day, many aspects of these fascinating creatures are still a big mystery. Coco Collection has always had a strong bond with Manta Trust for various research initiatives and supports their mission to advance the worldwide conservation of manta rays and their habitat by studying them in their natural environment. The Maldivian Manta Ray Project was founded with the main purpose to learn more about the life cycle, population dynamics and habitat of the Maldives manta population, which Coco Collection is delighted to contribute to.
The contribution and support of Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu and Coco Bodu Hithi has been recently recognized by Manta Trust by ranking Coco Collection as the top submitter of newly identified Manta Ray sightings and the second top submitter of overall Manta Ray sightings for the year 2013. Coco Collection is proud to be a part of such initiatives and during this event, hopes to educate guests and associates regarding the population and behavior of Maldivian Manta Rays, aiding the research objectives of Manta Trust.
For only USD 3,031, you can book a 7 night stay for 2 at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu, to attend the Manta Trust event this June, including return seaplane transfers, daily Breakfast at Cowrie Restaurant and 1 Manta Ray snorkeling excursion with the Marine Biologist*. For booking inquiries, please contact reservations@
News
Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives celebrates one year of family-focused hospitality
Located within The Atollia by Centara Hotels & Resorts in the heart of the picturesque North Malé Atoll, Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives, a unique, family-focused resort, is celebrating its first anniversary on 13 November 2025. Over the past year, it has become a vibrant destination for families seeking adventure, connection, and unforgettable experiences in a captivating underwater-themed paradise.

The resort features 145 spacious beachfront and overwater villas with open-air baths, Jacuzzis, or private pools, including the signature Mirage category rooms with bunk beds, designed perfectly for families of all sizes. The resort boasts a vibrant water park with slides and splash zones, as well as the Maldives’ first lazy river. Young travellers can explore the Candy Spa, multiple play areas including a pirate-themed playground and the Madame Stingray play area, a dedicated Kids’ Club, and an E-Zone for teenagers. Adults can relax and rejuvenate at SPA Cenvaree, while the whole family enjoys engaging activities and a wide range of culinary experiences across six venues. What makes the resort truly special is that every corner and every activity is designed with families and young travellers in mind, enhancing their Maldives experience.

“Marking our first year is a milestone we are incredibly proud of,” said Andrew Jansson, Cluster General Manager of Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives and Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives. “Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives offers a truly one-of-a-kind concept in the Maldives, an immersive resort designed for families to connect, explore, and create lasting memories together. From our expansive lagoon and water-based adventures to experiences that engage every generation, each element has been thoughtfully crafted to bring families closer while celebrating the beauty of the destination. Over the past year, we have seen how this concept has resonated with travellers from around the world. Being recognised as the ‘Best Family Hotel in the Maldives’ by Little Steps Asia is a proud moment for us and a reflection of our team’s dedication to delivering memorable experiences for every guest.”

As Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives celebrates this milestone, the resort looks forward to another year of creating joyful memories, meaningful family moments, and immersive experiences in the heart of the Maldives. With each new activity, thoughtful service, and unique discovery, the resort continues to set the standard for family-focused travel, ensuring that every visit leaves guests with stories to cherish for a lifetime.
Celebration
Villa Park sets holiday line-up with sunset welcome, Santa visit and NYE gala
Villa Park has announced its Festive 2025–2026 programme, running from 20 December 2025 to 6 January 2026. The schedule moves from lagoon-side mornings to music-led evenings on the beach, beginning with a sunset welcome and continuing with beach barbecues, creative workshops, Christmas Eve dinner, Santa’s visit on 25 December, and a New Year’s Eve gala with a midnight countdown. The season concludes with programmes on New Year’s Day and Orthodox Christmas.
Daytime activities include chef demonstrations, shoreline art sessions, and live music. Evenings feature romantic tables, treetop dining for two, and simple set-ups that highlight the island setting. The programme is designed for couples, friends, and families to join as they wish.
Family programming centres on Park Players, presented as the Maldives’ largest kids’ club, with letters to Santa, gingerbread crafts, ocean-themed art, movement classes, story time, and film nights. Group sizes are kept small to ensure attentive supervision.
Villa Park’s family offering has been recognised beyond the festive season, with the resort named among the Best Resorts for Families in the Maldives at the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2025, a reader-voted accolade reflecting guest feedback on space, programming, and flexible pacing.
Throughout the calendar, private experiences sit alongside larger celebrations, including candlelit beach dining, treetop tastings, floating breakfasts, and open-air cinema for two. Guests can set their own rhythm, whether opting for lively beach gatherings or quiet evenings under lanterns and palms, from sunrise through to the New Year countdown and beyond.
Featured
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas introduces season of wellness with three practitioners
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas is inviting guests to embark on a holistic journey guided by three visiting wellness practitioners, each specialising in distinct approaches to healing. Drawing on traditional knowledge and contemporary practice, the practitioners will offer therapies at the resort’s overwater spa designed to align body, mind, and spirit in a tranquil Maldivian setting. Disciplines include Ayurveda, energy-based therapies, sound healing, and mindful movement, with personalised consultations and bespoke treatments available.
A fifth-generation Ayurvedic physician, Dr Jithurag continues a 300-year family lineage rooted in holistic balance. Trained within the Rameswaram Tantric tradition, he blends Ayurvedic principles with elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine, integrating marma therapy and acupuncture with Reiki and Pranic Healing. Using wellness screening technologies to assess biomarkers, he designs tailored treatment plans. Guests may book a complimentary consultation and choose from signature therapies such as TCM Acupuncture, Cupping Therapy, Marma Abhyanga, and Back Restoration Therapy.
Holistic therapist and Ayurvedic healer Sharath Ram brings more than 16 years’ experience in supporting physical, mental, and spiritual balance. His work combines Ayurveda with energy practices and therapeutic yoga to encourage both recovery and transformation. His specialities include Chakra Inner Energy Balancing, Ayurveda Deep Fusion Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, Maderotherapy, and Mind-Body Healing. He will also lead complimentary workshops, including The Art of Breathing and Dynamic Meditation, focusing on breathwork and movement to promote calm and clarity.
From Kerala, India, Vinod Narayanan offers over a decade of experience in Ayurveda, yoga, and holistic healing across Europe, Africa, and Asia, including service as a personal physician to dignitaries. At Anantara Kihavah he will provide therapies such as Himalayan Sound Healing Massage, De-Armouring Body Therapy, Abdominal Detox, Access Bars Energy Healing, and Gut-Brain Rewiring. Using vibration, touch, and energy alignment, his sessions aim to release emotional blockages, improve circulation, and support the body’s natural rhythm. Complimentary consultations are available, alongside sound-based journeys that seek to harmonise body and spirit.
Together, the practitioners complement Anantara Kihavah’s wellbeing philosophy, extending from Ayurvedic traditions to sound therapy. Guests are invited to the overwater Anantara Spa for bespoke treatments, meditative workshops, and one-to-one consultations that encourage connection with self and nature.
Further enhancing the experience, the resort has introduced reimagined Beach Pool Villas featuring natural textures, open-plan spaces, and private pools set within tropical greenery.
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