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Coco Collection in Support of Healthier Oceans

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2 Maldives (s)Maldives.net.mv – The global movement of this year’s World Oceans Day focuses around the theme Healthy Ocean, Healthy Planet, raising awareness and highlighting the human responsibility to keep the oceans clean. With plastic trash choking the oceans, it is shocking that 80% of this debris comes from land. Apart from plastic, one of the fundamental threats that the Indian ocean is facing are ghost nets that entangle and threaten marine life, of which sea turtles are the most common endangered species discovered in such nets.

Leading in support and contribution towards all the marine life conservation programmes in Maldives, Coco Collection is looking back at the portfolio’s initiatives in honour of World Oceans Day 2015. At Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu and Coco Bodu Hithi, dedicated teams work together to observe the ocean for such debris while out on snorkelling trips and other excursions. In 2014, Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu was at the top on the list of data submitters to the Olive Ridley Project with a total of 10 ghost nets removed and 7 turtles rescued and Coco Bodu Hithi brought in the second top submitter with the removal of 4 ghost nets.

This year, on 15th of May, the team at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu encountered a ghost net that illustrated the dire situation very clearly. The Dive Ocean team spent a solid one hour loading the massive net onto the boat and the resort team gathered at the beach to sort through the net. With a total of 12 nets stuck together, the team discovered the usual debris of plastic bottles, bags and even buoys trapped inside the net. The most harrowing discovery was a lone turtle bone among the debris, indicating that the entangled turtle had died trapped inside the net. The very next day, guests discovered a young Olive Ridley Turtle that was entangled inside a bag, where it had lost a front flipper and damaged the back flippers. Through the official partnership with the Olive Ridley Project, the immediate focus of Coco Collection is to setup the turtle rescue centre at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu, enabling the team to rehabilitate turtles suffering from such injuries.

turtle, coco collection

“Even though it is a relief to discover these nets and rescue entangled turtles and other marine life, it is tragic to come across unfortunate instances where we have to sort through nets and encounter those that did not survive. Of course, with the dedication of our helpful guests and passionate teams, the removal of these nets and the rescues that follow are perfect examples of how humans can contribute to the survival of these endangered species that we usually encounter. It is my absolute pleasure to be among such a dedicated team and we will continue to work towards our vision for all marine life to swim freely in a debris free ocean.” comments Chiara Fumagalli, Resident Marine Biologist at Coco Collection.

While Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu is a known Green Sea turtle nesting site, Coco Bodu Hithi experienced 3 surprise nests this year where the hatchlings were safely escorted to the open ocean. Guests can expect to see more hatchings at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu as there are a total of 9 nests on the island, with the first one expecting to hatch after 14th June.

Coco Collection appreciates the commitment of the guests and associates for their continuous support and dedication towards such initiatives and looks forward to move in line with a sustainable promise for a healthy ocean and a healthy planet.

Pictures courtesy of Coco Collection. First picture by Dave Bretherton, Olive Ridley Project.

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Cinnamon Maldives offers up to 80% off stays in 11.11 booking promotion

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Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Maldives has announced its 11.11 offer, available only to guests who book direct. Guests who book by 14th November 2026 receive up to 80% off the rate and choose three of four book direct benefits at their chosen resort, with stays valid until 30th November 2027. Stays of three nights or more also come with resort credits.

The offer spans all four of its Maldives resorts, each with its own character and its own set of book direct benefits. Whether guests are planning a holiday with children, a quiet escape for two, or a week spent mostly underwater, there is an island and a combination of experiences to match. From beach dinners to dolphin watching, guests pick the three benefits that suit their holiday best, so no two stays need look the same.

Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives

Just 20 minutes from Malé in the North Malé Atoll, Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives is a lively tropical island where days move easily between the beach, the lagoon, and the reef. It is an easy choice for holidays with little ones, with short transfers and plenty to keep every age busy. Book direct guests can choose any three of a dinner set up on the sand under the stars, a spa treatment to unwind after a day in the sun, a visit to a nearby local island to see everyday Maldivian life up close, and a swim and snorkel session to meet the reef and its residents.

Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives

In the Vaavu Atoll, Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives is made for slowing down. Warm white sand, clear water, and the steady sound of the waves set the pace, making it a natural fit for couples and travellers looking for a quieter stay. Book direct guests can choose any three of a beach dinner for two by the water, a spa treatment designed to help them switch off completely, a day of island hopping across the atoll, and a dolphin watching trip on the open sea.

Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives

An adults only island in the Meemu Atoll, Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives is where romance moves to the rhythm of the waves. With water villas set over the lagoon and long, unhurried days, it is a favourite for honeymoons, anniversaries, and couples who simply want time together. Book direct guests can choose any three of a sunset fishing trip as the sky turns gold, a day of island hopping, a bottle of bubbly to toast the occasion, and a kayaking experience across the calm lagoon.

Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon

In the North Ari Atoll, Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon opens up a new world underwater. Its house reef sits just steps from the shore, so divers and snorkellers can slip into the water from the beach and be among the reef life within minutes, any time of day. Book direct guests can choose any three of a beach dinner after a day in the ocean, a Balinese massage to ease tired muscles, a sunset fishing trip, and a dolphin safari to spot pods in the wild.

For bookings and enquiries, visit cinnamonhotels.com and the offer is available only on direct bookings made by 14th November 2026.

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Bandos Maldives strengthens food safety and sustainability standards with dual recognition

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Bandos Maldives continues to strengthen its commitment to responsible hospitality, quality and excellence with Food Safety Management System complaint with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) standards, and the achievement of its Green Globe Certification.

These accomplishments reflect the resort’s ongoing dedication to providing exceptional guest experiences while upholding high standards of food safety, environmental responsibility and sustainable operations.

The HACCP recognition reflects the resort’s dedication to maintaining high food safety and quality standards across its food and beverage operations, ensuring guests enjoy safe and quality dining experiences. It also recognises the collective efforts of the culinary, food and beverage, and stewarding teams in upholding these standards.

Complementing this commitment to quality, the resort’s Green Globe recertification marks another important milestone in its sustainability journey. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Maldives, Bandos Maldives recognises its responsibility to protect its island environment and the marine ecosystem that makes the destination so unique. With 1,330 solar panels generating 744.8 kWp of electricity and meeting approximately 30% of daily energy requirements, Bandos Maldives continues to invest in more sustainable operations. Through its desalination plants and refillable glass bottle initiative, the resort has also eliminated more than 250,000 single-use plastic water bottles annually. Marine conservation also remains another important focus.

Commenting on these achievements, General Manager Ismail Rasheed said: “We are delighted to achieve these important milestones, which reflect our team’s dedication to quality, guest wellbeing and environmental sustainability. While we are proud of our progress, we recognise that responsible hospitality is an ongoing journey. We remain committed to continuously improving our practices and protecting our island environment for future generations.”

Guided by its Island of Hospitality brand promise, Bandos Maldives believes that exceptional guest experiences go beyond warm service and comfortable accommodation. They also mean ensuring guest safety, maintaining quality and protecting the natural beauty of the island and its surrounding marine environment.

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Nova Maldives embraces ‘Headspace Holidays’ trend with wellness experiences

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Travel’s new benchmark for luxury isn’t showing off, but showing up rested, with KAYAK’s global travel forecast calling this shift the pursuit of “Headspace Holidays” and “Wellth trips,” where next-gen travellers measure a good trip by how recovered they feel, not how much they were able to cram into an itinerary.

Here’s our take on how you could build an escape around a Dopamine Menu at Nova Maldives, sampling little nuggets of joy daily rather than having one big thing to cross off and nothing left to anticipate afterwards, to suit your appetite for happiness.

Starters — Dipping into Softness

  • Grounding Steps: Barefoot strolls around the island at mornings and sunsets, with group yoga sessions to drop into as they suit: Inner Strength for gentle asanas and breathwork, Hatha Yoga for an alignment-focused practice, and Surya Namaskar for building flexibility.
  • House Reef Exploration: Snorkel alongside baby reef sharks in the shallows for a quiet, close-up glimpse of Nova’s underwater world just steps from shore.
  • Breakfast, Two Ways: A Lagoon floating breakfast enjoyed within the villa, followed by an easy swim, or a buffet spread stocked with ‘Maldivian Flavours’ special small-bites, nourishing juices and smoothies at Soul Kitchen.

Mains — Gentle Landings for the Day

  • The Deep Blue Plate: Embark on whale shark encounters within the waters of the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA), and dive with turtles and sharks at Broken Rock’s natural canyon, the sunken cargo ship turned artificial reef at Kudhi Maa wreck, and Madivaru Rangali’s Manta Point, one of the Maldives’ best-known manta cleaning stations
  • Social Circles at Holhuashi: Held every Friday, gather beneath the banyan tree for Maldivian food pop-up stalls, bodu beru drumming, a Basmagu-Dhivehi language class, and a coconut harvesting demonstration.
  • Soothing Island Remedies: Block time-off for Maldivian treatments that nourish the body and soul from within, choosing between the ‘Ruhgalu’ Herbal Bolus Therapy that makes use of heated herbal poultices to soothe the body, the Kaashi Naashi Ritual, using gliding warm coconut oil and shells across the body for deep relaxation, and the ‘Unbuli Veyo’ Island Healing Ritual, which melts tension away with a warm herbal leaf compress and full-body massage.

Sides & Specials — Curious Additions

  • Coral & Reef Meanderings: Help plant your own coral frame on Nova’s house reef, with the option to name it, and join a guided reef clean-up alongside the resort’s marine team, leaving a small, lasting mark on the island long after checkout.
  • Cooking on the Atolls: Learn to cook with the island’s own pantry, working hands-on with local ingredients like breadfruit, green mango, plantain, cassava, bitter gourd, coconut, wax gourd and banana blossom, guided by Nova’s culinary team.
  • Sensual Frequencies: Sink into a guided sound bath using singing bowls, gongs, chimes, rain sticks and ocean drums, or crystal reiki healing session, channelling the cleansing energies of crystals for chakra alignment, both echoing the island’s own natural stillness.
  • A Surprise Getaway: Reach a private sandbank by boat, left completely undisturbed, and watch the sunset melt into the horizon in total solitude, or share an intimate evening as a couple beneath an open, star-filled sky.

Specials — A Little Indulgence

  • The Weightless Hour: For a softer introduction to diving, Nova’s signature Wellness Diving experience blends underwater yoga, floating meditation, buoyancy and breathwork sessions, a house reef exploration, and a PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty certification.
  • Mizu Overwater Evenings: Dine above the water at Nova’s overwater pavilion, choosing from five multi-course sets (Umi Kara Shinsen, Nojo Shinsende Oishi, Kaiso and more) built around farm and ocean freshness, from sushi, temaki and teppanyaki grill to seaweed and vegetarian options.

Dessert — Sweet Endings

  • Nightcap at Wink: Settle in at Wink Bar as live acoustic and jazz performances from the house bands set the mood, choosing from timeless classics to contemporary favourites, including a Peach & Rosemary Blossom (bourbon whisky, peach syrup, lemon wedges, rosemary syrup) and an Espresso Martini (vodka, Kahlúa, espresso shot, sugar).

Build a stay entirely to taste, with your own made-to-order holiday at Nova. With villas from £314/night on Full Board, and soulcation and advance-purchase offers available when booking direct at www.nova-maldives.com.

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