Lifestyle
PER AQUUM launches PULSE

Kicking off PULSE’s debut line-up is Justine Picardie, Editor-in-Chief of Harper’s Bazaar and Town & Country, UK. Justine has two loves – fashion and the written word. As bestselling author of four books, Justine is the literary genius behind the widely acclaimed biography ‘Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life’. This January guests have the opportunity to meet the author at PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi where she will reveal secrets unearthed during her research on Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel. As part of its ‘Popcorn Under the Stars’ series, PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi will air the movie ‘Coco Before Chanel’ starring the beguiling Audrey Tautou. PER AQUUM’s first ever PULSE experience will offer a captivating insight from one of the industry’s leading influencers into the links between fashion and art – and the emotional resonance of fashion in all our lives.
Hot on Justine’s heels in early January will be Chef Nelly Robinson from nel. restaurant in Sydney. Celebrated for his contemporary interpretations of modern Australian dishes, Chef Nelly and his team pride themselves on working with only the freshest seasonal produce with a weekly changing degustation menu. nel. restaurant currently claims the top spot on Australia’s largest restaurant booking network, Dimmi, and was awarded the 2015 Time Out Sydney’s People’s Choice Award. Chef Nelly Robinson from down under will dive eight metres underground at PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi’s unique cellar cave, Vinum, for an exclusive one-night-only dinner.
In February, free spirit and GRAMMY Award-winner Joss Stone lands in the Maldives for an exclusive one-night only performance at PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi for her Total World Tour, an ambitious personal quest to play in every country on the planet. In each country, Joss is aiming to collaborate with local home-grown musicians, playing indigenous music as well as her own songs including hits from her new album ‘Water For Your Soul’. This experience will be a first for the Maldives as PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi brings a ‘World Tour’ event to its shores.
In April, PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi and PER AQUUM Niyama join forces to host Chef Akira Back and his celeb-enticing brand of Japanese cuisine with a Korean twist. Known for his appearances on Food Network’s ‘Iron Chef America’ battling Chef Bobby Flay, Chef Akira can also be seen on NBC’s ‘The Today Show’, Food Network’s ‘Best Thing I Ever Ate’, The Cooking Channel’s ‘United States of America’ as well as KBS’ ‘Success Mentor’ which airs in Korea. Once a professional snowboarder, Chef Akira has worked under acclaimed maestros Nobu Matsuhisa and Masaharu Morimoto, and is the success story behind the famed Kumi Japanese Restaurant + Bar and Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Lounge, both in Las Vegas.
Also conjuring up culinary creations at PER AQUUM Niyama is Chin Chin Labs. Straight out of Camden Market in the UK, Chin Chin Labs has achieved a cult status amongst chefs and ice cream aficionados the world over. Shunning traditional techniques and convention, Chin Chin Labs has been creating artisanal ice creams to order, frozen with liquid nitrogen and billowing with clouds of ‘ice’ since 2010. Having pioneered liquid nitrogen ice-cream as a retail concept, Chin Chin Labs is known for nods to haute cuisine with flavours such as Guinness caramel with smoked salt, pink guava and pepper crack and blueberry marshmallow and apricot rose. Hailed by The Times as ‘The best ice cream parlour in England’ and ‘a place where chefs come for inspiration’ by TimeOut London, these ice cream magicians will be making Maldives-exclusive flavours at PER AQUUM Niyama’s island ‘Play’ over Easter featuring ingredients from the resort Chef’s own herb garden.
Injecting a little vintage elegance to PER AQUUM’s ‘Dream Island’ in mid-2016 will be Indian artisans of leather, Nappa Dori, in a celebration of the glamour of travel and the discovery of new frontiers. A tribute to quintessential Indian sensibilities, blended perfectly with contemporary interpretations in design, material and craftsmanship as well as a dose of nostalgia, mysticism and romance, guests at PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi will have the chance to take part in bespoke workshops, learning the art of leather making from the masters of their craft.
With all this and more on the horizon – from parties until dawn to one-on-one masterclasses – Nick Downing, Vice President of PER AQUUM Hotels & Resorts, has appointed a new Creative Director, Angeline Leo, one of the trendsetting brand’s original dream team. With, quite literally, her finger on the ‘PULSE’, Angeline has spent the last ten years curating and actualising a number of exclusive events, including PULSE’s previous incarnation as the brand’s iconic ‘Dream Calendar’ which was shortlisted for several awards including Most Original Campaign and Greatest Guest Experience at LE Miami.
Featured
Immersed in nature: marine life encounters at Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts

As the world comes together to celebrate World Wildlife Day, there is no better time to explore the turquoise waters surrounding Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts’ four Maldivian properties. These waters, home to some of the most captivating marine creatures, provide a glimpse into a thriving underwater ecosystem brimming with life. Experts from Dive & Sail, the official dive operator at the resorts, share insights into the marine marvels awaiting guests beneath the waves.
“Each of the four resorts in the Maldives by Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts boasts a unique marine ecosystem,” says Adam Ali from the Dive & Sail team. He highlights the vibrant coral gardens of Ellaidhoo, the world-famous surf breaks and manta ray encounters near Dhonveli, and the diverse underwater landscapes that make each location a window into the wonders of the ocean.
At Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives, divers and snorkelers frequently encounter nurse sharks gliding through the waters, while the pristine lagoons of Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives offer sightings of stingrays and colourful reef fish. The diversity of species across these resorts underscores the Maldives’ rich marine heritage, providing unforgettable underwater adventures.
One of the most sought-after experiences for divers and snorkelers is encountering manta rays and whale sharks. “The Maldives is one of the best places in the world for manta ray sightings, and they are often spotted in the channels near Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives and Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives,” explains Ibrahim Shaah, a seasoned instructor at Dive & Sail. Recalling a particularly memorable dive, he describes being surrounded by half a dozen manta rays, their graceful movements almost hypnotic, with one even looping around the divers as if performing a dance.
Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon, renowned for its house reef, offers some of the best opportunities for close-up shark encounters. “Diving here, especially at night, is a surreal experience,” says diver Mohamad Amjey. He describes a moment of stillness as a school of reef sharks moved past him like shadows in the dark, an exhilarating yet peaceful experience.
Beyond providing exceptional underwater encounters, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts remains committed to marine conservation. “Sustainable diving and snorkelling practices are essential to protecting these fragile ecosystems,” the team at Dive & Sail emphasises. The dive centres educate guests on responsible marine interactions, encouraging them to maintain a safe distance from marine life and avoid contact with corals.
The resort group also plays a crucial role in reef restoration through coral propagation initiatives. By planting coral frames and monitoring their growth, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts contributes to preserving the reefs that support an incredible array of species. Guests are invited to take part in these efforts, fostering a deeper connection with marine conservation.
On this World Wildlife Day, the vibrant marine life of the Maldives is celebrated as a dream destination for ocean enthusiasts. Whether experienced divers or first-time snorkelers, guests at Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts in the Maldives are encouraged to discover, appreciate, and safeguard this underwater wonderland. After all, the true beauty of the ocean lies not only in what is witnessed but in the efforts made to protect it for future generations.
Entertainment
Alex Turnbull: Music, film, culture at Patina Maldives

Some encounters change us. Some stories stay with us long after the credits roll, long after the music fades, long after we leave the space where it all happened. This is one of those weekends.
For three days, Patina Maldives becomes a crossroads of music, film, and artistic legacy—woven together by the hands of Alex Turnbull, a man who has spent his life standing at the very heart of underground culture.
A DJ, drummer, filmmaker, and guardian of the avant-garde, Turnbull has lived at the pulse point of transformation. As a founding member of 23 Skidoo, he shaped the sounds that shaped generations. As a producer and remixer, he worked with icons like Sade, Seal, and Neneh Cherry, turning their music into something new, something unexpected, something entirely his own. As a founding member of the International Stüssy Tribe, he helped define the intersection of fashion, music, and rebellion.
And now, here he is. On an island where the tides move with a rhythm of their own, bringing us something rare—something impossible to categorise but impossible to forget.
A DJ set beneath the Maldivian stars, where the past and present fold into each other, where basslines meet the night air, and where we all just for a moment, lose ourselves.
A Stüssy archive pop-up, offering a glimpse into a world where fashion was once a revolution.
A screening of Kim Lim: The Space Between, a film about art, identity, and the spaces that exist between the two. This is Turnbull’s most personal project yet, a tribute to his mother, to creativity, to the quiet power of reinvention.
For three nights, the lines between artist and audience, past and future, reality and dream will blur. Because this is what culture does. It moves. It connects. It asks us to pay attention.
And so we will.
Culture
Cruise liner makes first stop at HDh. Makunudhoo

A cruise liner docked at HDh. Makunudhoo for the first time Monday, marking a new tourism milestone for the island. Passengers from the MS Hebridean Sky were welcomed by the island’s residents with cultural displays reflecting Maldivian heritage.
According to the Makunudhoo Island Council, 94 tourists disembarked from the vessel. The islanders gathered at the harbour in traditional attire to greet them.
As part of the visit, the tourists were divided into groups, each guided by local residents dressed in traditional clothing. They were taken on a tour of the island, visiting historical and significant sites. A festival was also held at the harbour, where islanders demonstrated traditional crafts, sports, and dances. A marketplace was set up as part of the event, where visitors could purchase local products.
The tourists, who arrived in the morning, departed at 1pm. Before leaving, they donated sports equipment to the island’s school.
“They were pleased with the welcome and the opportunity to explore the island,” said Auzam Adam, President of the Makunudhoo Council.
The MS Hebridean Sky visited Makunudhoo after stops at islands in Addu and Alif Alif Atoll. The vessel is now en route to another country.
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