News

Anantara takes holistic approach to reef protection in the Maldives

Published

10 years ago

May 29, 2016

Maldives.net.mv – For over 15 years the team at Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has been committed to protecting the local environment, communities and culture around each of its hotels and resorts whilst creating authentic, luxury travel experiences and indigenous adventures for modern travellers. With four luxury resorts in the Maldives – Anantara Kihavah Villas, Anantara Dhigu Resort, Anantara Veli Resort and Naladhu Maldives – guests can take their pick from some of the best locations and experiences in the Indian Ocean, including getting up close and personal with the local marine life and vibrant coral reefs, snorkelling with manta rays in a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, free diving with whale sharks or cruising the house reef 18 metres below the surface, just a few strokes out from the shoreline.

In line with the luxury hospitality brand’s philosophy that environmental responsibility begins at home, the Anantara team in the Maldives joined forces with marine biologists from Coral Reef CPR – conservationists, biologists and ecologists whose mission is to reduce threats and promote sustainable management and rehabilitation of reef ecosystems – in October 2015 to develop ways to protect the coral ahead of the anticipated environmental stresses of El Niño, a climate cycle that has a global impact on weather patterns.

Led by Chief Scientist, Dr. Andrew Bruckner, the pioneering five-year programme, Holistic Approach to Reef Protection or ‘HARP’, encompasses practical environmental protection and marine education with the goal of limiting potential damage to the reefs in the Maldives and ensuring the coral reefs continue to not only survive, but to thrive. As well as Anantara taking its responsibility to the local environment very seriously, the programme will also ensure that guests at each resort – as well as the local community – can continue to enjoy the spectacular world beneath the waterline for many years to come.

Corals in the Maldives

Extending across the expansive Laccadive Sea in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is a country of atolls; small coral islands encircled by azure lagoons. Unique to the Maldives, luxury resorts are the sole occupants of each island, providing a truly private and unique experience. Coral reefs beneath the shimmering waters of the Maldives protect the pristine beaches and guard the crystal-clear lagoons. They also support an astounding array of tropical fish, crustaceans and bizarre-looking molluscs. But for all of its beauty and apparent resilience, coral is a sensitive organism, vulnerable to extreme weather, sudden environmental changes, the effects of global climate change, as well as outbreaks of coral predators.

Principal investigator and lead scientist with Coral Reef CPR, Dr. Andrew Bruckner, explains: “Some reefs in the Maldives are experiencing unusually high water temperatures which is causing coral bleaching. These coral animals contain symbiotic single-celled algae within their tissues, which provide the coral with up to 90% of its energy. Once stressed, the coral expels these algae, causing them to turn completely white. If algae loss is prolonged and the stress continues, corals can die. But it’s not all doom and gloom, when a coral turns white, it is not dead and if the stress-caused bleaching is not severe, coral can recover.”

Director of Conservation for Minor Hotels, John Roberts, elaborates further: “On their first visit in October 2015 the visiting marine biologists performed a major Crown of Thorns Starfish removal from the reefs surrounding Anantara resorts in South Male Atoll. In the process, the scientists helped save a great reef on Anantara Veli Resort, which is now also proving most resilient to current bleaching. As part of those efforts last year, Coral Reef CPR and Anantara have produced a manual to distribute throughout the country outlining best practice should there be another Crown of Thorns Starfish outbreak.”

Taking A Holistic Approach To Reef Protection (HARP)

In collaborating with leading experts in their fields for ground-breaking marine biology research, Anantara is pioneering the HARP programme. Currently all project work undertaken in the Maldives by Coral Reef CPR for HARP is funded by the Anantara initiative ‘Dollars For Deeds’, whereby Anantara guests are invited to donate one dollar for each night of their stay, which is then matched dollar for dollar by Minor Hotels. Dollars for Deeds funds raised in the Maldives are committed over the coming five years to three key focus areas: protection of marine and coastal environments; environmental education; and community welfare.

In January this year, Coral Reef CPR returned to the Maldives for the first of four monitoring phases throughout 2016. Ten monitoring stations were set up on coral reefs surrounding Anantara resorts in South Male Atoll and Baa Atoll, with the purpose of evaluating the water conditions and marine populations before, during and post 2016 El Niño phenomena. Already widely reported by international media across the globe as being the longest El Niño on record, during Coral Reef CPR’s second visit to the Maldives in April this year, promising results have been extracted from the monitoring stations, despite some alarming findings.

“Since the beginning of March, temperatures on the reef have exceeded 30°C and they remained above 31°C during April, reaching 32 – 33 °C in lagoonal environments,” explains Dr. Andrew Bruckner. “Under normal conditions, sea water temperatures should be 3-4 degrees cooler at depth but these high temperatures are extending beyond 35 metres depth. These high water temperatures are due to an unprecedented El Niño event which is now in its second year. Simultaneously the sea has been unusually calm which has allowed excessive levels of UV light radiation to penetrate the reefs.”

“Due to stressful conditions corals in some areas in the Maldives began to pale in colour at the beginning of April and several sensitive species bleached white. By mid-April between 60-80% of corals on the reef we were monitoring were fully bleached or a very light yellow in colour.

In certain shallow lagoonal environments bleaching was much more severe, and sensitive corals were affected. On a positive note, by the end of April temperatures on Baa Atoll had begun to decline and there was very little coral mortality on the outer reefs.”

SUPER CORALS

Through this research some surprising and exciting revelations have been discovered. Georgia Coward, Project Manager and Fishery Biologist with Coral Reef CPR said: “Although the level of bleaching is similar to that reported during previous El Niño events and is comparable to reports from other countries, we have observed a number of colonies of each species that have proven resistant to changing conditions, possibly by producing protective fluorescent pigments. Similarly certain colonies have not bleached at all despite being located adjacent to corals of the same species that bleached severely. We refer to these as “super corals” and feel that these may have adapted to elevated sea temperatures. Over the coming months we will be analysing extracts taken from the super corals and other coral species in laboratory conditions, as well as looking closely at the fish population reports surrounding them.”

SUSTAINABILITY

In line with Anantara’s commitment to sustainability and a result of the luxury hospitality brand’s ongoing conservation efforts including the HARP project, Anantara Kihavah Villas, Anantara Dhigu Resort, Anantara Veli Resort and Naladhu have all been awarded with Green Growth Certification, an assessment framework for the travel and tourism industy which consists of 37 criteria and 406 indicators. It is based on global standards and international conventions including the UN Global Compact and the UNEP Green Economy Principles.

FUTURE VISITS

Since 2011, guests staying at Anantara resorts in South Male Atoll and Baa Atoll have been able to leave a lasting legacy by participating in coral reef propagation programmes and contribute to the ongoing conservation effort by adopting a coral frame and planting it with the guidance of Anantara’s resident marine biologists. The HARP programme now builds on those initial efforts, with a high level scientific-based practical approach to reef assessment, regeneration and community science.

The third and fourth phases of the HARP Programme with Anantara involve creating a coral nursery to assist in the rehabilitation of degraded and damaged reefs. Through coral mariculture, when the scientists return in July and October 2016, small branches from the identified super corals will be extracted and propagated. Once matured, these corals will be transplanted back on to the reef.

During the visits from Coral Reef CPR scientists, guests at the Anantara resorts in both South Male Atoll and Baa Atoll can enhance their diving and snorkelling experiences by joining the marine biologists on their excursions, and participate in Anantara’s endeavours to keep the reefs healthy and vibrant for generations to enjoy.

Future visits from Dr. Andrew Bruckner, Georgia Coward and other Coral Reef CPR scientists are set for the end of July until mid-August 2016 and October 2016. To select your Anantara Dhigu, Anantara Veli, Anantara Kihavah Villas or Naladhu Maldives experience and to help play a part in the protection and regeneration of coral reefs in the Maldives, visit anantara.com

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Culture

Where Maldivian culture lives on: Inside Athireege at Sun Siyam Vilu Reef

Published

16 hours ago

July 15, 2026

m@ldives

How Sun Siyam Vilu Reef Is Keeping Maldivian Culture Alive: The smell reaches you before anything else: warm coconut oil, faintly sweet, drifting from a low-roofed beach house. Inside, a woman works patiently with her hands, pressing, turning and drawing the oil slowly from the flesh, just as it has been done for generations on these islands. Standing on a tiny coral island in the South Nilandhe Atoll, time seems to lose its importance.

This is Athireege, the cultural heart of Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, part of the Privé Collection within Sun Siyam. It is not a museum, nor a demonstration staged for the camera. It is a living sanctuary where the crafts, rituals and flavours of traditional Maldivian life are practised by hand, by voice and by fire. Here, an immersive cultural journey invites guests to discover the traditions, flavours and stories that continue to shape island life, offering a deeper connection to the Maldives beyond its postcard-perfect beaches.

Once a week, guests are invited to experience Maldivian Roots Day, a journey that reveals the customs, skills and traditions that have shaped island life for generations. Visitors leave with more than memories of turquoise waters they leave with a deeper understanding of the place they have called home, even if only for a few days.

The experience begins with a hands-on coconut oil making class, uncovering traditional crafting techniques first-hand at Athireege. Authenticity is the soul of this space, where traditional island living is brought to life using real, handcrafted tools. Guests can run their fingers over the very techniques that Maldivians have used to sustain island life for centuries whether witnessing the intricate art of palm weaving known as Fangi Vinun, trying their hand at coir rope making, known in Dhivehi as Roanu Veshun or playing traditional mancala style games like Ohvalhu Gondi Kulhun.

As the afternoon softens into evening, pandan-infused tea is served alongside sweet and savoury local delicacies. As daylight fades, stories take their place. History of Maldives, real experiences with island tales and memories of life before tourism are shared aloud, reviving a tradition that once passed history from one generation to the next.

The centre of this cultural journey is the Malaafaih, a magnificent, traditional Maldivian banquet. Translating roughly to “abundance,” the Malaafaih was historically prepared for grand celebrations, weddings, and community gatherings. This carefully curated feast invites guests to gather, share, and experience authentic local flavours in a deeply communal setting, honouring the true spirit of island hospitality.

At Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, the Malaafaih is celebrated both at sunrise, as a traditional breakfast, and beneath the stars as an evening feast. The menu changes with the season and the day’s catch, but its spirit remains the same, dishes are shared, conversations unfold naturally, and strangers often leave the table feeling like friends. Whether beginning the day with a traditional breakfast or gathering beneath the stars for an evening feast, guests can completely immerse themselves in this rare culinary ritual, tailored exclusively to their stay.

At a time when travellers increasingly seek meaningful connections with the places they visit, Athireege offers something becoming increasingly rare: traditions that are still lived rather than performed. Long after the final stories have been told and the feast has ended, it is often these moments not simply the beaches or the villas that guests remember most. At Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, space has always been made for the culture that made these islands worth travelling to in the first place.

To explore or to book your stay, visit Sun Siyam Vilu Reef. For exclusive offers, join Siyam Rewards and book direct at sunsiyam.com.

News

Emirates NBD cardholders receive exclusive savings at Centara Maldives Resorts

Published

17 hours ago

July 15, 2026

m@ldives

Centara Hotels & Resorts has announced a new offer for cardholders of Emirates NBD, one of the leading banking groups in the MENAT region, giving customers across the GCC exclusive savings and lifestyle privileges across all four of its Maldives properties. Valid for bookings and stays until 30 September 2026, this is a bundled offer that goes beyond a standard rate discount, with complimentary return transfers, curated dining experiences, spa benefits and a range of signature island experiences included as standard across the portfolio.

The offer gives Emirates NBD cardholders access to four distinct island experiences, each designed to suit a different traveller profile.

Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives is tailored to discerning travellers and multi-generational guests, offering a sense of privacy and award-winning hospitality. The resort features a curated selection of overwater and beachfront villas alongside spacious two and three-bedroom residences. Guests can explore world-class dining across six restaurants and four bars, unwind across three distinctive wellness concepts at SPA Cenvaree Retreat, and keep younger guests entertained at multiple kids’ clubs and E-Zones, all set against the backdrop of the Indian Ocean.

The neighbouring Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives is a family-centric, underwater world-themed resort offering endless activities for all ages, from a lazy river and water playground to a Kids’ Club, E-Zone and the candy-themed Candy Spa.

Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa Maldives, The Centara Collection, is an authentic Maldivian retreat surrounded by an award-winning house reef, a 52-metre sunken cargo ship and some of the region’s most renowned dive sites, where guests can encounter whale sharks, manta rays and sea turtles year-round.

Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives is a vibrant adults-only playground for indulgence, connection and rejuvenation in the North Male Atoll, with overwater villas, pristine white beaches, PADI-certified diving and the award-winning SPA Cenvaree.

Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives

Booking and Stay dates: Until 30 September 2026
Offer: 25% savings on stay
Inclusions: Accommodation, Half Board Plus, round-trip speedboat transfers, one-time spa massage at SPA Cenvaree Retreat, one-time floating breakfast for pool villas and residences, and one excursion (dolphin cruise or handline fishing) for Grand Two-Bedroom guests
For bookings and more information, please click here.

Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives

Booking and Stay dates: Until 30 September 2026
Offer: 30% savings on stay
Inclusions: Accommodation, Half Board Plus, round-trip speedboat transfers, one-time spa massage at SPA Cenvaree, one-time floating breakfast for pool villas
For bookings and more information, please click here.

Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa Maldives, The Centara Collection

Booking and Stay dates: Until 30 September 2026
Offer: 30% savings on stay
Inclusions: Accommodation, Half Board Plus, round seaplane transfers, USD 50 spa credit per person per stay, welcome amenities including sparkling wine, Club Lounge access for Club Pool Villa guests, one-time floating breakfast for Club Pool Villa guests, one-time whale shark snorkelling for Club guests, and kids stay and eat free
For bookings and more information, please click here.

Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives

Booking and Stay dates: Until 30 September 2026
Offer: 30% savings on stay
Inclusions: Accommodation, Half Board Plus, round-trip speedboat transfers, USD 50 spa credit per person per stay, welcome amenities including sparkling wine, one-time poolside romantic dinner for 2 adults
For bookings and more information, please click here.

News

Maldives named one of the world’s happiest places to visit in new travel study

Published

19 hours ago

July 15, 2026

m@ldives

The Maldives has been ranked among the world’s happiest destinations for travellers in a new global study analysing more than one million online reviews from holidaymakers.

The research, conducted by Irish travel insurance specialist JustCover, placed the Maldives 11th out of 155 destinations worldwide, awarding the island nation a ‘Happy Place’ score of 71.4 out of 100. The Maldives narrowly missed the global top 10, finishing level on score with Toronto, Canada, although rankings were determined using more precise underlying values.

The study examined reviews of tourist attractions, restaurants, resorts, scenic locations and other visitor experiences to identify how frequently travellers used language expressing happiness and joy. Each destination was then assigned a score based on the proportion of reviews reflecting positive emotional experiences.

Tulum in Mexico topped the global rankings with a perfect score of 100, followed by Soufrière in Saint Lucia with 95.2 and Oaxaca, Mexico, with 88. Las Vegas also scored 88, while Maui, New York City, Cappadocia, Rio de Janeiro, Chicago and Toronto completed the top 10. Bora Bora in French Polynesia and Positano in Italy followed the Maldives in 14th and 15th place respectively.

According to the study, North America dominated the rankings, with the United States claiming six of the top 15 destinations, including Las Vegas, Maui, New York City, Chicago, Austin and New Orleans. Researchers noted that the results reflected a mix of beach destinations and urban centres, suggesting that travellers find happiness in a variety of holiday experiences.

Peter Clark, Director at JustCover, said the findings demonstrated that happiness while travelling comes in many forms.

“Holidays are a time to get away from the busyness of everyday life. Most people have a place where everyday stress melts away and they feel a sense of peace. The findings show how wide the range of happy places really is and that happiness in travel comes in many different forms.”

He added that while some travellers are drawn to destinations offering beaches and nature, others find enjoyment in vibrant cities, emphasising the importance of being prepared with appropriate travel insurance before travelling.

JustCover said the research analysed more than one million reviews across 155 destinations worldwide. Reviews were assessed for expressions of happiness and joy, with destinations scored relative to the highest-ranking location. All data used in the study was current as of June 2026.