News
Anantara takes holistic approach to reef protection in the Maldives
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
Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives will celebrate Thanksgiving for the first time this November, as growing interest from the United States creates a new opportunity for the boutique island resort to welcome American travellers over the holiday.
Taking place on Thursday, 26 November 2026, the celebration will centre around a special Thanksgiving Dinner at FireDoor, Grand Park Kodhipparu’s signature overwater restaurant, bringing couples, families and groups of friends together for an evening of shared dining overlooking the Indian Ocean.
The family-style menu gives Thanksgiving a distinctly Kodhipparu interpretation, with dishes including roasted shrimps, home-cured salmon and artichoke mille-feuille, lobster with mushroom ravioli, sautéed Hokkaido scallop, beetroot risotto with feta cheese, roasted beet and beet leaves, and sous-vide lamb shank, followed by a chocolate dessert.
“Thanksgiving is fundamentally about gathering, sharing and taking time for the people who matter,” said Raffaele Solferino, General Manager of Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives. “As we welcome growing interest from the United States, it felt like the right time to bring this celebration to Kodhipparu for the first time and give our guests the opportunity to mark the occasion together in the Maldives.”
For American travellers making the long-haul journey, the resort’s location offers an important advantage. Grand Park Kodhipparu is just 20 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, with no onward domestic flight or seaplane journey required. Its boutique scale of 120 villas combines pool and overwater living with personalised service, an easily accessible house reef, wellness and island dining.
Guests can turn Thanksgiving into a longer Maldives escape with 30% savings on stays of four nights or more, while those planning more spontaneously can enjoy 15% savings when booking within 21 days of arrival.
The Thanksgiving Dinner at FireDoor takes place from 6.30pm to 10.00pm on 26 November 2026 and is offered as a supplementary dining experience, priced at USD 110++ per person. For reservations and further information, contact rsvn.gpkd@parkhotelgroup.com.
There is a way to close out the year that isn’t a race to the finish line, but a soft landing into the one ahead. That’s the one Eri Maldives is building this December.
This December, Eri welcomes guests for its debut festive season since opening, a programme built around La Dolce Vita, running from 22 December to 7 January — an ode to the sweet rhythm of island living. Bringing a touch of Mediterranean romance to the Maldives, the island dresses for the season in ceramic-tile patterns tracing bar fronts and linens, lemons resting beside woven baskets, and fairy lights strung low between the palms as dusk settles slow and golden over the water.
Where the Season Lives
The season opens with The Christmas Glow, as Eri’s tree is lit for the first time beneath an amber horizon at sunset, carols rising over the tide, paired with canapés and cocktails. Travellers can also turn icing and imagination into a miniature seaside cottage at a festive gingerbread-house decorating workshop, best enjoyed on the spot.
Christmas morning brings Santa’s surprise entrance, followed by an unhurried lunch of festive tropical favourites at the Christmas Banquet at Soul Kitchen. Those looking to make new friends can catch up over beach games and a Zumba breakout at the first ‘Erilympics’ on 29 December.
New Year celebrations carry that same spirit into its own send-off, unfolding in layers: starting with a treasure hunt that invites guests to discover scenic pockets of the island, with clues leading them from one corner to the next, before the evening settles into an epic gala dinner with live cooking stations turning the night into a feast that keeps giving. As midnight nears, the Seaside Soirée takes over with a playful costume competition. DJ beats signal the start of the year-end beach party, gathering everyone under the stars at Sip & Dip Beachfront as the countdown begins, with a firework show lighting up the water as the final seconds tick down and the year turns over.
The morning after is reserved for rest, with New Year Reset Brunch that asks nothing more than a slow start with comforting bites. good coffee. An invitation to test the waters awaits in the afternoon, where guests are encouraged to test the waters at group water sport taster sessions for a First Ride of the Year – the perfect spontaneous start to set the tone for a year with endless possibilities.
Travellers celebrating Orthodox Christmas can mark the occasion with an intimate shore-side dinner and lunch in early January, rounding off the season with a toast with loved ones close by.
Flavours without Rush
Foodies can look forward to a seasonal Coastal Feast, featuring Maldivian reef lobster pulled straight off the grill and charred fish dishes, or learn the secrets of Maldivian staple recipes in the hands-on The Island Kitchen cooking class.
Elsewhere, the Maldivian Village becomes a place to wander rather than simply pass through. Guests are invited to join a Maldivian High Tea experience on the afternoon of 30 December, while a pop-up market takes over for one evening only on 5 January, with local crafts and street foods spilling into the square.
Throughout the period, a run of daily sundowners warms the festive spirit into the evenings, with themed drinks and DJ sets rotating from Island Afterglow to Sunset Soirée. Vino lovers can also swing by Sip & Dip for a special wine-tasting experience on 2 January, with sharing plates to match each vestige.
Beneath the Surface
Throughout the season, guests can sit-in on educational talks to learn about ocean ecology and geology, and take part in scenic sunset fishing adventures to head out into the open water, with the Battle of the Big Catch to dial up friendly competition before the light runs out.
For those who wants the islander take, Secrets of the Sea storytelling nights are where the resort’s marine expert share tales gathered from surrounding waters, and Eri’s growing turtle community, with a Great Reef Trivia to put all that listening to the test.
Space for Stillness
As part of the period’s seasonal specials, Eskape Spa will be unveiling a seasonal ritual, Eskape Journey, with a cocoa coffee sugar scrub that softens the skin, followed by a full-body massage that loosens up muscle tension and knots.
Couples can also lean further into romance with a private escape to their own Castaway Table, a barefoot lunch set up on a secluded sandbank, with open sky and sea for company.
For the best value, book Studios from £179/night and Beach Villas from £241/night on Full Board with the resort and explore current offers at https://erimaldives.com/offers.
Fitness
The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort celebrates World Wellness Weekend with movement, mindfulness and nutrition
The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort invites guests to reconnect with their well-being during World Wellness Weekend, taking place from September 18 to 20, 2026. Guided by Westin’s signature wellness pillars—Move Well, Eat Well and Sleep Well—the three-day program brings together energising fitness activities, mindful movement, nourishing workshops and restorative experiences amid the naturally inspiring surroundings of the Maldives.
The weekend begins on Friday morning with a guided Sunrise Walk along a scenic island route, encouraging guests to start the day with purposeful movement while discovering the benefits of walking for physical and mental well-being. Guests can continue moving with Water Volleyball at the Main Pool before turning their attention to mindful nourishment during the Wellness Food & Drink Workshop at Green Delight. The interactive session will introduce practical ways to prepare nourishing food and refreshing beverages, along with simple nutritional insights that guests can incorporate into their daily routines.
Friday afternoon brings a playful change of pace with Fun Games, giving guests an opportunity to connect, compete, and create memorable moments together. The day concludes with Sunset Yoga at Sunset Beach, where a calming guided flow will be complemented by refreshing wellness drinks and wholesome energy bites.
On Saturday, the program begins with Sunrise Yoga at the Yoga Pavilion, followed by an uplifting Aqua Fit session at the Main Pool, an approachable and refreshing way to improve mobility, strength, and cardiovascular fitness. The day ends with a restorative Yoga Nidra session at the Yoga Pavilion. Often referred to as “yogic sleep,” this deeply relaxing guided practice is designed to calm the nervous system, release mental tension, and prepare guests for a more restful night.
Sunday opens with Beach Fitness before heading to the shoreline for an energising full-body workout. Guests can then return to the water for another friendly Water Volleyball session. As evening approaches, a guided Run & Stretch experience invites participants to explore the benefits of regular movement while learning more about calorie expenditure and physical well-being.
The weekend concludes at Heavenly Spa by Westin with a DIY Body Scrub Workshop, where guests can create a personalised scrub infused with lavender essential oil. Inspired by Westin’s Sleep Well pillar, the soothing workshop provides a fitting final ritual of relaxation, restoration and renewal.
Participation in World Wellness Weekend activities is open to all resort guests, with advance registration recommended. Throughout the week, guests can also enjoy a special offer at Heavenly Spa by Westin: a 50-minute Relaxing Balinese Massage for USD 100 per person.
Set within the Maldives’ first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort offers a naturally restorative setting where guests can experience well-being at their own pace. With 69 spacious beach and overwater villas, rejuvenating treatments at Heavenly Spa by Westin, thoughtful dining experiences, and comprehensive fitness facilities, the resort brings Westin’s holistic approach to well-being in one of the Maldives’ most remarkable island destinations.
For more information, visit westin-maldives.com.
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