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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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Drink

V Villas Maldives at Mirihi announces exclusive wine Dinner with Hunter’s Wines

Published

2 minutes ago

November 8, 2026

m@ldives

V Villas Maldives at Mirihi – MGallery Collection will host an exclusive Hunter’s Wine Dinner on Monday, 16 November 2026, inviting guests to experience an evening of fine wine, thoughtful gastronomy and personal storytelling from one of Marlborough’s pioneering family-owned wineries.

The evening will be hosted by James Macdonald, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Winemaker at Hunter’s Wines, alongside Chelsea Macdonald and sommelier Khail van Niekerk of Grape Expectations Maldives.

Part of the founding family, James holds a degree in Oenology and Viticulture from Lincoln University and has completed several vintages overseas. Today, he helps lead Hunter’s Wines while preserving the winery’s signature Marlborough character and guiding its continued evolution.

Founded in 1979 by Ernie and Jane Hunter, Hunter’s is Marlborough’s oldest independent winery under continuous family ownership. Its internationally recognized wines reflect more than four decades of winemaking expertise, innovation and respect for the land.

For this special occasion, the culinary team at V Villas Maldives at Mirihi will present a curated menu designed to complement a selection of Hunter’s wines. The featured collection is expected to include MiruMiru sparkling wine, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Rose, Pinot Noir and Gewurztraminer, guiding guests through the diversity and distinctive character of Marlborough.

Throughout the dinner, James will share the stories behind the wines, the Hunter family journey and the winemaking philosophy that has helped establish Marlborough as one of the world’s most celebrated wine regions.

“V Villas Maldives at Mirihi is committed to creating memorable experiences that connect our guests with exceptional personalities, craftsmanship and stories from around the world. We are delighted to welcome James and Chelsea Macdonald and to offer our guests an intimate discovery of Hunter’s Wines in the distinctive setting of Mirihi” said Mohamed Shareef, General Manager of V Villas Maldives at Mirihi – MGallery Collection.

The event reflects the resort’s approach to experiential dining, where refined cuisine, a carefully curated wine programme and Mirihi’s intimate island atmosphere come together to create meaningful moments for guests.

V Villas Maldives at Mirihi – MGallery Collection is an intimate private-island resort in South Ari Atoll. Set amid a renowned house reef and surrounded by the natural beauty of the Maldives, the resort brings together contemporary island living, personalized service, distinctive culinary experiences and meaningful encounters inspired by the spirit of Mirihi.

The resort features 42 villas, two restaurants, AKOYA Sea Lounge, Mirihi Spa, a wine cellar offering more than 300 labels, and a collection of ocean, wellness and cultural experiences.

Business

Manhattan Grand Hotel inaugurated in Hulhumalé with 162 rooms and major event facilities

Published

6 hours ago

November 8, 2026

m@ldives

Manhattan Grand Hotel, a 162-room five-star property in Hulhumalé, was officially inaugurated on Saturday, 7 November 2026, marking the completion of a long-delayed hospitality development originally initiated by State Trading Organisation (STO) more than two decades ago.

The hotel was inaugurated by Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises Hassan Zareer during a ceremony held in Hulhumalé Phase 1. The opening marks a new chapter for the former STO City Hotel project, which remained unfinished for years despite substantial investment and repeated efforts to complete or sell the property.

Located approximately 10 minutes from Velana International Airport, Manhattan Grand Hotel has been developed to accommodate business travellers, transit passengers, leisure visitors and long-stay guests, while providing facilities for meetings, conferences, exhibitions and social events.

The property features 162 rooms and suites across eight accommodation categories, including city-view and sea-view rooms, deluxe accommodation and junior suites. Its facilities include four food and beverage outlets, an outdoor swimming pool, a spa and wellness centre, and a fitness centre.

A central feature of the hotel is its meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) infrastructure. The property offers three major event halls, measuring approximately 700, 400 and 390 square metres, alongside dedicated meeting rooms and conference facilities. The venues have been developed to accommodate corporate conferences, exhibitions, annual general meetings, weddings, banquets and other large-scale gatherings.

The hotel’s architectural concept draws inspiration from Hukuru Miskiy, the historic Friday Mosque in Malé, incorporating elements of traditional Maldivian craftsmanship into its contemporary design. Marketed under the concept ‘Live the Heritage’, the property aims to combine local cultural influences with modern urban hospitality.

Manhattan Grand Hotel is operated by World of Business Pvt Ltd, with foreign investment from UAE-based Deep Seafood Company. The redevelopment was formalised through an agreement with Housing Development Corporation (HDC) in August 2025, under an arrangement involving 50 per cent foreign investment.

The property’s development history dates back to 2006, when STO approved plans to establish a city hotel in Hulhumalé as part of efforts to generate foreign currency revenue. Construction of the originally proposed 250-room five-star hotel began in 2011, following plans involving the US-based Carlson Hotel Group.

However, the development encountered repeated delays, leaving the building unfinished for more than a decade. STO subsequently explored several options to dispose of or complete the property before arrangements were made with HDC to facilitate its redevelopment.

The revised development also incorporates approximately three and a half floors designated for government-related facilities, including a media village, youth centre, heritage college and medical college.

Ahead of its formal inauguration, Manhattan Grand Hotel had already begun hosting hospitality industry events. The property hosted Food & Hospitality Asia Maldives (FHAM) 2026 from 7 to 9 September, bringing together hospitality suppliers, industry professionals and international exhibitors.

The hotel’s official opening adds a substantial accommodation and events facility to the Greater Malé region, supporting the growing demand for city-based hospitality services, corporate gatherings and accommodation close to the country’s main international airport.

The completion of the former STO City Hotel project also brings an end to one of Hulhumalé’s longest-running unfinished hospitality developments, converting the property into a functioning hotel and events destination.

Action

Brazil’s Caio Ibelli crowned Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy winner

Published

22 hours ago

November 7, 2026

m@ldives

Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa has crowned Caio Ibelli the 2026 Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy winner, concluding a week in which world-class competition became part of the guest experience.

Held from September 4 to 11 at Sultans, one of North Malé Atoll’s best-known right-hand reef breaks and just five minutes by boat from the Resort, the event saw the Brazilian defeat former World No. 2 Bede Durbidge 14:16 to 13.50 points in the Overall Final. The victory added the championship to Ibelli’s Single Fin and Twin Fin titles and made him the Trophy’s first Brazilian winner.

For guests, the result was the culmination of a week that moved effortlessly between high-performance surfing and relaxed island life. From breakfast-time competition calls and five-minute yacht transfers to front-row viewing, drinks and canapés in the channel, the event offered rare proximity to both the action and the athletes.

Staged in collaboration with Tropicsurf since 2011, the invitation-only Trophy challenges six surfers across Single Fin, Twin Fin and Thruster divisions before the two leading competitors meet in an Overall Final aboard equipment of their choice. This year’s field brought together Mason Ho, Caio Ibelli, Bede Durbidge, Felicity Palmateer, Travis Logie and Maldivian surfer Ahmed Hishaam. For Hishaam, competing at a break shaped by a lifetime of local knowledge gave the week particular meaning. “It means a lot to me to represent the Maldives in the Champions Trophy,” says Hishaam. “I’ve spent most of my life surfing these waves.”

No Board Required: A Front-Row Seat at Sultans

The Surfing Champions Trophy follows the rhythm of the Indian Ocean rather than a fixed daily schedule. Each morning, Tropicsurf evaluates the swell, wind and tides before deciding whether competition will run. When the call is made, guests can finish breakfast, step aboard a Four Seasons yacht and arrive at Sultans within minutes. The yachts take their positions in the channel beside the reef, offering clear views of every ride with refreshments and canapés served on board.

Between heats, guests can swim or snorkel in the crystalline water before returning to watch the next match-up. On the opening afternoon, three-to-four-foot waves grew into four-to-six-foot (0.91–1.22 metres) sets as competition progressed, giving those on board an increasingly dramatic view of Sultans at its best. On Twin Fin Day, a manta ray cruised beneath the spectator boats while an 80 second soundtrack played across the channel.

For Durbidge, the experience of returning from the competition arena to the resort captured the appeal. “When you get back on the luxury boat and walk back into the Four Seasons Kuda Huraa, you’re like, ‘This is just living. This is a dream,” says Durbidge. “To be able to come here and surf, to compete, and have our families here, it’s just a dream come true.”

That intimacy continues on land. The surfers and their families stay at Kuda Huraa throughout the event, allowing guests to share boats, island paths, sundowners and celebrations with some of the sport’s most recognisable names. “It’s a chance to slow down, spend time with the other surfers and their families, and really enjoy everything the Four Seasons has to offer,” says Palmateer.

Ho, returning to an event whose personality closely matches his own creative approach to surfing, described the combination simply. “The waves have been super fun the last few years, the resort is amazing and there’s always a really cool crew around,” says Ho.

The week’s celebrations began with an Opening Ceremony at Vabou Huraa, at the end of the resort boardwalk. A traditional Boduberu performance soon drew the surfers and their families into the dancing, setting the tone for a gathering where competition and Maldivian culture remain closely connected. “That’s why Four Seasons is family for us and it’s just so special to be able to live the experience,” says Ibelli after the ceremony. “I think Four Seasons is the experience.”

On lay days, the resort remains the centre of the week. Guests can begin their own surfing journey with Tropicsurf, explore the surrounding reef and marine conservation initiatives, visit ŪRJĀ Naturopathy Island or simply retreat to the pool, spa and lagoon until the next competition call arrives.

Three Boards. One Champion.

Three days. Three boards. Zero lay days. For the first time in the Trophy’s 14-year history, all three divisions were completed across the opening three days of competition.

Ibelli claimed the first two titles. A nine-point barrel helped him defeat Durbidge 15.47 to 13.93 points in the Single Fin Final, before his speed and aerial surfing carried him past Logie 15.87 to 14.13 on the twin fin. Logie, who had originally travelled to Kuda Huraa as a mentor for the Resort’s inaugural Learn with Legends summer camp, recorded the Twin Fin Division’s highest wave score. “I wasn’t even supposed to be at the event, so to get to the Final and to be out surfing against all my friends in these amazing conditions, everything’s just a bonus,” says Logie.

The Thruster Division belonged to Durbidge. As a forecast pulse filled in at Sultans, he posted a 17.43 semifinal total and completed what was believed to be the first mid-heat reef runaround in Trophy history. After coming ashore and running back towards the take-off zone, he returned to the lineup and immediately scored an 8.43. Victory over Ho secured the division and his place in the Overall Final.

On September 10, two Four Seasons yachts returned to the channel as Ibelli and Durbidge met in powerful, offshore conditions. Durbidge built an early lead, but Ibelli turned the heat with an 8.33 ride through two barrel sections, ultimately winning 14.16 to 13.50.

Just two weeks earlier, the Brazilian had no expectation of competing. “Two weeks ago, I was sitting in the outback of Australia, staring at the red dirt,” says Ibelli. “And then one call, my life changed!” Ibelli arrived at Kuda Huraa having surfed little in recent months. He left with three titles and memories shared with his wife and one-year-old son.

“Four Seasons has given me a whole new perspective on life,” he says. “As soon as my wife got here she was like, ‘This is the type of surf trip I’ll be doing from now on.’ She’s already planning to come back next year.”

Where Champions Come to Surf

Across 14 editions since 2011, the Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy has welcomed generations of leading surfers to Sultans.

Past champions include Mark Occhilupo in 2011, Damien Hardman in 2012, Taylor Knox in 2013, Dave Rastovich in 2014, Shane Dorian in 2015, Taj Burrow in 2016, 2017 and 2024, Josh Kerr in 2018 and 2019, Kelly Slater in 2022, Joel Parkinson in 2023 and Michel Bourez in 2025.

Burrow remains the Trophy’s only three-time champion, while Ibelli becomes its first Brazilian winner.

Kuda Huraa: The Home of Luxury Surfing

If Kuda Huraa can challenge world champions, it is also a remarkable place to catch a first wave. Located 25 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa is the Maldivian home base of Tropicsurf, giving guests year-round access to expert coaching and six surf breaks within approximately 15 minutes of the island.

Complete beginners can start in the sheltered lagoon, learning how to paddle, stand and fall safely before following a structured progression into suitable ocean waves. More experienced surfers can be guided to Sultans and five other nearby breaks, with Tropicsurf managing equipment, boats and daily decisions around the best tides, winds and conditions.

The Resort’s Surf’s Up package includes four days of coaching, guided surf transfers, equipment, daily yoga and a 90-minute Myofascial Renewal treatment for two. Those wishing to travel further can take to the skies on a Seaplane Surfing Safari, exploring remote waves and rarely visited corners of the archipelago from above.

The champions may arrive chasing trophies. Everyone else can come chasing a first wave, a better turn or simply a new Maldivian horizon.