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
This festive season, Alila Kothaifaru Maldives presents Tides of Wonder, a celebration that follows the changing rhythm of island life from Christmas through the New Year and Orthodox Christmas.
Beginning on 21 December, the programme moves between the ocean, the table and the island itself, with each day offering a different reason to linger. The season opens with the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Mirus Beach, followed by days of dolphin cruises, reef encounters, Maldivian traditions, wellness rituals and family experiences.
“Tides of Wonder is an invitation to experience the festive season at a different pace,” says Thomas Weber, General Manager of Alila Kothaifaru Maldives. “A longer stay gives guests the freedom to enjoy the celebrations without rushing from one occasion to the next, leaving time for the unexpected moments that often become the most memorable.”
The surrounding sea plays a starring role. Two Marine Discovery Quiz Nights, hosted by the resort’s resident marine biologist, bring reef stories, ocean knowledge and friendly competition to Mirus Bar. One grand prize winner will receive a Marina Raphael Swarovski bag, adding a stylish surprise to an evening inspired by the marine world.
Dining carries its own rhythm through the season. Christmas Eve is celebrated with dinner and live entertainment at Seasalt, while Christmas Day brings a Four-Hands Dinner at Pibati Sul Mare, where Executive Chef Frank Wackerhagen joins Chef Mumu. Ten Tides Omakase, Maldivian dining at Alila Spice Garden, Yakitori BBQ Night 3.0 and the New Year’s Eve Gala add further flavour to the calendar.
“For us, the season is about giving each table its own character,” says Frank Wackerhagen, Executive Chef. “Some evenings are celebratory, others relaxed and close to the island, but each begins with good ingredients, a sense of place and the pleasure of sharing.”
On 31 December, cocktails by the beach lead into the New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner, with live performances, a mentalist and DJ Ossanna beneath the island sky. The first days of 2027 shift towards renewal, with the New Year Flair Sundowner at The Shack, Maldivian games, ocean experiences and wellness sessions, before the season closes on 7 January with Orthodox Christmas dining and a White Beach Party at Mirus Beach.
“What we want guests to remember is the variety of experiences they can enjoy without ever losing that sense of ease,” says Danilo Paolella, Director of Food & Beverage. “There is always another table to discover, another sunset to share and another reason to stay a little longer.”
For guests wishing to make more of the season, the resort’s Stay Longer, Save More offer is designed for stays of seven nights or more, with daily breakfast and dinner, dining and spa privileges, laundry savings and seaplane transfer benefits. Stays of 14 consecutive nights or more include complimentary round-trip transfers for two adults, making the offer especially suited to experiencing the festive calendar from Christmas into the New Year.
For the full festive programme and reservations, visit the Alila Kothaifaru Maldives Festive Season page. To book your stay, visit www.alilahotels.com/kothaifaru-maldives.
This November, Finolhu, a Seaside Collection Resort invites guests to experience art through a new lens as contemporary artist Yakov Khomich takes up residence on the island from 6 to 12 November 2026. Set against the extraordinary natural beauty of the Maldives, the residency will transform Finolhu’s Art Lab into an intimate space for creativity, discovery and personal expression.
Based between France and Russia, Khomich has developed a distinctive artistic language that moves fluidly between techniques, visual references and ideas. Rather than being defined by a single style, his practice is intuitive and instinctive, often beginning with an image, memory or emotion before evolving organically on canvas. His work inhabits the space between reality and imagination, drawing on personal experience, cultural memory and the familiar symbols of everyday life.
Art has been part of Khomich’s world from an early age. Born into a family of artists, he grew up surrounded by museums and creative influences before pursuing an education across arts and cinema. He graduated from the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in 2023, specialising in painting and film and television art. Since 2019, his practice has increasingly embraced experimentation beyond academic conventions, resulting in an eclectic and highly personal approach to contemporary painting.
Khomich’s work has been presented internationally through solo and group exhibitions and at leading art fairs, including Cosmoscow Art Fair and Blazar Art Fair, alongside exhibitions with ART&BRUT Gallery in Moscow and Sur Play at Museum NOU in Barcelona. His works are held in private collections across the United States, Europe, China and Russia.
At Finolhu, Khomich’s residency will take art beyond observation and invite guests to become part of the creative process. Hosted through the resort’s Art Lab, the programme will offer a series of approachable experiences designed to encourage experimentation and individual expression, regardless of previous artistic experience.
The residency opens with a Meet & Greet during Finolhu’s signature White Party on 6 November, offering guests the opportunity to meet Khomich and discover his artistic world. A complimentary introductory art class follows on 7 November, with Group masterclasses on 8 and 10 November. For a more intimate experience, private art sessions will be available from 7 to 12 November, allowing guests to create alongside the artist in a more personal setting.
Rather than asking participants to reproduce a particular image or adhere to a rigid technique, the experience reflects Khomich’s own approach to art: observing, experimenting and allowing an idea to evolve through the act of making. His wider practice draws inspiration from human behaviour, childhood narratives and fragments of cultural memory, using familiar symbols and imagery to evoke feelings that may resist a single interpretation.
The residency forms part of Finolhu’s wider commitment to bringing art and design into the guest experience. The resort’s dedicated Art Lab has developed into a creative space for painting, pottery, fabric dyeing, resin art and visiting artist residencies, complementing Finolhu’s colourful design identity and its setting within the UNESCO-designated Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve.
Khomich’s residency follows acclaimed British designer Matthew Williamson, whose October residency will bring his celebrated use of colour, pattern and maximalist design to Finolhu. Together, the two residencies form part of the resort’s evolving creative programme, reflecting Finolhu’s belief that art is best experienced through connection, discovery and participation.
This November, guests are invited not simply to encounter contemporary art, but to step inside the creative process — and leave the island with an experience that is uniquely their own.
For more information and reservations, visit finolhu.com.
Awards
Fushifaru Maldives recognised among Indian Ocean’s best resorts in Condé Nast Traveler Awards
Some places are remembered for their beauty. Others are remembered for how they make you feel. At Fushifaru Maldives, the two are inseparable
Set in the heart of the Lhaviyani Atoll, Fushifaru Maldives has been recognised as the No. 4 Resort in the Indian Ocean by the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards. The recognition is a meaningful milestone for the award-winning boutique resort, reflecting the experiences, emotions and lasting memories that guests carry home long after their island escape comes to an end.
“Being recognised as the No. 4 resort in the Indian Ocean by Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards is a truly proud and meaningful moment for all of us at Fushifaru. This achievement belongs first and foremost to our guests, whose trust and support inspire us, and to our dedicated team, whose passion, genuine hospitality and countless thoughtful gestures bring the spirit of Fushifaru to life every day. At Fushifaru, we believe that what makes a place truly special goes beyond its natural beauty. It is the connections we create, the kindness we share and the memories that stay with our guests long after they leave our shores. This recognition inspires us to continue creating meaningful experiences that celebrate our island, our Maldivian heritage and the people who make it feel like home,” said Ahmed Siaar, Cluster General Manager, BeKind Hotels & Resorts.
For Fushifaru, this achievement is more than a place on a list. It is a celebration of the people, the natural environment and the distinctive sense of place that make the island what it is.
Every island has a story. Fushifaru is home to the largest natural sandbank in Lhaviyani Atoll, a breathtaking stretch of white sand that emerges from the sea like a pathway into the Indian Ocean. Just a short boat ride away, the sandbank offers a rare opportunity to experience the Maldives in its most elemental form, with nothing but endless horizons, gentle sea breezes and the feeling of being somewhere wonderfully removed from the everyday world.
Yet the island’s beauty extends far beyond its shores. Located within a Marine Protected Area, Fushifaru is surrounded by a thriving underwater world where marine life flourishes beneath the surface. Just a short boat ride away lies Fushifaru Thila, one of the area’s remarkable underwater treasures and a renowned manta ray cleaning station. From graceful manta rays and sea turtles to dolphins, reef sharks and vibrant coral ecosystems, each encounter offers a reminder that the ocean is not simply the setting for an island holiday, but the very heart of its identity.
For diving enthusiasts, the surrounding waters open the door to extraordinary underwater adventures, with opportunities to discover diverse marine life and captivating reef formations. Meanwhile, snorkelling offers a more intimate way to explore the colourful world beneath the surface, from the resort’s house reef to the surrounding turquoise lagoon. Here, every journey beneath the waves reveals another chapter of the island’s story, inviting guests to experience the Maldives not only through its breathtaking beauty above the water, but also through the remarkable life that thrives below.
The resort’s distinctive underwater playground brings a sense of wonder to the water, creating a playful and memorable expression of island living. Meanwhile, its modern Maldivian design draws inspiration from the destination’s cultural heritage, blending contemporary comfort with the natural textures, colours and character of the Maldives.
At Fushifaru, authentic Maldivian hospitality is expressed through thoughtful gestures, heartfelt welcomes and the little moments of kindness that make each stay unique. From sharing local traditions and cultural heritage to helping guests discover hidden corners of the island, the team creates experiences that feel less like a planned itinerary and more like a collection of meaningful memories.
The Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards recognition is therefore a tribute to everyone who contributes to that experience — the team working behind the scenes, those welcoming guests each day, and the people who make the island feel like a home away from home.
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