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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
Last night (8 October), Kandooma Maldives was named Leading Family Resort at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA), a title that perfectly matches the resort’s focus on families.
“The timing of this award couldn’t be better,” said Andrew Drummond, General Manager of Kandooma Maldives. “It recognises our commitment to family holidays, but we also know that you can’t stand still. Family expectations change, and we have to keep evolving with them.”
“Whether it is the little ones who enjoy the kids’ club and, for some, a newfound independence from mum and dad or the opportunity to build memories together as a family through shared activities, Kandooma really is a great destination.”
Andrew explains that it is easy to sit still, but that’s not how the resort is winning over families: “I think it is our effort to keep evolving. Recently we realised there was a gap in the family offering that needed a bit more attention, so we have turned our eyes to tweens. It is sometimes a balancing act where young adults are craving independence, the freedom to explore, socialise and make their own choices, while parents still need reassurance that their kids are safe and well looked after.”
“They’re not kids who love going off to the Kids’ Club and they are not yet adults who are content lounging by the pool. We’re focusing on finding a way to engage 13- to 18-year-olds and give them a great holiday. At Kandooma we haven’t forgotten them.”
Villa options at Kandooma cater to different stages of family life, from Beach and Garden Villas with space for additional beds and interconnecting options, to Beach Houses suited to younger families and two- and three-bedroom accommodation for larger or extended families.
At Kandooma kids under 13 stay and eat free and it is one of the reasons young families keep returning to the 146-villa property in South Male Atoll, together with easy accessibility from Velana International Airport by speedboat.
“As a father myself, I understand that travelling with a family can be complicated enough without adding unnecessary steps to the journey,” Andrew said.
“Seaplane transfers can mean additional costs and luggage restrictions. At Kandooma, families can be met by our airport team, have their luggage taken care of and be escorted to their boat for a straightforward transfer to the island. When you’ve travelled a long way to reach the Maldives, these things really matter.”
The South Asian Travel Awards celebrated its tenth anniversary last night, recognising stand-out tourism businesses across India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives.
Kandooma Maldives is an experience-led, all-inclusive island resort located in the South Malé Atoll, approximately 45 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport. Designed with families, couples, friends and active travellers in mind, the resort features 146 villas across garden, beach and overwater settings, including family villas and multi-bedroom accommodation with private pools.
The Kandooma experience is brought together through five signatures: Kandooma Blue, Kandooma Table, Kandooma Flow, Kandooma Social and Kandooma Ways, spanning ocean adventure, dining, wellbeing, social experiences and Maldivian culture. Facilities include Kandooma Spa by COMO Shambhala, a PADI 5-Star Dive Centre, Perfect Wave Surf Shop, Kandoo Kids’ Club, watersports, a 24-hour gym, restaurants and bars, event and meeting facilities and a changing programme of complimentary and bookable activities, live entertainment and island experiences. Kandooma Maldives is Green Globe Certified.
Visit www.kandooma-maldives.com.
Marine experiences at Sun Siyam Iru Veli begin just beyond the island’s shoreline, from its house reef in Dhaalu Atoll to the waters of Faafu, Meemu and South Ari Atolls. For guests, this geographical reach means the underwater journey can take many forms, from a first guided snorkel close to the island to more advanced diving and encounters farther across the atolls.
The Big Encounters
Among the most notable journeys beyond the waters of Iru Veli is the Whale Shark Excursion to the South Ari Marine Protected Area. The guided snorkelling experience takes guests in search of the world’s largest fish, with the chance to snorkel alongside them when conditions allow. The same waters also offer manta encounters, another remarkable way to venture farther afield and see these graceful ocean giants in their natural environment.
Across the Atolls
The journey continues across Meemu and Faafu Atolls, where full-day explorations move between open-water encounters, quieter lagoons, coral reefs and uninhabited islands. Around Makunueri, guests can snorkel vibrant reefs with the chance to encounter turtles, sharks, rays and a variety of reef life. For those seeking a more exclusive experience, private journeys offer a way to discover coral gardens and lesser-visited stretches of ocean, with some also providing a first introduction to scuba in calm waters.
The House Reef, in Daylight and After Hours
Closer to Iru Veli, the house reef tells a different story. By day, guided snorkelling invites guests to coral formations and resident marine life directly around the island. After sunset, the same waters take on an entirely different character as nocturnal species emerge. The guided night snorkelling offers the chance to encounter nurse sharks and experience the reef from a whole new perspective with the help of fluorescent and blue lights.
A Different Side of the Water
For those looking for something less conventional, the SSI Mermaid programme brings a playful side to underwater exploration. Guests can swap fins for a mermaid tail and learn the techniques needed to move comfortably and confidently through the water. Combined with underwater photography and video, this experience offers a chance to explore a more imaginative side of underwater exploration at Iru Veli.
A Lasting Impact
The marine discovery at Iru Veli also extends beyond observation. Through the resort’s coral planting initiative, guests can contribute to the continued restoration of the house reef and leave a lasting connection beneath the surface. Back on land, the weekly Marine Night brings these stories together, sharing more about marine life, reef conservation and underwater environments surrounding the island.
Beyond the many ways to explore the ocean from the surface, the SSI-certified dive centre at Iru Veli offers adventures for seasoned divers and complete beginners alike. Certified divers can continue exploring the surrounding dive sites with the resort’s professional team, while first-timers can start with an introductory scuba experience. Guests looking to go further can also earn SSI certification during their stay, turning their holiday into the start of a new diving journey.
From the house reef to some of the Maldives’ most remarkable marine encounters, Sun Siyam Iru Veli reveals an island experience shaped as much by what lies beneath the surface as by what surrounds it.
Discover more marine activities, explore the latest Sun Siyam Iru Veli offers.
This festive season, SO/ Maldives invites guests to get gloriously lost beneath the surface with Lost in Waterworld – An Underwater Gala of Glamour, an ocean-inspired celebration where shimmer meets rhythm, barefoot elegance meets high style, and the island becomes the ultimate stage for festive revelry.
From 20 December 2026 to 8 January 2027, SO/ Maldives transforms its private island into an imaginative waterworld of luminous nights, ocean-inspired feasts, live performances, beachside glamour and playful island rituals. Think festive sparkle with a saltwater attitude: less traditional Christmas, more tropical couture.
Set within the shimmering waters of Emboodhoo Lagoon and just 15 minutes by speedboat from Malé International Airport, SO/ Maldives brings its signature fashion-forward spirit to the festive season. Across its 80 beachfront and overwater villas, private pools, design-led spaces and barefoot island settings, guests are invited to leave the ordinary behind and dive into a celebration created entirely in SO/ Maldives style.
The Ocean Glows
The journey begins on 20 December with The Great Ocean Glow, as the festive season officially comes to life at Lazuli Beach Club with the lighting of the Christmas tree, a cocktail reception and a soundtrack of DJ beats, saxophone and violin. At The Citronelle Club, Waves of Flavour brings the ocean to the table with an indulgent seafood-themed dinner buffet, while Hadaba sets a more intimate mood with Seafarer’s Sharing Feast, paired with wine and soulful saxophone melodies.
The days that follow unfold like chapters in an island fashion editorial. From Sun, Sea & Sizzle poolside lunches and Retro Waves Night featuring Unoosha & The Band, to Ocean Infusions, wine experiences and beachside dining, each day introduces a new mood, flavour and rhythm.
Christmas, With A Little More Glamour
Christmas Eve arrives with Sparkling Shores Christmas, where sunset bubbles, saxophone, violin and DJ beats set the tone at Lazuli Beach Club before guests move to the beach for Pearls & Palms Christmas Eve, a lavish BBQ under the stars featuring Unoosha & The Live Band, saxophone and violin. For younger guests, festive magic begins with gingerbread making and a spectacular ocean arrival from Santa.
Christmas Day begins with festive breakfast before flowing into Sail & Savor Brunch, accompanied by live violin, followed by The Gin Voyage at Sky Dining and the grand Christmas Waves & Wonders buffet dinner at The Citronelle Club. As night falls, Moonlight Movie Magic brings the island together for a cinematic evening beneath the stars at Lazuli Beach Club.
The celebration continues beyond Christmas with ocean-inspired brunches, wine dinners, Maldivian flavours, family adventures, poolside afternoons and culinary journeys spanning Mediterranean, Thai and other global influences. At Flames of the Atoll, Maldivian cuisine takes centre stage with Boduberu rhythms and live violin, while Maldivian Day – Maldivian Soul celebrates local culture through an island market experience.
The Grand Oceanic Gala
Then comes the night everyone has been waiting for.
On 31 December, SO/ Maldives presents The Grand Oceanic Gala – a New Year’s Eve celebration designed to make the midnight moment feel suitably cinematic.
The evening begins with Sea Breeze Soirée, a sunset cocktail reception on The Citronelle Club Beach, before guests make their way to Lazuli Beach Club for an extraordinary beachfront dinner beneath the stars. With performances from Unoosha & The Live Band, saxophone and DJ entertainment, the gala builds towards a spectacular countdown, complete with a dance show, live music and fireworks illuminating the Indian Ocean. The night continues with an after-party and late-night snack station, because at SO/, midnight is merely an intermission.
For those staying on after the countdown, The First Feast welcomes 2027 with a celebratory brunch accompanied by saxophone and violin, followed by more culinary discoveries, chilled island evenings and ocean-inspired experiences throughout the first week of the new year.
Lost In The Moment
Beyond the headline celebrations, Lost in Waterworld invites guests to experience the island at every tempo.
Mornings begin with sunrise yoga and aqua fitness. Afternoons bring painting, family challenges, creative workshops, beach activities and poolside energy. The SO/ Spa introduces a series of ocean-inspired treatments and festive beauty rituals, while The Nest keeps younger guests entertained with everything from sandcastle competitions and tie-dye sessions to tropical jewellery making, pizza making and island-inspired art.
The festive journey continues through January, with Orthodox Christmas celebrated in island style through Chill & Chanter and O Holy Night, Seaside Eve, before the season closes with guest-chef experiences, culinary showcases and a final taste of the waterworld.
“Lost in Waterworld is our invitation to experience the festive season differently with more imagination, more rhythm and a little more attitude. At SO/ Maldives, the ocean is not simply our backdrop; it is the inspiration behind the way we celebrate. From the first glow of the season to the last beat after midnight, every moment is designed to feel unexpected, effortless and unmistakably SO/,” said Alexander Traeger, General Manager, SO/ Maldives.
This festive season, SO/ Maldives is not simply celebrating Christmas and New Year. It is creating a world beneath the waves a place of shimmer, sound, flavour and barefoot glamour where every sunset feels like an entrance and every night deserves an encore.
Book your festive offer here. For more information or to book your perfect getaway, please visit so-maldives.com or contact so.maldives.reservations@so-hotels.com.
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