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Carpe Diem Maldives introduces Learn to Dive cruises

Published

8 years ago

December 5, 2017

Carpe Diem Maldives has introduced special cruises to learn diving, allowing travellers to the Maldives in 2018 to combine their PADI Open Water Diver certification with a week-long cruise onboard a luxury liveaboard.

For one week in July and a week in August, a seven-day cruise on Carpe Vita will be dedicated to 20 adventurous travellers looking to obtain their PADI Open Water Diver certification. Starting in capital Male and ending in the central Baa atoll, guests will experience the beauty of coral reefs and a myriad of fish starting from just three metres beneath the surface.

“With a destination that is surrounded 99 percent by water, Carpe Diem Maldives believes any traveller to the region should be in, on, or under the ocean to truly appreciate it’s beauty. Spending a week exploring different lagoons and reefs on board an award-winning luxury liveaboard cruise, complete novice scuba divers can now do this in style with Carpe Diem Maldives,” an announcement by the company read.

Dive equipment on Carpe Vita dive dhoni. PHOTO/ CARPE DIEM

The Learn to Dive cruise weeks begin with shallow and calm lagoon dives. With the fundamentals of diving firmly mastered, four open water dives on beautiful coral bedecked reefs will complete the certification.

Under the guidance of Carpe Diem’s expert Maldivian dive instructors, guests will learn the PADI Open Water theory in the briefing room on board Carpe Vita luxury cruise. Equipped with the latest dive gear, guests then step onto a dive dhoni for their first plunge into lagoon waters.

With increased confidence and applied theory, divers return to the main cruise vessel after each dive to enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner on the upper deck. Around a long table, mealtimes quickly become an enthusiastic exchange of underwater observations and shared experiences.

“By the end of the week, novice divers will be confidently enjoying the mesmerising underwater world at 20 metres below the surface. Each of these special trips will also include a snorkelling visit to the region’s annual manta ray migration in Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll, a UNESCO protected marine biosphere area,” the announcement read.

A shallow reef in the Maldives. PHOTO/ CARPE DIEM

The two Learn To Dive cruises on Carpe Vita will run July 1-8, 2018 and August 26-September 2, 2018. Priced from USD 2,363 for the week, the package includes:

Seven nights on board Carpe Vita
Three meals daily, plus between-dive snacks
PADI Open Water theory and practical training as well as certification
Three dives daily (except for on day of arrival and day before departure)
Use of tanks, weights and belts
Dive mask, fins, dive computer and buoyancy control device
Drinking water, tea and coffee

Participants of the Learn To Dive cruises can also combine their cruise with a resort stay in Raa atoll at the new Carpe Diem Beach Resort and Spa, opening July 2018. For cruise guests staying at the resort, three complimentary dives are included in the full-board stay package, making it the perfect opportunity to practice those certified dive skills on a thriving house reef.

A Beach Pool Villa at Carpe Diem Resort and Spa, opening July 2018. PHOTO/ CARPE DIEM

Since 2008, the award-winning hospitality group Carpe Diem Maldives has been operating luxury dive and surf liveaboard cruises, sharing the beauty of the Maldivian waters with adventurous travellers. Carpe Diem is the only liveaboard operator in the Maldives to offer diving adventures with a team of all-Maldivian dive masters.

With the expansion into resorts, Carpe Diem Maldives becomes the only hospitality brand in the country to offer year-round liveaboard cruises that can be combined with a resort stay.

The Maldives is continuously rated as one of the top diving destinations in the world by international dive publications and awards. Made up of 26 coral atolls and crossing the equator, roughly 1,200 islands are home to some of the most beautiful, thriving reefs of rare and common coral, attracting every kind of marine life.

Known internationally as one of the world’s best scuba diving destinations, the Maldives has an abundance of dive sites with one thrilling dive opportunity after another. The islands of the Maldives have consistently warm waters with outstanding visibility throughout the year, and consist of exhilarating dive sites such as vibrant thilas, exciting channels, coral-filled overhangs and fascinating wrecks.

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InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort launches ‘Swim with Nurse Sharks’ experience

Published

9 hours ago

February 9, 2026

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Nestled in the pristine waters of the Raa Atoll, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort introduces Swim with Nurse Sharks, a new guided marine experience offering guests a rare opportunity to encounter these gentle creatures in their natural lagoon habitat.

Located just minutes from the island, the calm, shallow waters provide ideal conditions for observing nurse sharks at rest and in motion. The one-hour experience operates three times a week by speedboat and is designed for small groups, making it suitable for families and confident swimmers seeking a meaningful connection with the ocean.

Guided with care and respect for the environment, the experience reflects the resort’s ongoing commitment to marine awareness and responsible interaction with wildlife. Guests gain insight into the behaviour of nurse sharks while exploring one of the region’s few accessible snorkelling sites dedicated to this species.

Available at USD 95++ per person, with special rates for children under 12, Swim with Nurse Sharks adds a distinctive new chapter to the resort’s immersive ocean experiences.

For more information on “Swim with Nurse Sharks” at InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort, please visit the resort’s website.

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Avani+ Fares Maldives to host Michael Owen’s football camp for second year

Published

14 hours ago

February 9, 2026

m@ldives

Michael Owen’s Football Camp is returning to Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort for a second year, running from 31 March to 3 April 2026 as part of the resort’s Easter holiday programme. Following a strong debut in 2025, the camp will once again see children and teens join the former England striker for hands-on coaching sessions on Fares Island in Baa Atoll.

Designed for kids and teens aged 5 to 13, the four-day camp combines daily training sessions, skills development and team challenges, led by Michael Owen. The programme ends on a high with a celebratory finale, with certificates, medals and jersey signings for every participant. The camp is complimentary for all guests staying at Avani+ Fares Maldives during the event, and each registered participant will receive an official Football Kit, including two sets of customised jerseys, shorts and socks.

Building on the strong response from families last year, the 2026 Football Camp sits within Avani+ Fares Maldives’ broader Easter line-up, pairing structured sports sessions with relaxed island time. Beyond the pitch, younger guests can dip in and out of island adventures at AvaniKids and the Teens Club, with creative arts and crafts and dedicated spaces designed around their age group. Mealtimes are part of the fun too, with Petit Bistro, the resort’s kids-only restaurant, created just for younger guests.

For families keen to get out on the water together, Avani+ Fares Maldives is set within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll, with snorkelling along the house reef right off the island and a full menu of water sports and dive experiences at this award-winning dive resort.

Commenting on the upcoming camp, Michael Owen said: “Coming back to Avani+ Fares Maldives feels like a natural next step after the energy and enthusiasm we saw at the first camp. It is a special environment for families and the camp is all about helping kids build confidence, develop their skills and most importantly enjoy the game together. I am really looking forward to being back on the island in 2026.”

Avani+ Fares Maldives is designed with families in mind, with a wide mix of accommodation styles to suit different group sizes and travel plans. Options range from interconnecting Pavilion rooms for easy togetherness, to Beach Pool Villas with outdoor space for daytime downtime, alongside over water villas set above the lagoon. For families travelling as a bigger group, the resort also offers spacious two and three bedroom Over Water Pool Residences, with generous living areas and room to spread out between activities.

Package rates start from USD 3,500 for a family of four, including accommodation, seaplane transfers and football camp registration. Based on two adults and two children sharing on a bed and breakfast basis, includes taxes and fees. To book, visit www.avanihotels.com/en/fares-maldives, email fares@avanihotels.com or call  +960 660 1660.

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Simply summer at Milaidhoo: Invitation to slow living in the Baa Atoll

Published

6 days ago

February 4, 2026

m@ldives

In a destination often defined by excess, Milaidhoo Maldives offers a different summer narrative: one of restraint, rhythm and rare stillness. Introducing Simply Summer, a seasonal escape that celebrates the art of slowing down within the UNESCO-protected waters of the Baa Atoll.

An intimate island sanctuary, Milaidhoo is designed for travellers who value time as the ultimate luxury. Days unfold unhurriedly, beginning with relaxed oceanfront breakfasts and shaped entirely by choice, from sunrise yoga and snorkelling in pristine coral gardens to long, private hours spent within the calm of one’s villa. Evenings are defined by elegant à la carte dining, inspired by seasonal flavours and served with effortless grace.

The Simply Summer offer enhances this experience with considered privileges rather than excess. Guests are invited to explore the Maldives’ natural wonders through manta ray encounters in the legendary Hanifaru Bay, indulge in restorative rituals at the overwater Serenity Spa, or discover the atoll through curated island adventures, all with exclusive seasonal savings.

A chilled bottle of Ruinart Champagne awaiting guests in their villa sets the tone on arrival, while flexible early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability) ensures that time is never hurried. Dining remains a central pleasure, with daily breakfast and à la carte dinners at Ocean Restaurant, complemented by generous dining credits across the island’s culinary venues.

Available for stays from 1st May to 31st October 2026, with a minimum stay of four nights, Simply Summer is an understated invitation to experience the Maldives at its most refined, quietly luxurious, deeply personal and guided by the gentle pace of island life.

Simply Summer – Key Inclusions: