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Coral reef restoration at Amaya Kuda Rah Maldives
Known internationally as one of the world’s best scuba diving destinations, Maldives has an abundance of dive sites with a unique underwater beauty to explore. 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.
Maldives’ world-renowned coral reefs play a fundamental role in food production, shoreline protection, and tourism revenue, but ocean plastic threatens the survival of shallow coral reefs. Preservation of the reefs has become more important than ever.
In 1998, a severe El Niño event resulted in unusually warm waters (3-4 °C) above normal. This caused a mass bleaching and die off of Maldivian coral reefs.
Just as recovery reached its peak, another El Niño hit. The 2015-2016 El Niño weather phenomena and associated sea surface temperature anomalies in 2016 caused one of the largest recorded episodes of mass bleaching in the Maldives. A subsequent survey of 71 sites across the Maldives conducted by IUCN found that 73 per cent of corals had undergone bleaching, indicating a severe bleaching event.
Being one of the new additions to the vast collection of resorts in the pristine South Ari Atoll, Amaya Kuda Rah Maldives had embarked on a project to restore the surrounding coral reef, which was also affected as a result of the 2016 El Niño. On acquiring the resort in mid-2016, Hayleys PLC of Sri Lanka realised the important role the island’s reef played in protecting the surrounding natural habitat. The resort partnered with Reefscapers Maldives, and commenced a coral conservation and regeneration project in March 2017.
“With the personal commitment and initiative taken by our Chairman towards this project, we introduced their artificial coral frame reef system, which have been placed successfully since the year 2001 in several resorts in Maldives. The shape of the frames reduced coral predation and sedimentation and provided a suitable substrate on to which coral could grow. In addition Reefscapers also conducts awareness training to the resort team during their visits to increase awareness and taking ownership as well on our commitment,” Michael Armstrong, the General Manager at Amaya Kuda Rah Maldives, said.
The coral frames are designed and made on the local island of Fulhadhoo in Baa atoll — a unique opportunity, started by Reefscapers Maldives, that provides employment for several local people and allows them to develop skills outside of traditional fishing. The transplantation process involves attaching coral fragments onto the metal frame, which grow and mature into new colonies. The fragments are collected from broken natural reef corals, and later harvested from own mature coral frames for the “second generation”.
In 2017, the first frames were placed on the north-east side of the reef, and the growth rate has been amazing! In just two-three weeks, the coral fragments have attached themselves onto the frame. Two months later, new coral growth was evident and fish had moved in.
Throughout the year, Amaya Kuda Rah Maldives’ on-property dive centre oversees the project. For every frame, the team at Divepoint Maldives follows a strict monitoring process, taking regular photographs of the coral growth, and identifying the marine life that starts to colonise the frames. By propagating the most successful species, the team is developing ever-more resistant coral offspring, better adapted to withstand higher sea water temperatures and so help the reefs in their fight against global warming.
“The positive impact of the project has been seen over the past couple of years in the surrounding reef, as well as for the guest experience whilst snorkelling, due to the increase in the number of several fish species brought on by the new coral habitat provided by the coral farm. The ongoing work will surely enhance the guest experience further by providing a better snorkelling experience of the reef surrounding the resort island,” Armstrong said.
Exactly two years since its inception in March 2017, the project has advanced into the second phase. With additional funding from Hayleys PLC and its subsidiary Amaya Resorts, more coral frames are being placed along the western side of the island, which will bring the number of frames submerged around the Kuda Rah island to over 70 in the coming months. The resort has plans to add even more frames to several other areas, including its main dive point and around the water villas.
The programme is also now open to sponsorship. Guests can choose the size of frame and, if they like, dedicate it to someone special or put their own name on it. The Divepoint team will build the personalised coral frame and add it to the reef ecosystem. Sponsors will receive bi-annual photo updates of their coral frame via Reefscapers’ website. Proceeds from each frame go into an environmental fund established by the resort to support its marine conservation research programmes and community initiatives.
Coral reefs are invaluable to the fishing and tourism industry — two major economic activities in the Maldives. They protect the shoreline from storm damage and help manage carbon dioxide levels. However, 60 per cent of the world’s coral reefs are estimated to be threatened due to human activity. The full extent of damage sustained by the 2016 El Niño is still unknown!
Artificial reef projects have become an invaluable tool for restoring reefs and nurturing the damaged reefs back to health. With its ambitious initiative, Amaya Kuda Rah Maldives is leading by example.
Meyyafushi Maldives, a new five-star premium all-inclusive boutique resort, has introduced what it describes as a world-first in resort recreation: a fixed overwater padel tennis court. Positioned above clear lagoons and framed by sweeping sunset views, the court offers guests an opportunity to play and unwind in a distinctive setting surrounded by panoramic ocean vistas.
Located in the Lhaviyani Atoll, the overwater court allows players to take part in a match while immersed in the natural calm of the surrounding seascape. Guests staying at the resort are offered one hour of complimentary padel tennis as part of the premium all-inclusive package. The setting provides a secluded and tranquil space for both beginners and experienced players to practise with the sound of the ocean beneath.
“Padel tennis has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and we wanted to bring it to life in the most spectacular way possible,” said Ahmed Siaar, Cluster General Manager of BeKind Hotels & Resorts. “Playing on water, surrounded by endless blues, transforms the game into something transcendent – it’s active luxury at its finest.”
The overwater court forms part of Meyyafushi’s wider range of facilities, which include an underwater dining restaurant, an overwater wine cellar, water pool suites with slides, a mini bowling lane, and an adults-only sky bar featuring a glass-bottom infinity pool. Each facility has been created to offer experiences that encourage connection, exploration and wellbeing.
With uninterrupted sunset views and a distinctive overwater location, Meyyafushi Maldives’ padel tennis court marks a global first for the sport, bringing together physical activity, landscape and design in a single setting.
Kuramathi Maldives, available exclusively through Kuoni in the United Kingdom, has announced the return of the Campioni Soccer Academy next summer. The two-week programme, set once again against the turquoise expanse of the Indian Ocean, will transform the island’s football pitch into a world-class training ground for young players aged 4 to 16.
The 2026 edition will welcome two celebrated English football legends: Stuart Pearce MBE and Wes Brown, as well as UEFA ‘A’ licensed coach Adrian Whitbread. Together, they will lead two consecutive weeks of training sessions designed to inspire, challenge, and uplift children of all abilities.
- Week One: 27 July – 1 August 2026: Led by Stuart Pearce MBE and Adrian Whitbread
- Week Two: 3 – 8 August 2026: Led by Wes Brown and Adrian Whitbread
The experience begins with a beachfront welcome reception where families meet the visiting football icons, collect their bespoke training gear, and prepare for the week ahead. From Monday to Saturday, daily sessions will focus on essential skills, teamwork, strategy, and sportsmanship. Participants will receive consistent personal feedback from the professionals, offering a rare chance to learn directly from top-level athletes in an unforgettable setting.
Parents may use the opportunity to relax around the resort, confident that their children are safe, active, and engaged, or they may join the popular mid-week Parents’ Game — a light-hearted fixture that brings all ages together on the pitch.
Reflecting on the 2025 edition, Stuart Pearce MBE commented: “This year’s Campioni Soccer Academy at Kuramathi was fantastic, and I can’t wait to return in Summer 2026 to meet a new group of families. The work we get to do with Campioni is always inspiring, in every training session I see potential. Campioni isn’t just about learning new football skills; it’s about inspiring young minds to dream big and work hard.”
Wes Brown added: “Seeing kids improve through the week of coaching is always what I enjoy most about Campioni. I can’t wait to be at Kuramathi next summer; the Maldives feels like the perfect destination for kids and families to have a great experience.”
The 2025 programme also welcomed young players from local Maldivian academies in Thoddoo and Rasdhoo for a special session with John Barnes MBE and Adrian Whitbread. Kuramathi and Campioni intend to continue this initiative in 2026, offering young Maldivian talents the chance to train with football greats.
More than a training camp, Campioni at Kuramathi is positioned as an immersive island experience. It is a place where childhood ambitions are nurtured, evening matches unfold under tropical skies, and young athletes are inspired by the magic of the Maldives.
Following the launch of SEA OF STARS, W Maldives has successfully concluded a landmark week of sustainability-driven experiences that brought guests, marine experts, and the resort team together in celebration of ocean conservation and creativity.
The event kicked off on 26 October with an exclusive screening of Peixinho (Little Fish) at FIRE, hosted by award-winning wildlife filmmaker and conservation biologist, Kaushiik Subramaniam. The film, a moving story of ocean stewardship and intergenerational change, was followed by a mix-and-mingle session where guests connected with Kaushiik to discuss the power of storytelling in inspiring environmental action, along with the MARS Sustainable Solutions team on the reef restoration project.
The momentum carried into the following days as the W Maldives team, led by the resort’s Sustainability Manager, Harald Schaller, together with MARS Sustainable Solutions, completed the installation of 400 Reef Stars and 6,000 coral fragments across the resort’s house reef on 28 and 29 October. Guests joined the marine biologists in assembling and deploying the hexagonal reef structures, turning collaboration into tangible impact. The two-day reef star creation and installation marked a key milestone in one of the Maldives’ largest coral restoration projects.
“With all Reef Stars successfully installed, we’re excited to see this restored reef become a thriving ecosystem,” says Kate Janetski, Marine Program Lead for Maldives & Caribbean and Global Training Manager at MARS Sustainable Solutions. “The partnership with W Maldives shows what can happen when science, hospitality, and community come together for a shared purpose. Seeing guests and the resort team work side by side to restore this reef is a powerful reminder that protecting our oceans can be a collective and inspiring experience.”
With the success of SEA OF STARS, W Maldives is setting its sights even higher, Under the vision of Amila Handunwala, the resort’s General Manager and Chair of the Marriott Maldives Business Council, this activation marks just the beginning of a wider movement to make W Maldives, and eventually, Marriott International properties in the Maldives, a driving force in coral restoration across the archipelago.
“Our reef has always been the heart of W Maldives,” says Amila Handunwala. “SEA OF STARS is more than a single event, it’s the spark of a long-term journey. Our goal is to strengthen W Maldives’ stance as a leader in marine restoration and to extend this initiative to other Marriott resorts in the Maldives. Together, we can make a meaningful difference and set a new benchmark for sustainability in hospitality.”
The W Maldives team will continue to collaborate with MARS Sustainable Solutions to monitor coral growth and reef resilience in the coming months and years. Guests are also invited to be part of this journey by joining guided house reef snorkeling sessions with the resort’s marine biologist to learn more about the ongoing coral restoration program.
This initiative is part of W Maldives’ evolving and growing sustainability strategy, which extends beyond its reef restoration work. The resort continues to enhance its biogas plat, waste management system, and solar energy operations, building a more self-sustaining and environmentally conscious island ecosystem. Each initiative reflects the resort’s approach to modern luxury, one that connects guests to nature through innovation, community, and car.
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