Connect with us

Action

Maldives coral reefs show ‘signs of hope’

Published

on

Corals in the Maldives are showing some resilience, adaptability and even recovery from climate-change effects, according to marine biologist Dr Jean-Luc Solandt, following a reef-monitoring diving expedition, the latest in a series undertaken over each of the past nine years.

Biosphere Expeditions sets up the “citizen-science” dive trips to survey reefs in the central Maldives in association with local environmental groups Reef Check Maldives and Save the Beach Maldives.

Expedition scientist Dr Solandt of the Marine Conservation Society, who set up Reef Check Maldives, said he had been surprised to find “signs of hope and recovery” on the latest trip.

“We were devastated in 2016 when a global-warming event killed off large swathes of the reefs,” he said.

“The reefs showed little recovery in 2017 and 2018, and we expected more bad news in 2019.”

Instead, he reported seeing many baby and young (one- to three-year-old) corals, as well as different species growing vigorously at sites expected to be dead or dying.

“It was surprising and encouraging to see a greater diversity of corals ‘pushing through’ from the dead layer below,” said Dr Solandt.

“It seems Nature is fighting back with a coral-diversity explosion.”

He said that the divers had witnessed the resilience of corals resistant to bleaching, the adaptability of reefs where other species were coming through, and recovery in terms of baby corals “almost everywhere”.

However, many reefs were still very badly affected, with some dying altogether, said Dr Solandt, warning that another temperature spike could kill many of the new corals.

“Also, some small corals that had settled on the reef in the last year, which we thought were resistant to bleaching, were now bleached, but the larger ones seem OK.” He added that the background temperature remained “hot”, at the bleaching threshold of 30 degrees C in very shallow water.

Other sources of encouragement included the new Maldivian government’s indication that it understood “the close link between oceans, climate change and the wellbeing of communities”, the establishment of a National Research Institute and news that income from a Green Tax on tourism would be spent exclusively on the environment.

Rasdhoo Madivaru, a site regularly visited and highlighted on earlier expeditions, had also recently been designated a Marine Protected Area.

Further surveys are being carried out locally by Save the Beach Maldives and Reef Check Maldives, which are training more divers from local communities to participate.

The next seven-day Biosphere Expeditions liveaboard expedition begins on August 22, 2020, and is open to qualified divers who are invited to train as “Reef Check EcoDivers”.

Action

SO/ Maldives introduces ‘Fight Fit’ wellness activation

Published

on

On Saturday, 25 April 2026, SO/ Maldives will stage its “Fight Fit” island activation as part of the resort’s ongoing 120 Days Fitness Challenge, bringing together fitness, wellness and local collaboration in a resort-wide programme.

Developed in partnership with Fight Soul Maldives, a local fitness collective focused on combat sports, the activation is designed to offer guests both participation and live viewing experiences while also bringing a local element into the resort’s wellness programming.

A key part of the activation is the Muay Thai Guest Workshop, where guests will have the opportunity to train with fighters from Fight Soul Maldives. Open to different fitness levels, the sessions will introduce the basics of Muay Thai through drills, technique-based training and group activity.

The programme will extend across the island through a series of activities including sunrise yoga, beach combat training, aqua yoga accompanied by DJ music, and sunset fight showcases. According to the resort, the aim is to combine physical activity with the island setting through a range of structured wellness experiences.

The activation will also include a healthy menu developed to support fitness and balanced living, in line with the resort’s wider wellness focus.

Guests will also be invited to take part in a skincare workshop and ritual linked to the launch of products from Comfort Zone. The experience will introduce skincare practices based on science and sustainability as part of the broader wellness programme.

In the evening, the programme will continue with foam parties, fire dance performances, and live Muay Thai and kickboxing exhibitions featuring athletes from Fight Soul Maldives.

Through “Fight Fit”, SO/ Maldives is presenting a wellness-led island activation that combines fitness, lifestyle programming and collaboration with local talent.

Continue Reading

Action

Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives introduces indoor mini golf experience

Published

on

Resort experiences are increasingly shaped by the need for flexibility, with guests seeking activities that can be enjoyed beyond peak sun hours, creating a natural demand for engaging indoor spaces and particularly in tropical destinations where brief, seasonal rain showers are part of the island rhythm.

Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives builds on this evolving guest preference with the introduction of its new 8-hole Indoor Mini Golf Centre, adding a playful and interactive dimension to the island’s leisure offering. The space was officially unveiled at a recent opening, where a guest was invited to mark the occasion, setting the tone for an experience centred around shared enjoyment and light-hearted moments.

The indoor mini golf course offers a relaxed, air-conditioned space where guests of all ages can take part, whether as a casual game between families, a friendly challenge among couples, or a fun addition to group stays. It provides a comfortable alternative to outdoor activities while maintaining the sense of energy and connection that defines time on the island, regardless of the weather.

The addition builds on the resort’s existing indoor facilities, including billiards, table tennis, and a dedicated kids’ playroom, creating a more rounded leisure experience that caters to different moods and moments. Outdoors, guests can continue to explore a wide range of activities, from beach volleyball and futsal to badminton, diving, and both motorised and non-motorised water sports.

As one of the first resorts in the area to introduce an indoor mini golf experience, Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives continues to evolve its offerings in line with how guests choose to travel today, blending activity, comfort, and shared experiences in a setting designed for both relaxation and discovery.

Continue Reading

Action

COMO Maalifushi highlights uncrowded surf access across southern atolls

Published

on

COMO Maalifushi presents a considered approach to surfing in the Maldives—one shaped by access, expertise, and the quiet privilege of space.

Located in the remote Thaa Atoll, the resort offers entry to a network of lesser-travelled breaks across the southern atolls, where consistent Indian Ocean swells meet uncrowded line-ups. Here, surfing unfolds without urgency—guided by natural rhythm rather than routine.

At the core of the experience is COMO Maalifushi’s long-standing partnership with Tropicsurf, daily sessions are shaped by real-time ocean conditions, with coaching that adapts intuitively to each guest—whether taking to the water for the first time or refining technique across more complex reef formations.

Guests are given access to a curated selection of breaks across Thaa Atoll, Laamu Atoll and Dhaalu Atoll—each offering a distinct character. From the long, forgiving rides of Farms to the more technical, fast-moving rights of ‘Machine’, the programme is designed to evolve with both conditions and capability.

“Surfing at COMO Maalifushi is defined by its sense of space and possibility,” says Peter Nilsson, Managing Director, COMO Maldives. “Our location allows access to some of the Maldives’ most consistent yet uncrowded waves, and through our partnership with Tropicsurf, we’re able to offer an experience that is both highly personalised and quietly exceptional—true to COMO’s way of doing things.”

The season, which runs from April through October, brings steady swells from the southern Indian Ocean. Yet beyond seasonality, it is the absence of crowds that defines the experience—allowing guests to engage with the ocean on their own terms.

Surfing at COMO Maalifushi sits naturally within the wider rhythm of the island. Time in the water is balanced with restorative treatments at the COMO Shambhala Retreat, unhurried dining, and the simplicity of island life—creating a sense of flow between activity and stillness.

Here, surfing is guided with care, framed by nature, and experienced without excess.

For more information, please visit the resort’s website

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending

Copyright all rights reserved by Maldives Promotion House 2023.