Following a planned period of island rehabilitation and enhancements, Cora Cora Maldives has officially reopened, welcoming guests back to its natural island paradise as scheduled.

Surrounded by the turquoise waters of Raa Atoll, the five-star Premium All-Inclusive resort has always celebrated the beauty and character of its natural setting. The temporary closure provided an opportunity to carry out essential improvements and refresh the island’s surroundings, reflecting the resort’s continued commitment to caring for its natural environment while enhancing the guest experience.

With the planned works completed, guests can once again enjoy the island’s white-sand beaches, lush tropical surroundings, and signature spirit of freedom. Reopening as scheduled also honours the commitment made to the resort’s valued travel trade partners, reflecting the trust and confidence built through its longstanding partnerships.

Vishen Mootoo , Commercial Director of Cora Cora Maldives, said: “Cora Cora Maldives is blessed with a beautiful natural island, and taking the time to care for it was an important investment in its future. This planned rehabilitation allowed us to address the needs of the island while further enhancing the experience we offer our guests. We are delighted to reopen exactly as planned and deliver on the commitment we made to our valued travel trade partners. Their trust and continued support throughout this period have meant a great deal to us, and we look forward to continuing our partnership as we welcome guests back to our island.”

The reopening comes at a particularly meaningful time as Cora Cora Maldives prepares to celebrate its fifth anniversary on 1 October 2026. Since opening in 2021, the resort has developed a distinctive approach to Maldivian hospitality through its Premium All-Inclusive offering, bringing together culinary discovery, cultural preservation, wellness, and experiences for all ages, while remaining committed to sustainability.

Five years on, the resort enters this milestone with renewed energy and a continued commitment to creating memorable experiences and meaningful connections. The anniversary is also an opportunity to celebrate the people, partnerships, and shared moments that have shaped its journey.

As Cora Cora Maldives begins its next chapter, it remains dedicated to preserving the beauty of its island home and delivering the heartfelt hospitality and sense of freedom that guests have come to know and love.

Paradise is calling. Again. It’s Freedom Time.

For more information and bookings, please visit the resort’s website.

When Frank and Heike Reestorff returned to Villa Nautica for the third time, they had one rather unusual plan for their 25th anniversary: to get married underwater.

The couple had mentioned the idea to the diveOceanus team during a stay the previous November. Both are divers, and what they had in mind was relatively simple: a small ceremony at a shallow site, with their family and closest friends alongside them.

For their return, the team settled on Maagiri Reef, where a sandy section of the top reef provided the setting.

The ceremony itself was built around a heart-shaped frame, with streams of bubbles rising around the wedding party from cylinders positioned nearby. As talking underwater was obviously out of the question, Frank and Heike’s wedding words were engraved onto wooden plaques in German.

Their son and his girlfriend joined them, as did two close friends who had never dived before. The pair completed Discover Scuba Diving with diveOceanus at Villa Nautica before the wedding so they could take part rather than watch from the boat. diveOceanus Villa Nautica is a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort, with programmes ranging from first-time scuba experiences through to further dive training.

Villa Nautica Dive Center Manager Mohamed Arzan officiated the ceremony underwater. Earlier this year, Arzan was named Diving Personality of the Year at the Hotelier Maldives Awards 2026, where he was recognised for his leadership of dive operations, marine knowledge, mentoring and service quality.

The wedding spread beyond the dive site. Back on the island, the Villa Nautica team helped prepare the boat for the occasion, arranged details for the couple’s return and made sure the day was recorded underwater and from the air.

For a resort used to honeymoons, anniversaries and weddings, the setting was new. This was Villa Nautica’s first underwater wedding.

It also came with a nice sense of continuity. Frank and Heike were not guests who had chosen the island from a wedding brochure; they had already stayed twice, had dived there before, and returned with an idea they had first discussed with people they already knew.

Villa Nautica’s romance credentials extend beyond this one ceremony. The resort has received three consecutive nominations for Indian Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Resort at the World Travel Awards from 2023 to 2025, and was selected for National Geographic Traveller (UK)’s Luxury Collection 2025 and 2026. Its pool was also named Best Resort Pool in the Maldives at the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific in both 2025 and 2026.

The couple’s verdict was shorter.

“Everything was simply perfect and beyond expectations.”

Heike was moved to tears when she saw the underwater setting. When the couple left Villa Nautica, the German wedding plaques and congratulations banner went home with them.

For the resort, it was a first. For Frank and Heike, it was how they chose to mark 25 years together.

On October 31, Oaga ArtResort invites guests on a Dhathuru to the island of Maaranfushi, where a day of beachside BBQ, traditional Maldivian picnic fare, live music and games slowly gives way to something much darker.

As sundown approaches, Dhon Hassanube makes his first appearance at Oaga, introducing guests to the story of the Vigani, a mysterious demon once bound to Maaranfushi to protect the islands of the Maldives from its curse. But with the Vigani said to have returned, Hassanube has some explaining to do.

The story will unfold across the island, with new characters and mysterious entities revealed along the way. Guests are guided through an island tour, meeting those caught within the curse and uncovering fragments of its story as they go. What begins as a Dhathuru soon becomes a Cursed trick or treating Island Tour, leading to unexpected encounters, storytelling and a Halloween special dinner at Kaa Kada.

The soundtrack to the story comes courtesy of Project Groove, bringing live music to the Dhathuru, while Amney and Faudi take the stage at Kaa Kada for an evening of live storytelling and music. The final chapter unfolds at Raa Baa, where Suvāsthi’s Unethical Projection brings the tale of the Vigani to life before Cursed Groove takes over for a night of Halloween revelry.

For families and younger guests, Fiyoh Kids Club has its own little Dhathuru of Halloween fun, with trick or treat basket decorating, costume making, games and playful activities for young explorersto create their own chapter of the story.

From the first clues at Maaranfushi to the final chapter at Raa Baa, this Halloween invites guests to become part of a story that unfolds around them. Come curious, follow the clues and keep an eye out for who, or what, you might meet along the way.

The Curse of the Vigani awaits at Oaga Art Resort this Halloween.