News
Crown & Champa Resorts celebrates ecosystem restoration on Environment Day
Crown & Champa Resorts, the leading resort collection in the Maldives, will mark World Environment Day on June 5, with a range of awareness-raising activities and events to positively impact the environment and surrounding communities.
Celebrated in more than 100 countries globally, World Environment Day was first established in 1972 as the people’s day for doing something to take care of the planet.
The theme for World Environment Day 2021 is ‘Ecosystem Restoration’ with a special focus on resetting our relationship with nature – an already ongoing and long-term sustainability effort of all the resorts under the collection.
Crown & Champa Resorts collection aims to raise awareness and educate associates, guests, and partners on ways to be more mindful of the natural surroundings by staging various planet-conscious activities supporting the UN initiative, which encourages worldwide consciousness and action for the protection of the environment.
Marine life protection
The Maldives’ first fully solar-powered Kudadoo Maldives Private Island and the naturally chic, adults-only Hurawalhi Maldives continue to work closely with the Mantra Trust, the UK based, independent non-profit organisation whose mission is to advance the conservation of manta rays and their habitats.
Guests are invited to take a private trip with the resident marine biologist and learn all about the conservation project, the manta ray ecology, and how to responsibly interact with these majestic creatures of the ocean.
Gardening, planting
Kagi Maldives Spa Island: The wellbeing-focused resort will carry out a tree planting event to be participated by both guests and team members. Planting more native trees around the island is an effective way to prevent erosion and help offset emissions of CO2 by storing carbon and other greenhouse gases that otherwise would be released.
Veligandu Island Resort & Spa: The secluded island of Veligandu is organising a coral planting initiative in partnership with the Ocean Group Maldives. The activity will start with harvesting broken pieces of corals from the island house reef, which will then be restored by carefully attaching them onto ‘coral frames’. These frames allow the coral fragments to grow, providing new homes for the abundant marine life in Veligandu’s lagoon.
Innahura Maldives Resort: The laid-back paradise of Innahura Maldives Resort will have a beach clean up activity, in addition to planting more crops in the property’s sustainable garden, which already produces a variety of spices, herbs, fruit, and vegetables.
Beach, island clean-up
The adults-only (18+) Komandoo Island Resort & Spa and the top-rated Kuredu Island Resort & Spa will invite team members and guests for a beach and island clean-up drive.
Guests are also encouraged to visit ProDivers Maldives Dive Centre to learn more about the Olive Ridley Project, whose dedication is to protect sea turtles in the Indian Ocean through research, education, and rehabilitation.
Environmental awareness
Meeru Island Resort & Spa: The family-friendly paradise of Meeru is organising an environmental awareness session in collaboration with Euro-Divers Maldives to educate guests about green issues, the benefits of being sustainably conscious, and the importance of protecting the world’s natural resources.
Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa: Alongside the island clean-up event, the adventurer’s paradise of Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa will show educational video materials in the reception area and on guest room TVs to provide guests with valuable information on dos and don’ts on the island and in the sea. Additionally, guests will have the opportunity to experience ecologically considerate marine life encounters by joining one of the resort’s eco-conscious excursions.
Sustainability at Crown & Champa Resorts
The World Environment Day initiatives are part of Crown & Champa Resort’s sustainability programme, which underlines the group’s commitment towards inspiring change for a greener and more sustainable tomorrow, guided by its core values: Respect, Empathy, Sincerity, Openness, Reliability, Trust, and Sensitivity.
Catering to every purpose of travel, Crown & Champa Resorts connects travellers with a passion for a life fully lived to the very best of this idyllic destination, offering world-class hospitality, thoughtful and attentive service, and authentic Maldivian experiences.
The diverse collection of properties includes Kudadoo Maldives Private Island, Hurawalhi Maldives, Kagi Maldives Spa Island, Veligandu Island Resort & Spa, Komandoo Island Resort & Spa, Meeru Island Resort & Spa, Kuredu Island Resort & Spa, Innahura Maldives Resort, and one city hotel, Champa Central Hotel.
Meditation
Imron Zulfikar returns to Niva Kuramathi Maldives for festive wellness residency
As the festive season casts its gentle glow, Niva Kuramathi Maldives is set to welcome the return of acclaimed holistic wellness practitioner Imron Zulfikar. From 16 December 2026 to 2 January 2027, guests are invited to embark on a transformative journey, immersing themselves in bespoke wellness journeys designed to restore harmony and vitality under the guidance of a true master of holistic health.
During his residency, Imron will offer a curated selection of signature therapies designed for lasting wellbeing. Experience the Functional Alignment Massage, a 90-minute restorative bodywork session that combines therapeutic massage, Thai stretching, and body mechanics to improve posture, release chronic tension, and enhance mobility. For pain relief, the Radiant Heat Deep Release offers an advanced treatment using deep tissue massage and infrared heat to soften tension, improve circulation, and accelerate recovery, with acupuncture available to enhance results.
Restore your inner harmony with the Chakra Balance Treatment, a 90-minute journey that begins with a mental wellness consultation and unfolds with crystal healing, guided meditation, and a soothing massage to align body, mind, and spirit. For a focused and powerful renewal, the 45-minute Yoga Intestinal Detox Therapy offers a guided practice of specific yoga movements and mineral-balanced hydration to support health.
Facial Rejuvenation
Indulge in rejuvenating facial treatments designed to illuminate your skin from within. The Accu Glow Facial is a refined 90-minute treatment using facial acupuncture and a bespoke skincare ritual to stimulate collagen, leaving skin firmer, brighter, and with a youthful glow. The Radiant Crystal Lift Facial provides a gentle 60-minute experience, combining infrared light with a Rose Quartz massage to enhance lymphatic drainage, soften tension, and promote a luminous, healthy glow.
Private Movement Classes:
Imron will also lead private sessions in Therapeutic Yoga, Body Alignment, Mat Pilates, and Personal Training. Guests are also invited to join a series of rejuvenating group classes designed to elevate vitality and inspire a sense of renewal.
Imron brings over a decade of expertise as a wellness lifestyle coach and holistic fitness specialist. His integrative methods, encompassing acupuncture, tension release, yoga, and Pilates, offer a comprehensive approach to emotional wellbeing and mobility. His intuitive healing and unwavering professionalism have earned the trust of high-profile clients worldwide, including Serena Williams, Emma Watson, and Richard Branson, who described him as having “golden hands.”
For more inspiration, please visit www.nivakuramathi.com.
Action
Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives develops next generation of dive instructors
Against the backdrop of the Maldives’ world-renowned marine environment, Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives is nurturing the next generation of dive professionals as the exclusive Best Dives Maldives resort authorised to deliver the PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC).
Bringing together Divemasters from Best Dives Maldives operations across the Maldives, the two-week programme reflects the resort’s growing role as the group’s dedicated training hub, supporting the development of the next generation of PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors while reinforcing its commitment to excellence in diving education.
Designed exclusively for certified Divemasters, the IDC combines comprehensive classroom learning with practical teaching workshops, confined and open water assessments, Emergency First Response Instructor Development, and Scuba Dive Instructor training. Participants entered the programme having already fulfilled PADI’s rigorous prerequisites, including logged dives, professional certifications, and medical clearances, before progressing to the Instructor Examination, the final step towards becoming a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor.

Sharing his thoughts, Cluster General Manager Jorge Fernandez stated, “Our vision extends beyond delivering exceptional guest experiences. Across Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives and its neighbouring Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives, we are committed to supporting the long-term growth of the Maldives’ diving industry through education, professional development, and marine stewardship. As the exclusive PADI Instructor Development Course centre within the Best Dives Maldives network, our resort plays a vital role in developing the next generation of dive professionals, strengthening industry standards, and reinforcing our commitment to advancing the Maldives as one of the world’s leading diving destinations.”
“Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives has become the dedicated home of professional instructor development within the Best Dives Maldives network,” said Shimal Mohamed, Base Leader, Best Dives Maldives at Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives. “Hosting the PADI Instructor Development Course allows us not only to develop future dive professionals, but also to maintain consistent training standards across our operations. It is a responsibility we are proud to uphold while supporting the career progression of our teams throughout the Maldives. We are equally committed to bringing more Maldivians into the diving profession, creating meaningful career pathways for local talent and helping the industry grow from within.”
With its protected lagoon, vibrant house reef, and diverse marine ecosystem, the resort offers an ideal environment for instructor development, allowing candidates to gain hands on teaching experience in conditions that closely reflect real world diving environments. Beyond delivering certification, the programme strengthens knowledge, confidence, and instructional skills, ensuring graduates are well prepared to guide and inspire future divers.
As the exclusive PADI Instructor Development Course provider within the Best Dives Maldives portfolio, Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives continues to play a pivotal role in advancing professional dive education while enhancing the Maldives’ reputation as one of the world’s premier diving destinations. Alongside its instructor development programmes, the resort welcomes guests of all experience levels, from first time divers discovering the underwater world to experienced enthusiasts seeking unforgettable marine encounters.
Action
Jamie Murray to host week-long tennis residency at Finolhu Maldives
What happens when one of tennis’s most accomplished doubles players swaps the intensity of the Grand Slam circuit for barefoot island living? This October, Finolhu, a Seaside Collection Resort, welcomes British tennis champion Jamie Murray for an exclusive week-long residency, taking place from 23 to 27 October 2026.
A former World No. 1 in doubles, seven-time Grand Slam champion and Davis Cup winner, Murray brings more than two decades at the highest level of professional tennis to the island. Having announced his retirement from professional tennis earlier this year after a career spanning 36 years, his residency at Finolhu marks a new chapter – one where the competitive court gives way to a more relaxed setting for sharing his knowledge, passion and love of the game.
During his time at Finolhu, guests will have the opportunity to step onto the court with one of British tennis’s most successful doubles players, gaining personal insight into the game from someone who has competed, won and travelled at the very highest level.
The residency will bring together exclusive tennis sessions, informal coaching and opportunities for guests to connect with Murray away from the traditional tournament environment, creating an experience that is as much about the stories and spirit of the sport as it is about the game itself.
Murray’s career is marked by an extraordinary collection of achievements. He became the first British player to reach World No. 1 in the ATP doubles rankings in 2016, the same year he won the Australian Open and US Open men’s doubles titles alongside Bruno Soares. His seven Grand Slam victories also include mixed doubles titles at Wimbledon and the US Open, while his contribution to Great Britain’s 2015 Davis Cup triumph remains one of the defining moments of his career.
Now, the setting is altogether different.
Surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and Finolhu’s signature two-kilometre sandbank, guests can combine time on court with the freedom of island life – from barefoot walks along the sand to long lunches, ocean adventures, sunset moments and evenings under the stars.
At Finolhu, tennis becomes another way to embrace the island’s playful spirit: competitive when you want it to be, relaxed when you don’t. With Murray’s residency taking place during the resort’s vibrant October season, guests can expect a week where world-class sporting experience meets the carefree rhythm of Maldivian island life.
The Jamie Murray Tennis Residency takes place at Finolhu from 23 to 27 October 2026.
For more information and reservations, visit finolhu.com.
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