Featured
Dive Desk’s Adam Ashraf completes PADI Course Director programme
Dive Desk has announced that its Managing Director and Dive Instructor, Adam Ashraf has just completed the PADI Course Director Programme held this July in Thailand, becoming one of the few PADI Course Directors in the Maldives.
The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) is the world’s most popular dive training agency, certifying the greatest number of recreational divers world-wide. Within the PADI system, Course Director is the highest and most respected professional rating in recreational scuba diving, which qualifies them to conduct Instructor Development Courses (IDCs) and other instructor-level training. Course Directors are the scuba diving industry’s most influential leaders and role models.

The Course Director Training Course is held only twice a year and seasoned PADI Instructors from all over the world undergo a competitive application process that examines experience and training goals in order to qualify for the program. Applicants are required to have experience in teaching Instructor Candidates, under the mentorship of experienced Course Directors.
For the past five years, Ashraf, as leader of the Instructor Development team at Dive Desk, which is comprised of professional Maldivians, has been collaborating with the world’s most experienced and renowned Course Director, Mark Soworka of Dive Careers Worldwide in conducting PADI Instructor Development Courses in the Maldives. With fifteen Instructor Development Courses under their belt, this team is among the most experienced dive educators in the country. Instructor Candidates can choose from one of the many scheduled programs throughout the year, held at different islands in the Maldives.

Ashraf has met the requirements and has been accepted to the Course Director Training course since 2019. However, due to the quarantine and travel restrictions during the pandemic, PADI had ceased their CDTCs. The programs resumed recently and Ashraf was able to travel to and attend the first program held in the Asia region.
Adam Ashraf’s first IDC as a Course Director is at Fuvamulah, scheduled to take place from 21 July to 5 August 2022. This is the first such program in the South of Maldives and will be a good opportunity for Instructor Candidates in the area to take part in a course, closer to/at home. His second IDC is scheduled to take place in Male’, for the IDC candidates selected from the government’s fully-funded scheme. More Instructor Development Courses are scheduled to be held at different locations, regularly.
At just 37 years old, Adam Ashraf has spent more than 23 years as a scuba diver. After working in liveaboards and resorts, Ashraf started Dive Desk, with his wife Nadha, in order to support and train the local dive community. Dive Desk is a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre operating in Malé for the past eight years. He is excited to grow Dive Desk and continue to open opportunities to help professional-level divers to progress in their dive careers. The dream is to make Maldives the prime destination for professional level dive education.
Awards
Kuda Villingili listed in Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards 2026
Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives has been nominated in the Resorts category for the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 (UK) and the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 (US), marking a further development in the resort’s international recognition.
The Readers’ Choice Awards are based on traveller feedback and are considered a key benchmark within the global travel industry. The dual nomination reflects the resort’s presence across international markets and its engagement with guests from different regions.
The nomination follows a series of recognitions for the resort. In 2025, Kuda Villingili was ranked among the Top 5 Overseas Leisure Resorts Worldwide in the Condé Nast Traveller Middle East Readers’ Choice Awards, placing fifth globally. It was also listed among the Top Resorts in the Indian Ocean in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 (US). The resort was similarly recognised in the 2024 edition of the awards.
Located in North Malé Atoll, approximately 30 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives offers 75 villas and residences, each with private pools and views of the surrounding ocean.
The resort features eight restaurants and three bars, including Japanese-Peruvian dining at Mar-Umi and Teppanyaki by Mar-Umi. Other dining options include Asian cuisine at East and grill offerings at Fire. Additional facilities include a cigar lounge, a large swimming pool, a spa with overwater treatment villas, and a range of wellness and recreational activities such as yoga, sound therapy and surfing.
Amjad Thaufeeg, Commercial Director at Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives, stated that the nominations reflect feedback from guests across international markets and noted the importance of maintaining consistent service standards.
Voting for the Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 is open until 30 June 2026, with results scheduled to be announced in November 2026.
Cooking
Baros Maldives to showcase sustainable dining for Earth Day
Baros Maldives is set to host a curated Earth Day experience titled Earth Day in Bloom on 22 April 2026, offering guests an evening programme centred on sustainability, nature and locally sourced ingredients.
The event will begin at 6:30pm at the resort’s Chef’s Garden, where guests will be welcomed with a Garden Spritz before taking part in a guided tour of the garden. The tour will introduce participants to local herbs and island-grown produce cultivated on the property.
As part of the programme, guests will be invited to plant their own herb, contributing to the garden while engaging in an activity aligned with environmental awareness. The experience will continue with a garden dinner starting at 7pm, featuring a menu designed around fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from the island.
An optional pairing of organic wines will also be available, providing an additional element to the dining experience.
The event is priced at USD 175 per person, excluding applicable service charge and taxes. Reservations can be made through the resort’s butler service.
The initiative reflects Baros Maldives’ focus on sustainability-led guest experiences, integrating environmental awareness with culinary offerings and on-island activities.
Awards
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives earns TUI Global Hotel Award recognition
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives has been recognised as a Quality Winner at the TUI Global Hotel Awards 2026, an accolade based on guest feedback from travellers worldwide. The recognition reflects the resort’s delivery of guest experiences shaped by service standards, facilities and alignment with evolving traveller preferences.
Located in North Malé Atoll, Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives offers a range of accommodation options, with more than 140 units including overwater suites, beach bungalows and duplex garden bungalows. The resort is designed to accommodate couples, families and groups.
The resort features seven dining venues offering a mix of international and local cuisine. Tex Mex serves Mexican and Spanish-inspired dishes, while Dalchini offers an Indian à la carte menu available for lunch and dinner. Raalhu Bar provides a setting for evening refreshments, with views of the sunset.
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives is also known for Pasta Point, a surf break recognised for its left-hand waves. The resort attracts surfers from international markets who travel to access the location. Surf operations at Pasta Point are managed by Atoll Adventures, with bookings handled through Atoll Travel to ensure a structured approach to surf access.
The TUI Global Hotel Awards are determined by guest reviews, making the recognition an indicator of guest satisfaction. The resort’s inclusion as a Quality Winner reflects its performance in meeting guest expectations within the Maldives tourism sector.
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