The Standard, Maldives by Hyatt has introduced a limited time offer for its valued partners, inviting guests to discover its newly upgraded villas amid the natural beauty of Raa Atoll starting November.

Combining thoughtful interiors, private pool living and uninterrupted ocean views, the refreshed villa experience brings a new perspective to an island celebrated for its distinctive character.

Through this exclusive Offer, guests will enjoy a complimentary upgrade from a Water Villa with Pool to an Ocean Reef Pool Villa, offering an opportunity to experience the resort’s latest enhancements.

A Fresh Perspective on Island Living

On Huruvalhi Island, white-sand shores and a thriving house reef create a setting where discovery comes naturally. Beachfront and overwater villas, each with a private pool, invite guests to settle into their own rhythm, with the lagoon and ocean always close at hand.

The newly upgraded villas build on this connection to place, pairing refreshed designs with the privacy and ease of island living. Days unfold between the water, the reef and the resort’s distinctive dining and overwater wellness experiences.

Throughout, The Standard’s playful spirit lends the experience of a character of its own.

An Invitation Beyond the Villa

To complement their stay, guests booking the offer will also enjoy their first drink on the house at Castaway Bar, the resort’s adults-only island escape.

The Offer is available for new bookings only and may be combined with the ongoing offer, providing DMC and trade partners with an additional reason to introduce their clients to The Standard, Maldives.

An Evolving Island Experience

The offer marks a further chapter in the resort’s continued evolution, bringing refreshed accommodation together with the experiences that define its approach to Maldivian hospitality.

This is an exciting moment for The Standard, Maldives and for our valued partners. As the Maldives continues to evolve as a destination, we want to ensure that our partners have fresh and compelling experiences to take to their markets. The newly upgraded Pool Villa is a wonderful addition to our offering, and this exclusive upgrade gives travellers the opportunity to experience it in a way that feels truly special. We are excited to work closely with our partners to bring this new chapter of The Standard, Maldives to more travelers around the world,” said Sonika Adlakha, Commercial Director, The Standard, Maldives by Hyatt.

From quiet moments beside a private pool to marine adventures and evenings shared over exceptional food, the resort invites guests to experience the Maldives at their own pace.

When life revolves around cameras, scripts and packed schedules, finding uninterrupted time with family can be a luxury of its own. For Karan Tacker, that meant putting work on pause and heading to the Maldives with his parents for a few days of quality time together at Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives.

Rather than a typical celebrity getaway, the trip was very much a family affair. There were mornings on the water, long meals, quiet afternoons and plenty of time simply being together. Set within North Malé Atoll, the resort provided the backdrop, with the family settling into a lagoon facing villa just a short speedboat journey from Velana International Airport.

And while his parents embraced the slower side of island life, Karan was not quite ready to stay still. The actor took to the lagoon on a clear-bottom kayak before turning up the adrenaline with a jet ski and Seabob. The family later swapped the open water for a semi-submarine experience, heading beneath the surface to take in the marine life through panoramic viewing windows.

The quieter moments proved just as memorable. His parents spent time unwinding with a Balinese massage at SPA Cenvaree Retreat, while the family came together for a guided painting session and relaxed afternoons at Sunset Social. One of the more unhurried moments of the trip saw them settle into the catamaran nets with afternoon tea before watching the evening unfold over the lagoon.

Then there was the food. A floating breakfast became one of the mornings’ highlights, while dinner brought the family together over interactive teppanyaki, Indian grill favourites and Mediterranean inspired dishes. It was the kind of holiday where the itinerary mattered less than having time to sit around the same table.

“I spend most of my time on set, so time with my parents is something I really value, and this trip gave us plenty of it. My parents loved the calm of their villa and the evenings at Sunset Social, while I got my fill of time out on the water. The team at Centara Grand Lagoon looked after all three of us with so much warmth that it felt like home from the first day. I would happily come back with them.”

For Tacker, the Maldives offered something that can be difficult to find between work commitments: time without an agenda. Away from the spotlight, the trip became less about where they went and more about what they shared, from the thrill of the lagoon to sunset conversations, lingering dinners and simply having his parents beside him.

Atmosphere Foundation has celebrated the graduation of the second batch of its ‘Zero to Divemaster’ Scholarship Programme, bringing the total number of young Maldivians trained through the initiative to 20 as the Foundation continues to build pathways into professional careers in the country’s diving industry.

Ten participants completed the second batch of the three-month programme, which takes students through a structured training pathway from PADI Open Water Diver to Advanced Open Water Diver, Emergency First Response, Rescue Diver and, ultimately, professional Divemaster certification.

Delivered in partnership with Moodhu Bulhaa Dive Centre in Vilimalé, the programme is designed to enable Maldivians to enter the professional diving industry even without previous diving experience. The second batch, comprising five women and five men, began training in July following the completion of the inaugural cohort.

The latest graduation builds on strong outcomes from the first batch, which began in April 2026 with 10 participants. All 10 successfully obtained their professional Divemaster certifications, while nine have since secured employment across safari vessels, resorts and island-based dive centres.

The 90 per cent employment rate among the first batch highlights the programme’s success in translating professional training into direct employment opportunities within the Maldives’ tourism and marine sectors.

Beyond technical diving skills, the programme provides participants with training in safety, emergency response and the responsibilities associated with working as a professional Divemaster. The progressive training structure is intended to equip graduates with both the qualifications and practical competencies required to work in professional diving environments.

A key component of the initiative is the level of financial support provided to scholarship recipients. Atmosphere Foundation covers tuition, required certification and registration fees, while also providing accommodation and meals during the programme. The scholarship for the second batch additionally covered training materials and dive insurance, helping remove financial barriers that could otherwise prevent participants from pursuing professional diving qualifications.

By covering both the cost of training and participants’ day-to-day living requirements during the course, the programme allows scholarship recipients to focus on developing their diving skills and completing the demanding progression towards Divemaster certification.

The programme also links scholarship support with a longer-term commitment to the Maldives. Participants agree to work within the country’s diving and marine industry for at least two years after successfully completing their certification, helping ensure that the skills developed through the initiative contribute directly to the local workforce.

With diving forming an important part of the Maldives’ tourism industry, the initiative seeks to expand opportunities for Maldivians to develop specialised skills and pursue careers in an area where trained professionals are required across resorts, liveaboards and local dive centres.

The results of the first cohort provide an early indication of the programme’s potential. While only three graduates had secured jobs when the second batch was launched in July, that figure has since increased to nine, reflecting continued progression into employment following certification.

Following the completion of two batches, Atmosphere Foundation has confirmed that the Zero to Divemaster Scholarship Programme will continue, providing further opportunities for Maldivians seeking to enter the professional diving industry.

With 20 participants now having completed the programme across its first two cohorts, Zero to Divemaster is developing from a training initiative into an employment pathway, combining internationally recognised diving qualifications with practical skills, financial support and a direct connection to career opportunities within the Maldives.