Nova Maldives will renew its partnership with PADI this September to co-host Project AWARE Week from 16 to 20 September 2026.

Organised by the resort’s marine team, the programme will give guests, from first-time snorkellers to experienced divers, opportunities to combine marine wildlife observation with practical conservation activities. The initiative is intended to turn time spent in the ocean into an educational experience while encouraging greater awareness of marine conservation.

This year’s AWARE Week coincides with PADI’s 60th anniversary and Nova Maldives’ fourth year of operation in South Ari Atoll. Now in its eighth global edition, PADI AWARE Week has developed into a citizen science movement within the diving community and has helped rescue more than 41,000 entangled marine animals to date.

Through its continued participation, Nova Maldives aims to encourage guests to become ocean advocates and remain engaged with marine conservation beyond their stay.

Guests staying at Nova during AWARE Week will be able to participate in a programme designed for different levels of ocean experience. Activities will include:

• Ocean immersion and storytelling: Sessions inspired by Blue Planet and other ocean documentaries, highlighting the diversity and vulnerability of marine life.
• Dive Against Debris: Underwater clean-up dives in the resort’s lagoon, during which participants will remove plastic and other waste before recording the findings in PADI AWARE’s global database.
• Whale shark snorkelling: Guided encounters that will allow guests to swim alongside whale sharks in the open waters of South Ari Atoll.
• Manta ray and turtle-spotting excursions: Guided boat trips to feeding and nesting areas where manta rays and turtles can be observed in their natural habitats.
• Coral restoration workshops: Practical sessions introducing guests to coral planting and the resort’s ongoing reef regeneration work.

“Some of the most meaningful work happens when you show up year after year. Four years into Nova’s story, we’ve learned that the health of the reef tells us a great deal about the impact we’re making, and that the guests who choose to return aren’t just here for the view,” said Abdulla Aboobakuru, General Manager of Nova Maldives.

“They’re here because Nova reflects something they already care about, including care for the ocean, a sense of community and a more thoughtful way of experiencing the places we visit. That’s what we hope Nova can inspire in new and returning guests alike: less a destination, more a calling.”

The resort’s marine conservation work continues throughout the year. Its coral nursery contains a growing collection of metal frames holding individually secured coral fragments, which are later transplanted onto the house reef. Guests are regularly invited to participate in the planting process, while the marine team monitors the young coral colonies as they develop.

Nova Maldives also maintains partnerships with the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme and Manta Trust. The resort is accredited as a Responsible Manta Tourism Operator, with the partnerships supporting its year-round approach to marine conservation.

This festive season, The Nautilus Maldives invites travellers to leave the map behind and embrace Bohemian Odyssey — a free-spirited celebration where days unfold through discovery, flavour, creativity and connection, all at the guest’s own rhythm. Set within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, The Nautilus becomes a canvas for festive moments waiting to be discovered. Here, days move gently between lagoon and shore, guided by instinct rather than itinerary. Morning may begin with stillness above the water, continue with an unexpected encounter beneath it, and drift towards a table beneath the palms as evening gathers.

Throughout the season, music, flavour, movement and creativity weave through the island. Some experiences are shared, others deeply personal, and each is shaped with the freedom to follow curiosity, change direction or linger a little longer.

Celebrations Beneath the Stars

Christmas Eve begins barefoot on Thyme Beach with The Luminous Eve Feast, bringing together live cooking, festive favourites, indulgent desserts and music by the ocean. Creativity takes centre stage at The Artisan Shore, where island artistry, music and craftsmanship come together in a relaxed celebration of bohemian spirit. On New Year’s Eve, Epicurean Voyage: Bohemian Ball carries the festivities from Naiboli Deck to Thyme Beach, building towards a midnight welcome beneath the Maldivian sky.

Unscripted Culinary Encounters

Executive Chef Kengo Tomita and his culinary team take guests across cultures and flavours through intimate Chef’sTables, moving from Mediterranean warmth and Japanese finesse to the fragrant spices and rich culinary traditions of the Maldives. A hidden elixir bar adds an element of surprise, while truffle, toro caviar and festive cocktails can be enjoyed throughout the season, whenever the mood takes hold.

Rhythms of Wellbeing

At Solasta Spa, festive rituals invite moments of stillness, restoration and renewal. Personalised sleep rituals encourage deeper rest, while meditation, crystal singing bowls and moonlit sound healing create space to simply pause and reconnect. As the year draws to a close, a symbolic fire ritual invites reflection, gratitude and intentions for the year ahead.

Into the Wild Blue

The natural wonders of Baa Atoll become part of the festive journey, with opportunities to explore life beneath the surface and contribute to the restoration of its reefs through coral planting. After dark, The Celestial Hour takes guests across the water on an intimate starlit cruise, accompanied by champagne and artisanal canapés beneath the vast Maldivian sky.

A World for Young Wonderers

For younger travellers, the season unfolds through imagination and discovery, with creative workshops, dolphin voyages, handmade gifts and festive surprises. Christmas Eve brings outdoor cinema and play beneath the stars, while the final day of the year sees younger guests gather for music and celebration as the last sunset of 2026 disappears over the Indian Ocean.

“Bohemian Odyssey is an invitation to experience the festive season with freedom and curiosity,” says Philippe Cavory, General Manager of The NautilusMaldives. “There is no single path to follow. Guests can simply be present, embrace what inspires them and allow each day to become entirely their own.”

Come as you are. Follow where curiosity leads, linger where the moment feels right, and let the season unfoldas a Bohemian Odyssey entirely your own.

To book, contact the resort at hello@thenautilusmaldives.com or visit the official website.

As autumn settles in, travel’s mood shifts from where to why. Kandima’s “Oktober Adventures” turns the shoulder season into its most eventful yet, answering the call for ‘whycation’ holidays that are chosen for purpose, rather than coordinates on the map.

This month-long programme will bring together an inspiring line-up of sport talent residencies, live music, family-first entertainment and island celebration, starting with a lively beachfront Oktoberfest, and building towards a spook-tacular Halloween finale.

Beats, Brushstrokes and Beachside Nights

The social calendar kicks off with Oktoberfest, where Breeze Beach will be infused with Erdinger’s Bavarian spirit. Travellers can mix and mingle over chilled German beers, snacks, live acoustic set into the night. Later in the month, evenings shift into a run of signature theme nights, from the all-white glow of the White Party to the rhythm-fuelled Latin Night, with captivating fire show performances that dazzle.

Creative souls can also find their own quiet corner with an afternoon at KULA Art Studio, settling into a sit-down painting session with resident artist Zima to experiment with colours, shapes and forms in an unhurried setting, all against Aroma’s lakeside views.

Sport Programme Highlights: Meet the International MVPs heading to Kandima this Autumn

Active families are well catered for throughout the month, with coaching sessions and games guided by the resort’s fitness team throughout Family Football Week (20–27 October).

Some of the month’s biggest moments come courtesy of an exciting roster of gamechangers, each bringing their own passion, expertise and energy to the island.

• BM Tennis Lifestyle (11–31 October): A month of tennis with BM Tennis Lifestyle’s professional coaches in residency. Guests can join one-to-one coaching, family sessions, tournaments and social rallies on and off the court.
• Sebastian Melrose – Racing Driver (19–26 October): Scottish-Salvadoran racing driver and reality TV personality who began racing at 16 with the Scottish Formula Ford Championship is bringing motorsport workshops and open laps with guests to Fast Track, the resort’s iconic oceanfront e-go-kart circuit.
• Hadiya Hakeem – Professional Football Freestyler (22–29 October): Viral freestyle footballer having performed at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will host live performances and skills workshops for football fans who love the sport’s more expressive side.
• Ashley Neaves – The Tennis Mentor (6 – 15 November): Beyond October, Kandima’s guests can join one of multiple training and skills sessions led by professional tennis coach, Ashley Neaves, for ten days in November. Ashley will be running classes for beginners and experienced players, catering to children and adults alike.

Beyond the sports fields, a wider wellness and fitness programme promises days with fun contrasts. From slow mornings with sunrise yoga on the beach, opening into high-energy group fitness challenges, before the ocean takes over. Guests can venture out onto open water for jet skiing, windsurfing, fly boarding, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and parasailing, or slip beneath the surface for guided dives and snorkels with the Aquaholics team, throughout the week.

A Spook-tacular Finale

To close out the month, guests can look forward to Halloween Haunted Adventures (30–31 October), where the island gives itself over to a curated, haunted carnival playground. Children can lose themselves in Little Monsters Halloween crafts and costume-making workshops, while the whole family joins in for relay races and contests, before setting off on a trick-or-treat treasure hunt for Sweet Surprises Await.

As the sun sets, the resort opens its doors to the Halloween Party. Adventurous guests can sample eerie cocktails and snacks while brushing shoulders with roaming performers in full costume, as the night stretches on with music, mischief and mystery.

For full details on the programme’s brochure, visit this page. Rates in October starts from £238/night for Studios and 325/night for Villas on Full Board when booking directly.