News
Spotlight on Maldives with 2024 Surfing Legends Series at Kandooma
Together with partners, The Perfect Wave, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives is delighted to announce the return of the Surfing Legends Series to the private island paradise. Attracting former World Champions Barton Lynch and Pam Burridge, and ex-pro Ace Buchan, who will share their stories, secrets and coaching tips in their exclusive surfing programmes.
Take advantage of the knowledge on offer and polish up your surfing skills with a series of special Surf schools to choose from during the surfing season in the Maldives.
“Many of the surfers who join us for the Surfing Legends Series have non-surfing friends and family, so we can ensure they are well looked after too. The island Kandooma has so much to offer in terms of great food, activities, relaxation, watersports and even a Spa,” said Ben Horvath, Business Development & Marketing Manager, The Perfect Wave.
“Surf, hang out and learn from some of the greatest surfers of all time. There’s no better place to do it than the home of Kandooma Right in the Maldives.”
Take your pick of your favourite Surfing Legend from a choice of three greats this season.
Aussie Barton Lynch whose exemplary career included 17 World Championship victories to become one of the most successful professional surfers of all time. He is now one of the most sought after coaches, an expert commentator and loves to surf more than anything. Barton will host a seven night camp 27 April to 4 May, 2024 starting from US$4,250 per person (based on twin share 1 surfer/1 non-surfer occupancy) staying in a Beach Villa. Barton will be hosting exclusive dhoni (Maldivian boat) trips to nearby waves including lefts such as Tucky Joes and fun rights like Quarters and Riptides. At Kandooma-fushi, your private island home for the week, your villa is positioned just steps away from the beach and a private world-class right hand point break wave called Kandooma Right.
The Barton Lynch Surf Week package includes:
- Accommodation in a Beach Villa (twin share basis one surfer/one non-surfer)
- Shared speedboat transfers airport-Resort-airport
- Daily Buffet Breakfast at Kandooma Cafe
- Surfer Pass
- Dhoni transfers to nearby waves
- Food & Beverage package, from US$65 per person per night (Optional extra)
1990 World Surfing Champion Pam Burridge and her husband the legendary surfboard shaper Mark Rabbidge will host a week of coaching at Kandooma. Offering tips in and out of the water over seven fun-filled days 9 – 16 June 2024, Pam and Mark’s programme is designed to help you improve your surfing in the user-friendly breaks on the doorstep to Kandooma Maldives, but do note that this one is not for absolute beginners or those learning to surf!
The Pam Burridge Surf Week packages start from US$2,962 per person (based on two surfers sharing a room) and includes:
- Accommodation in a Beach Villa (twin share basis) (note other room types are available)
- 6 days coaching from Pam and Mark
- 7 day Surfer Pass
- Shared speedboat transfers airport-Resort-airport
- Daily Buffet Breakfast at Kandooma Cafe
Ace Buchan hails from the Australian Central Coast where he grew up surfing. Ace invites you to join him and his family for a week at Kandooma, surfing the perfect waves 31 May – 10 June, 2024. This week of surfing fun is tailored to surfing families but everyone is welcome, whether you are a passionate everyday surfer looking to experience the rippable walls of Kandooma Right, a pre-teen grom or gromette perhaps going for your first overseas surf trip with your family, or a Mum or Dad looking to improve your skills and share some waves with your kids. Ace Buchan Surf Week packages are yet to be released with options for Beach Villas, two-storey Beach Houses and the 2-bedroom Family Beach House and will include access to nearby breaks via a dedicated Dhoni (boat). Add to that surf lessons, photo and video packages, movie nights with all the family and opportunities to learn more about Maldivian culture.
Surfers can expect some great action in the water. Kandooma Right breaks just a stone’s throw away from the Resort. It’s a fast breaking right with two take-off spots and a great barrel. This wave is exclusively for Kandooma Resort Maldives guests with Surfer Passes. Nearby waves include: Tucky Joes / Boatyards which is a fickle, but freight-train of a left hander that provides a long, perfect but intense ride. Riptides is a right hander breaking for 150 metres on a reef in the middle of a channel. Sometimes there are very strong currents, evident in the naming of this beauty so watch the conditions! It’s a great wave for long- and short-boarders as well as low intermediate surfers. Quarters is a short boat trip away, this wave has two sections. The outside is fat, slow and meandering, ideal for long-boarders and even beginners, while the inside is a really terrific, fast little right hander. On a good day it delivers perfect barrels.
Receive world class coaching tips and when you’re not riding a wave, eat and drink like a king. Chill out, take it easy and bask in the sun or experience one of the many activities at Kandooma Maldives. And when those tired muscles beg for respite, it’s good to know the Kandooma Spa by COMO Shambhala has a massage treatment designed especially for surfers.
For surfers the 2024 Surf Legend Series at Kandooma is one not to be missed. Book early to avoid disappointment, as numbers are strictly limited to ensure the best possible experience for participants.
For information about the Surfing Legends Series, visit https://www.perfectwavetravel.com/surf-trips/legends/
News
Innahura upgraded and relaunched as Nala Maldives by Jawakara
Crown & Champa Resorts on Monday opened its 11th resort in Maldives, upgrading Innahura Maldives Resort in Lhaviyani Atoll to a five-star property and rebranding it as Nala Maldives by Jawakara.
The resort was formally inaugurated by Tourism Minister Ibrahim Thoriq and Champa Brothers Chairperson Mohamed Moosa at a ceremony held at Nala Maldives.
Crown & Champa CEO Mohamed Solah said the resort had been redeveloped and reopened following two years of work. He said the property was designed as a five-star entry-level resort with operations shaped around sustainability.

Tourism Minister Thoriq Ibrahim said Crown & Champa is one of Maldives’ strongest and most innovative companies in the tourism sector. He also thanked the company for its continued contribution to tourism development.
Crown & Champa Resorts Chairperson Sara Moosa said Nala Maldives had been developed to remain competitive in the evolving tourism market.

Nala Maldives is located a 35-minute seaplane flight from Velana International Airport. The resort has 80 villas across four categories:
- 8 Romantic Beach Villas
- 20 Sunrise Beach Villas
- 22 Sunset Beach Pool Villas
- 30 Ocean Pool Villas
The property includes seven F&B outlets, including beach bars and restaurants serving international cuisine. It also features a spa offering eight types of treatments, along with a medical clinic.
Recreational facilities include tennis, football, volleyball, badminton, an indoor games room and a water sports centre.
The resort is designated as an adults-only property, open to guests aged 12 and above. Jawakara, located on the same lagoon and accessible by a two-minute speedboat ride, caters to guests travelling with children.
Photos: Dhauru/Next Media Group
Featured
‘Threading Time’: Stitched photo stories debut at Oaga Art Resort
Oaga Art Resort, a homegrown Maldivian brand where creativity thrives and stories unfold, has announced Threading Time, a captivating solo exhibition by Maldivian artist Hajja Nazwa. The exhibition will open on 5 December 2025 at Moo Gé Gallery by Suvāsthi, the art brand of Oaga Resorts, and will run until 6 January 2026, giving guests the chance to experience Hajja’s stitched photographic narratives throughout the festive season.
Threading Time explores memory, everyday life, and the subtle beauty of island living. Through a fusion of photography and embroidery, Hajja Nazwa transforms ordinary moments into enduring visual stories. Each stitched detail reflects scenes of Maldivian daily life—street corners, bursts of colour, the quiet rhythm of the city, and the serenity of the islands.
Reflecting on her work, Hajja said: “Photo embroidery gives me a gentle place to return to… a space where I can slow down, look closely, and connect with myself. The act of stitching feels like a conversation between my hands and my memories. It reminds me to notice the small things, to honour them, and to hold on to the parts of life that quietly shape me.”
The exhibition features 55 works from Hajja’s stitched-story collection, many based on her own photographs celebrating Maldivian culture, heritage, and everyday moments. The pieces encourage viewers to engage with the interplay of thread, colour, and light, creating a space where art, memory, and island life intersect.
The exhibition is curated by Ahmed Sobah, whose long-standing involvement in the Maldivian arts scene ensures a presentation that highlights the vibrancy, intimacy, and contemplative depth of Hajja’s work.
The exhibition will open with a ticketed event on 5 December, offering guests:
- A guided tour with the artist
- A curated dinner at Kaa Kada, Oaga’s signature restaurant
- Evening entertainment at Raa Baa bar
Date & Time: 5 December 2025, 16:00 – 22:30
Ticket Price: MVR 1,542 (USD 100)
Includes: Roundtrip speedboat transfer from Malé International Airport, exhibition access with guided tour, dinner, and entertainment.
From 6 December 2025 to 6 January 2026, the exhibition will be open to all resort guests, allowing visitors to explore Hajja’s work at their own pace in an intimate island gallery setting.
Moo Gé is the transformative creative space of Oaga Art Resort—a hybrid venue that functions as a movement studio, performance arena, and exhibition platform. Its fluid design allows it to adapt to the needs of artists and audiences alike. For Threading Time, Moo Gé becomes a dedicated gallery, enabling guests to experience Hajja Nazwa’s embroidered photographic works up close.
As part of Suvāsthi, Oaga’s artistic ecosystem centred on joy and creative expression, Moo Gé reflects the resort’s commitment to nurturing local and visiting talent. It is a place where culture, creativity, and island spirit come together, offering an experience rooted not only in observation but also in participation.
Oaga Art Resort continues to champion Maldivian artistry, giving guests the rare opportunity to engage with local talent in meaningful ways. Threading Time is more than an exhibition— it is an ongoing dialogue between artist, audience, and island life, where each thread and photograph tells a story of home, memory, and culture.
Featured
Firedoor at Grand Park Kodhipparu introduces overwater glass-floor dining
Grand Park Kodhipparu, Maldives has announced a distinctive enhancement to its acclaimed restaurant Firedoor, an award-winning luxury boutique dining venue recognised by the World Luxury Restaurant Awards. Renowned for its refined overwater setting and exceptional culinary craftsmanship, Firedoor now features a custom-designed glass floor, offering guests a remarkable view into the island’s vibrant marine world.
Suspended gracefully above the turquoise lagoon, the new glass-floor installation transforms Firedoor into an immersive sanctuary where fine dining and underwater discovery coexist. As guests enjoy carefully curated tasting menus, they can watch a dynamic natural tableau unfold beneath them—shoals of colourful fish, soft corals swaying with the current, and rays gliding silently through the sunlit waters below.
Firedoor has long been celebrated for its intimacy, craftsmanship, and elegant overwater design. The introduction of the glass floor elevates the restaurant’s identity even further, providing a perspective that is both unique and unforgettable—a seamless fusion of luxury, artistry, and the natural beauty surrounding Kodhipparu.
As a distinguished winner of the World Luxury Restaurant Awards, Firedoor has established itself as one of the Maldives’ most exclusive dining destinations. The new design feature reinforces this standing, enriching the venue’s sophisticated atmosphere while highlighting its deep connection to the island’s marine environment.
Crafted with careful attention to architectural integrity and environmental sensitivity, the glass-floor feature preserves the tranquillity of the lagoon while adding a new sensory dimension to the dining experience. The upgrade reflects the resort’s commitment to innovation, curated luxury, and experiences that embody the signature identity of Grand Park Kodhipparu, Maldives.
The enhanced Firedoor experience is now available exclusively to guests of Grand Park Kodhipparu, Maldives, inviting them to enjoy fine dining above the water, where culinary excellence meets the mesmerising beauty of the Indian Ocean.
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