News
PADI launches Master Scuba Diver challenge with dream dive trip to Maldives

PADI has launched The Master Scuba Diver Challenge, incentivising scuba divers around the world to reach the peak of recreational scuba diving and obtain their PADI Master Scuba Diver rating, where they will join an elite circle that less than 2% of divers achieve.
“The PADI Master Scuba Diver rating is considered the ‘black belt’ of recreational diving,” says Lisa Nicklin, Vice President of Growth and Marketing for PADI Worldwide. “We are challenging scuba divers to continue their education and be transformed into confident and prepared divers ready to seek adventure and save the ocean anywhere in the world.”
Until 31 December 2024, participants have the opportunity to work towards earning their PADI Master Scuba Diver rating while obtaining entries into the giveaway for a dream dive trip to the Maldives. To become a certified PADI Master Scuba Diver, students must complete their Advanced Open Water Diver course, five Specialty courses, and the Rescue Diver course – in addition to having completed 50 logged dives.
One grand prize winner will receive roundtrip airfare for two people to Male and six nights’ full board accommodation with two dives per day at Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa. Two additional winners will receive a recreational PADI eLearning course of their choice. This giveaway is open for all students who work towards receiving their PADI Master Scuba Diving rating during the competition period.
To enter the giveaway, participants will sign up at padi.com and answer the question “Why do you want to be a PADI Master Scuba Diver?” Additional entries will then be given to participants based on the amount of PADI Courses completed en route to becoming a PADI Master Scuba Diver. This includes:
- PADI Master Scuba Diver rating – 10 entries
- PADI Rescue Diver certification – 5 entries
- PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification – 3 entries
- PADI Specialty certification – 2 entries
- PADI Open Water Diver certification– 1 entry
- PADI Club member – 5 entries
For more details on how to become a PADI Master Scuba Diver and enter PADI’s Dream Dive Trip Giveaway to the Maldives, visit padi.com/education/continue-learning#msd.
Awards
Soneva Secret makes Condé Nast Traveller’s 2025 Hot List of best new hotels

Every year, the editors of Condé Nast Traveller dedicate months to exploring new travel experiences around the world, from groundbreaking dining concepts to reimagined retreats and ambitious new hotel openings. Now in its 29th edition, the Hot List is considered one of the most anticipated recognitions in the global travel and hospitality industry. This year’s theme? Joy. A fitting choice for a list that includes zip-lining to dinner in the Maldives, treehouse sleepovers in Kenya, and fine dining in unexpected corners of the world.
One of the standout selections in the 2025 list is Soneva Secret, the newest ultra-luxury concept from Soneva, which continues to push the boundaries of barefoot luxury in the Maldives. Located in Haa Dhaalu Atoll in the far north of the archipelago, Soneva Secret invites guests into a world of intimacy, privacy, and personalised service — reimagined through a hyper-exclusive lens.
Comprising just 14 villas, Soneva Secret embodies the group’s signature sustainable luxury with an even greater emphasis on privacy and bespoke experiences. Each villa comes with a dedicated “Barefoot Guardian” and “Barefoot Assistant,” ensuring every aspect of the stay is curated to the individual preferences of each guest. Some villas even feature retractable roofs for stargazing, waterslides directly into the turquoise lagoon, and direct access to thriving coral reefs.
True to Soneva’s commitment to wellness, sustainability, and fine cuisine, the property offers unique culinary experiences, including dinners on a castaway island, open-air beach kitchens, and a new interpretation of experiential dining that begins with a zip-line ride through the forest canopy. The resort also features glassblowing workshops, wellness therapies, and tailor-made adventures designed around guest interests.
Soneva Secret’s inclusion on the Hot List places it alongside other global trailblazers redefining travel. It also reinforces the Maldives’ position as a leader in ultra-premium, experience-led tourism.
With this recognition, Soneva Secret joins a prestigious global club of new hotels that are not only raising the bar for luxury but are also rethinking what travel can be — joyful, personal, and unforgettable.
For the Maldives, this recognition is more than just another accolade. It is a testament to the archipelago’s continuing allure and its growing portfolio of innovative, world-class hospitality offerings.
News
COLOURS OF OBLU’s 3 resorts in Maldives win British Airways Holidays Customer Excellence Award

It is a triple celebration at COLOURS OF OBLU, as not one but three of its stunning sister resorts have been honoured with the prestigious British Airways Holidays Customer Excellence Award for 2024.
British Airways Holidays is one of the UK’s leading tour operators, and prides itself on taking its customers’ holidays seriously. It uses unbiased, independently verified customer feedback to carefully identify top-rated hotels as part of its commitment to provide high-quality holidays.
OBLU SELECT Lobigili has received a perfect score of 5 out of 5. Both OBLU SELECT Sangeli and OBLU NATURE Helengeli by SENTIDO scored an impressive 4.7 out of 5, based purely on genuine guest reviews. This recognition puts them amongst the crème de la crème of British Airways Holidays partners worldwide – no small feat considering over 72,000 reviews were collected this year.
OBLU SELECT Lobigili is a romantic adults’ exclusive resort just a short 15-minute journey from Malé International Airport. Travellers can indulge in a palette of vibrant experiences, from colourful sunsets to exotic under ocean dining at Only BLU, from snorkelling at the marine-rich house reef to relaxing in the garden spa. “This recognition would not have been possible without the dedication and passion of our hardworking team, who continuously strive to deliver exceptional experiences to each guest,” said Christopher Baker, General Manager OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi and OBLU SELECT Lobigili.

Nestled in the pristine North Malé Atoll, OBLU SELECT Sangeli offers a chic and vibrant island escape with contemporary villas, a separate One Banyan adults-only island, and gourmet dine-around options. It is no wonder guests have fallen in love with this tropical haven. “Our team works tirelessly to ensure every guest has a magical, memorable holiday. Knowing that our guests have rated us so highly is the greatest compliment we could ask for,” said Jenni Hartatik, General Manager OBLU SELECT Sangeli.
Meanwhile, just a short speedboat ride from Malé, OBLU NATURE Helengeli by SENTIDO continues to impress with its unique island character, vibrant house reef, and down-to-earth, barefoot charm. Known for its incredible diving and snorkelling right off the beach, it’s a paradise for underwater enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Reflecting on the award, Alain Camille Trefois, General Manager OBLU NATURE Helengeli said, “this award is a reflection of our passionate team, the beauty of Helengeli island, and the unforgettable experiences we strive to deliver every single day”.

COLOURS OF OBLU, a lifestyle hospitality brand by Atmosphere Core, is an experience collective that creates Vibrant Destinations designed to awaken the senses, bring balance, and provide the gift of lifetime memories. Travellers can choose from four vivid and refreshing island resort experiences at OBLU SELECT Lobigili, OBLU SELECT Sangeli, OBLU NATURE Helengeli by SENTIDO, and OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi.
News
Maldives island featured on Google Earth Day doodle

Google marked Earth Day on Tuesday with a special doodle highlighting selected natural landscapes from around the world, including a site from the Maldives.
The doodle used satellite images to form the letters of the word “Google,” with each letter represented by a distinct geographical location. The capital “G” was illustrated using the uninhabited island of Eriyadhoo in Shaviyani Atoll, Maldives.
The image chosen for Eriyadhoo shows the island surrounded by white sand and turquoise waters, forming a shape resembling the first letter of Google’s name.
Other locations featured in the doodle included an O-shaped river in the French mountains for the first “O” and a section of the wilderness area in Quebec, Canada, for the second “O.” The second “G” was shaped by a mountain river in Argentina. The “L” depicted part of the mountainous terrain in the US state of Utah, while the final “E” was represented by a remote area in New South Wales, Australia.

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