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Ay Kurumba!

Published

13 years ago

July 19, 2012

By Krista Gray-Donald. Krista is Canadian living with her husband and two small children in India for a year. She is a photographer, wine lover, victim advocate, tomboy, and sports fan, and writes about life, as she sees it at www.lilbunnyrabbitz.com.

After several long and tiring trips, both within India, and around the globe, we had one important criteria for our summer vacation planning: direct flight. While there are several nice places that fit the bill, the one that interested us the most was the flight to Malé, Maldives. Private resort islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean? Of course we were interested. After soliciting a number of friends, we booked in at Kurumba, a resort that offered some other features that we were interested in; close to the airport, children’s activity centre, and scuba diving.

We arrived at noon on Sunday, and immediately noticed that it was hot and humid. Given that the Maldives are essentially on the equator, we expected this, but it was still noteworthy. Once we connected with the resort employee who was sent to fetch us, we were whisked on to a luxurious and air conditioned boat and sped to the island that housed Kurumba. As with most resorts and hotels in the Maldives, the island consisted only of our resort, a neat feature. We were quickly and efficiently checked in, and shown to our room, which was right on the beach and looked out onto the ocean.

It didn’t take us long to get settled. While I quickly tried to find the sand toys and bathing suits, the lils and Willy ran the fifteen feet to the water’s edge and started playing in the sand. They inched closer and closer to the water until both lils were happily swimming, in their clothes. We eventually got them into bathing suits and later dragged then away from the water to find food. We walked the perimeter of the island to find the restaurant, and watched the lils inch closer and closer to the water until they were wet again. It was a scene that was happily repeated throughout the week.

That evening we headed to the beach bar on the eastern side of the island. We had heard from friends that the patio was a great place to look for aquatic life, and had heard from the resort that they would be hosting happy hour for the guests! On our walk around the island, the waters were calm and we were pleasantly surprised to find that the area within the breakwall and natural reef was teeming with fish and other creatures. Our favourites were the numerous hermit crabs that skillfully* dodged little and big feet on the beach. We sat outside on the deck at the bar, and marvelled at the fish, rays, crabs, squid, seahorse, and baby SHARKS that kept passing by.

Our days followed a lazy pattern of early morning “shark walks”, lavish meals at the buffet, snorkelling in the patch of ocean that was right in front of our door (the snorkelling was really amazing, the reef is really well developed), more eating, some margaritas or other appropriate drinks, a visit to the “kid’s club”, more eating and switching to wine, and finished off with pouring the lils into bed (and occasionally falling asleep with them). I was also lucky enough to get in five dives, which absolutely thrilled me.

While this may sound like it could have been any other all-inclusive vacation that we have been on, it was so much better. The staff was bend-over-backwards friendly to us and the lils. Everyone that we met, including the great staff working at the dive centre, went out of their way to ensure that we were all enjoying ourselves. The food was great for the carnivores and seafood lovers in the family, and the chefs in particular were responsive to Woo’s allergy needs. The rooms were clean and spacious, had nice linens, and were really well maintained for a resort that is around thirty years old! We all loved the bathroom, with a great big soaker tub and a fabulous outdoor rain shower. A nice side effect is that has convinced the lils that showers are not so bad after all.

One of the best memories that we will all take from the trip was the sunset cruise on Wednesday night. Billed as a dolphin and sunset cruise, I had no way of knowing just how many spinner dolphins we would see, and how they would perform for us! There were literally hundreds of dolphins, swimming in the bow wake, dipping and diving all around us, jumping and doing their patented spin in the air as far as we could see. We were all amazed, and I keep smiling thinking of it. I just wish I had tried harder to get some better shots of them. I was too busy looking on in awe! Now I have to convince Willy that we can go back there before we leave India. I am pretty sure that he wants to go, we just need to know if we will be able to squeeze it in.

*well, all but one skillfully dodged my big feet. RIP lil fella.*

Related Topics:Kurumba Maldives Quickhits

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Siyam World achieves snorkelling world record with 307 participants

Published

9 hours ago

December 6, 2025

m@ldives

Siyam World, a five-star resort owned and operated by Sun Siyam, has entered the Guinness World Records for organising the highest number of people snorkelling simultaneously at a single venue.

The resort achieved the record through the ‘Snorkel World 300’ event held on Friday morning.

The event, conducted with Free Dive Maldives, included participants from 13 islands across Noonu Atoll, Baa Atoll, Haa Alifu Atoll and Haa Dhaalu Atoll. While the target was more than 250 participants, a total of 307 people took part.

Fahud Faiz of Free Dive Maldives, who played a central role in organising the event, said the outcome was possible due to the cooperation of Siyam World and the work of multiple contributors.

Fahud said Siyam World’s management supported the initiative and that both Siyam World and Free Dive Maldives shared the approach needed to carry out the event.

At the conclusion of the event, all participants received an official Guinness World Records medal. This was the first time participants of a Guinness World Records event in the Maldives were awarded the medal.

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World-first overwater padel tennis court launched at Meyyafushi Maldives

Published

2 weeks ago

November 21, 2025

m@ldives

Meyyafushi Maldives, a new five-star premium all-inclusive boutique resort, has introduced what it describes as a world-first in resort recreation: a fixed overwater padel tennis court. Positioned above clear lagoons and framed by sweeping sunset views, the court offers guests an opportunity to play and unwind in a distinctive setting surrounded by panoramic ocean vistas.

Located in the Lhaviyani Atoll, the overwater court allows players to take part in a match while immersed in the natural calm of the surrounding seascape. Guests staying at the resort are offered one hour of complimentary padel tennis as part of the premium all-inclusive package. The setting provides a secluded and tranquil space for both beginners and experienced players to practise with the sound of the ocean beneath.

“Padel tennis has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and we wanted to bring it to life in the most spectacular way possible,” said Ahmed Siaar, Cluster General Manager of BeKind Hotels & Resorts. “Playing on water, surrounded by endless blues, transforms the game into something transcendent – it’s active luxury at its finest.”

The overwater court forms part of Meyyafushi’s wider range of facilities, which include an underwater dining restaurant, an overwater wine cellar, water pool suites with slides, a mini bowling lane, and an adults-only sky bar featuring a glass-bottom infinity pool. Each facility has been created to offer experiences that encourage connection, exploration and wellbeing.

With uninterrupted sunset views and a distinctive overwater location, Meyyafushi Maldives’ padel tennis court marks a global first for the sport, bringing together physical activity, landscape and design in a single setting.

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Kuramathi Maldives to host 2-week Campioni football experience in 2026

Published

2 weeks ago

November 21, 2025

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Kuramathi Maldives, available exclusively through Kuoni in the United Kingdom, has announced the return of the Campioni Soccer Academy next summer. The two-week programme, set once again against the turquoise expanse of the Indian Ocean, will transform the island’s football pitch into a world-class training ground for young players aged 4 to 16.

The 2026 edition will welcome two celebrated English football legends: Stuart Pearce MBE and Wes Brown, as well as UEFA ‘A’ licensed coach Adrian Whitbread. Together, they will lead two consecutive weeks of training sessions designed to inspire, challenge, and uplift children of all abilities.

Week One: 27 July – 1 August 2026: Led by Stuart Pearce MBE and Adrian Whitbread
Week Two: 3 – 8 August 2026: Led by Wes Brown and Adrian Whitbread

The experience begins with a beachfront welcome reception where families meet the visiting football icons, collect their bespoke training gear, and prepare for the week ahead. From Monday to Saturday, daily sessions will focus on essential skills, teamwork, strategy, and sportsmanship. Participants will receive consistent personal feedback from the professionals, offering a rare chance to learn directly from top-level athletes in an unforgettable setting.

Parents may use the opportunity to relax around the resort, confident that their children are safe, active, and engaged, or they may join the popular mid-week Parents’ Game — a light-hearted fixture that brings all ages together on the pitch.

Reflecting on the 2025 edition, Stuart Pearce MBE commented: “This year’s Campioni Soccer Academy at Kuramathi was fantastic, and I can’t wait to return in Summer 2026 to meet a new group of families. The work we get to do with Campioni is always inspiring, in every training session I see potential. Campioni isn’t just about learning new football skills; it’s about inspiring young minds to dream big and work hard.”

Wes Brown added: “Seeing kids improve through the week of coaching is always what I enjoy most about Campioni. I can’t wait to be at Kuramathi next summer; the Maldives feels like the perfect destination for kids and families to have a great experience.”

The 2025 programme also welcomed young players from local Maldivian academies in Thoddoo and Rasdhoo for a special session with John Barnes MBE and Adrian Whitbread. Kuramathi and Campioni intend to continue this initiative in 2026, offering young Maldivian talents the chance to train with football greats.

More than a training camp, Campioni at Kuramathi is positioned as an immersive island experience. It is a place where childhood ambitions are nurtured, evening matches unfold under tropical skies, and young athletes are inspired by the magic of the Maldives.