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Wickedly romantic getaway at Pullman Maldives Maamutaa

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This Valentine’s Day, Pullman Maldives Maamutaa presents a captivatingly dark and playful celebration with its extraordinary ‘Wicked Romance’ experience. Inspired by the intrigue of mystery, mischief, and unrestrained passion, the resort is transforming its island paradise into an immersive world where romance embraces the unexpected.

Under the enchanting Maldivian night sky, guests are invited to indulge in a beachfront dining experience designed to tantalise the senses. The Spellbound Sunset Experience offers a private Sunken Beach Dinner, where flickering candlelight illuminates an exquisite multi-course menu as diners sink their toes into the cool sand. For those drawn to the rhythmic lull of the ocean, Romance Written in the Stars presents a beachfront dinner, pairing a gourmet feast with Rose Champagne beneath a canopy of stars.

For an intimate morning indulgence, couples can begin their day with the Floating Beyond Gravity breakfast, a luxurious spread served on the tranquil waters of a private pool, accompanied by a bottle of bubbly. For the ultimate romantic retreat, Lagoon Love Spell sets the mood with a dreamy rose bubble bath, complete with a bottle of sparkling wine and decadent chocolate-coated strawberries, allowing couples to sink into bliss and toast to love amidst the magic of the Maldives.

For those seeking a deeper connection, the resort’s ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ dive experience invites couples to explore the wonders of the underwater world. Hand in hand, they can glide through crystal-clear depths, surrounded by vibrant marine life, creating an unforgettable love story beneath the waves. This experience includes two guided dives during their stay, with breathtaking underwater photos and videos capturing the adventure. A cinematic social media reel and a longer keepsake video ensure that these moments can be relived time and again.

The resort elevates romance with three luxurious spa experiences designed for couples to unwind, reconnect, and surrender to pure relaxation.

The Born for You package provides a 90-minute couple’s massage infused with warm oils, followed by a rose-infused bubble bath, creating a serene escape where love lingers in the air.

For those who appreciate self-care, the Grow Old with You package offers a 45-minute couple’s massage, followed by a gentleman’s manicure and a deep-conditioning hair treatment for the ladies, celebrating love as a lifelong journey of care and connection.

The Through the Years experience is the ultimate full-body renewal, beginning with a 60-minute couple’s massage, followed by a 45-minute body exfoliation or wrap, a refreshing cucumber mask, and a rejuvenating steam session—designed to leave guests feeling completely restored.

Love at Pullman Maldives Maamutaa extends beyond couples, as young romantics are invited to join the festivities. At the ‘Sugar & Spells and Heartful Creations’ session, children can participate in decorating heart-shaped pizzas, frosting cupcakes with love, and baking heart-shaped cookies. Meanwhile, parents can take a quiet moment to enjoy a sunset champagne toast.

For those seeking a transformative experience, the Valentine Wellness Retreat offers a journey of restoration and connection. Couples can immerse themselves in a sound healing session, followed by a nourishing breakfast at Sol Rising. A 60-minute couple’s massage melts away tension before an in-villa wellness dining experience provides a feast of indulgence. The retreat concludes with a floating yoga ritual at dawn, where two souls move in harmony as the ocean sways beneath them.

For those desiring unapologetic indulgence, the Underwater Aqua Villa Offer provides a lavish escape. An intimate in-villa dining dinner sets the stage for romance, followed by a rose-petal bubble bath. Mornings begin with a floating breakfast in a private pool, leading to further relaxation with a couple’s massage at the Pullman Spa. To complete the experience, a private yoga session ensures a feeling of total tranquility—because at Pullman, love is always a little wicked.

Whether it’s a moonlit beachfront dinner, a rejuvenating afternoon at the spa, or an exhilarating underwater adventure, Pullman Maldives Maamutaa invites guests to embrace a uniquely passionate escape. After all, love should never be predictable—Wickedly Yours, Today and Always!

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Gourmet pizza takes centre stage at COLOURS OF OBLU with Chef Marco Piccini

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Placing unique customer experiences at the heart of its brand identity, COLOURS OF OBLU values fun and relaxation on holiday as much as the indulgence and entertainment found across its portfolio of four stunning resorts.

In line with the vibrant spirit of the OBLU guest experience, the resorts, part of Atmosphere Core, have announced a forthcoming collaboration with renowned Italian pizza chef Marco Piccini. From 22 September to 3 October, Chef Marco will bring his distinctive blend of tradition and craftsmanship to the Maldives through a series of pop-up pizza dining events and more.

Chef Marco, CEO of ‘Mako Pizza’, is far more than a pizza maker. Specialising in live show cooking and exclusive event catering, he is celebrated for creating bespoke culinary experiences using organic dough, long fermentation methods, and premium flours. Each event he curates is a performance in itself, blending flavour, artistry, and storytelling.

This will mark Chef Marco’s debut in the Maldives. Atmosphere Core’s Vice President of Food & Beverage, Anupam Banerjee, expressed the brand’s enthusiasm, noting that the team constantly seeks artisanal culinary experiences that entertain as much as they please the palate. He highlighted Chef Marco’s commitment to the origins and quality of each ingredient, and his passion for sharing the history of his country’s national dish, emphasising that great pizza begins with the dough.

On a whirlwind tour of North Malé Atoll, Chef Marco will host a series of pop-up pizza dining events and speciality Chef’s Menu concepts, beginning at OBLU NATURE Helengeli, continuing to OBLU SELECT Sangeli, and concluding at the couples-only OBLU SELECT Lobigili. During his visit, he will work closely with the resorts’ culinary teams, providing them with a rare opportunity to master the art of traditional pizza-making. Guests will also be invited to join interactive sessions, learning to create handcrafted pizzas from scratch.

Raised in Sovigliana-Vinci with roots in Grosseto and Empoli, Chef Marco inherited his love for cooking from his mother, Mara. He studied culinary arts at the Enriques Institute in Castelfiorentino and gained experience in acclaimed restaurants including Borgo Allegro, Castelfalfi Resort, and Milan’s Michelin-starred JOIA.

In 2019, his collaboration with chef Fabrizio Marino—another celebrated Italian chef who works with Atmosphere Core—led to the opening of Pizza Del Popolo, San Miniato’s first vegetarian bakery-pizzeria, dedicated to organic, locally sourced produce and authentic regional flavours.

For Chef Marco, pizza is a passion that comes from the soul, more an art form than a simple culinary process. Having showcased his craft across Europe, he sees the Maldives as an extraordinary new destination for his events. He expressed his excitement at sharing his expertise with guests and kitchen teams, while also learning from the island chefs about their own specialities and local cuisine.

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Le Méridien Maldives hosts SSI’s ambitious global training video production

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In August 2025, SSI, the world’s leading business-based dive training agency, embarked on an ambitious multi-week video shoot at Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa in partnership with Sub Oceanic Maldives. The large-scale production will deliver a series of updated, high-quality training videos, lifestyle visuals and brand content to be shared with divers and dive professionals across the globe. More than a filming project, the initiative represents a strategic alliance between luxury hospitality, elite dive training and professional media production, with the aim of promoting diversity in the diving community and elevating how dive education is delivered worldwide.

Situated in the pristine Lhaviyani Atoll, Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa offers an eco-conscious island sanctuary surrounded by 50 world-class dive sites. Its vibrant reefs and diverse marine life made it the ideal choice for SSI’s latest production. The partnership also reflects a shared commitment to marine education and exceptional guest experiences. General Manager Thomas Schult expressed pride in hosting the project, noting the resort’s thriving reef ecosystem as a perfect setting for professional dive content and for guests seeking to explore the underwater world.

Le Méridien’s alignment with SSI’s values of ocean conservation, marine education and engaging dive programmes strengthened its appeal as a partner. Guests are able to immerse themselves in the marine environment through curated diving and snorkelling activities offered by Sub Oceanic Maldives, the on-site SSI Training Center.

At the heart of the collaboration is Sub Oceanic Maldives, known for its professionalism, expertise and enriching guest experiences. The team has been instrumental in coordinating logistics, selecting locations, managing safety and assisting with underwater filming. Head of Operations Florian Gansl spoke warmly of the project, joking that the abundance of turtles on the resort’s house reef might frequently wander into shots. Two Sub Oceanic instructors, Alejandro Embid Ruiz de Conejo and Chun-Ping “Pyng” Lin, are also featured in the production, bringing local insight and technical expertise to the screen.

Earlier this year, SSI held a global casting call for instructors worldwide, receiving an overwhelming response. Six professionals were selected for their diving expertise, skill in demonstrating techniques and ability to inspire others while representing diverse ages, backgrounds and genders. The cast includes Alejandro Embid (Spain), Kornel Toth (Hungary), Gordos Mateo Gojunco (Philippines), Sita Angela Jaekel (Indonesia), Chun-Ping “Pyng” Lin (Taiwan) and Jacinta Kimani (Kenya), each bringing unique experience and cultural perspective to the project.

The shoot focuses on three main content areas: detailed skill demonstration videos to enhance SSI’s training materials, authentic diving footage showcasing the Maldives’ reefs and marine life, and lifestyle content capturing the complete dive travel experience, from preparation to post-dive relaxation. Behind-the-scenes moments are also being documented for future release, offering a glimpse into the teamwork, planning and passion behind the production.

More than a visual refresh, this initiative forms part of SSI’s long-term strategy to modernise dive education and provide its global professional network with engaging, up-to-date resources. The partnership between SSI, Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa and Sub Oceanic Maldives exemplifies how world-class training, hospitality and dive operations can combine to promote eco-conscious travel, marine education and inspiring storytelling, encouraging the next generation of divers.

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Tiny flippers, big journey: sea turtles hatch at Alila Kothaifaru

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A magical scene is unfolding at Alila Kothaifaru Maldives, as the island becomes a nurturing ground for the next generation of marine life — sea turtle hatchlings. With four active nests currently incubating, guests and marine enthusiasts alike are eagerly anticipating the emergence of these tiny creatures, expected to align with the next full moon.

Following a recent successful hatching, the remaining three nests have been identified as belonging to Green Sea Turtles — one of the largest sea turtle species inhabiting tropical and subtropical waters. Renowned for their smooth, heart-shaped carapaces and their herbivorous diet of seagrass and algae, these gentle marine giants play a vital role in sustaining healthy coral reefs and marine ecosystems. One additional nest is believed to belong to a Hawksbill turtle, although this has yet to be confirmed.

“Sea turtles are fascinating creatures. They lead largely solitary lives and migrate thousands of kilometres between their feeding and nesting grounds,” explains Fernanda Cortina Escalante, the resort’s resident Marine Biologist. “It’s incredibly special to witness this phase of their life cycle so closely here on our island.”

Turtle reproduction is an intricate and delicate process. These ancient mariners return to the very shores on which they were born to lay their eggs, usually under the cover of darkness. Female turtles dig nests in the sand, where the eggs incubate for 45 to 70 days before the hatchlings instinctively head towards the sea.

Green Sea Turtles can live between 60 and 80 years, grow up to 1.5 metres in length, and weigh as much as 300 kilograms. Their remarkable physiology allows them to hold their breath for up to five hours while resting, an impressive adaptation to life in the ocean.

“Hosting these nests provides us with a unique opportunity to educate guests about sea turtle conservation and promote greater awareness of marine biodiversity,” says Camille Berger, Euro-Divers Manager at Alila Kothaifaru Maldives. “We feel fortunate to share this meaningful experience with guests from across the globe.”

The resort places a strong emphasis on conservation, working closely with its in-house marine biologist to monitor and protect the nesting sites.

“A new generation of sea turtles has officially embarked on its journey into the ocean, with 61 tiny hatchlings recently making their way from nest to sea,” shares Thomas Weber, General Manager of Alila Kothaifaru Maldives.

“Moments like these remind us of both the beauty of nature and the responsibility we bear in preserving this extraordinary ecosystem. It is a true honour to be part of the journey of these magnificent creatures.”

Guests staying at the resort may have the rare opportunity to witness a live hatching — an unforgettable experience of nature at its most raw and awe-inspiring.

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