Excursions
Underwater adventure awaits at Pullman Maldives Maamutaa’s Aqua Week 2025
Pullman Maldives Maamutaa is inviting travellers to experience the extraordinary with the unveiling of its vibrant Maamutaa House Reef — a thriving underwater ecosystem situated just 100 meters from the resort’s shoreline. Boasting rich marine biodiversity and easy access, this reef presents a rare opportunity to explore the aquatic wonders of the Maldives without venturing far from shore.
The reef is home to an impressive array of marine life, including graceful green and hawksbill turtles, blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, schools of colourful parrotfish and angelfish, as well as occasional sightings of eagle rays and octopuses. According to the resort’s in-house marine biologist, the reef is not only highly accessible but also remarkably active, offering guests the chance to engage directly with a thriving marine ecosystem.
Visitors begin their journey with a swim through a flourishing seagrass bed — a crucial habitat in its own right — before reaching the reef drop-off, where the underwater spectacle unfolds. The reef’s hard and soft coral formations remain in excellent condition, protected by the atoll’s geography and sustained by strong ocean currents.
From July 13 to 20, 2025, Pullman Maldives Maamutaa will host Aqua Week 2025, an immersive celebration of underwater discovery, innovation, and environmental responsibility. This event marks the official launch of Phase 1 of the resort’s Seagrass Mapping & Awareness Project, offering guests the opportunity to participate in guided snorkeling tours, collect visual data, and learn about the importance of seagrass meadows in supporting marine biodiversity and mitigating climate change.
Aqua Week will also feature several high-profile collaborations. Insta360 will lead underwater content creation workshops, enabling guests to capture their marine adventures in 360-degree detail. Edge K5 will provide smart drive underwater scooters for a more dynamic exploration of the reef. Additionally, certified mermaid Gloria Xue will offer mermaid classes, host underwater photoshoots, and perform captivating mermaid shows in the resort’s Aqua Villa.
Bringing together sustainability, technology, and immersive storytelling, Aqua Week 2025 promises to be a memorable celebration beneath the waves.
As part of its broader commitment to environmental sustainability and in line with Green Globe’s certification standards, Pullman Maldives Maamutaa has launched a comprehensive three-phase Seagrass Mapping & Awareness Project. The initiative aims to highlight the ecological significance of seagrass meadows, which serve as nurseries for marine life and play a key role in carbon sequestration.
The project includes:
- Phase 1 (July): Seagrass identification and mapping in collaboration with resort staff and guests.
- Phase 2 (August–September): Guided snorkeling tours to collect visual data and raise awareness, continuing during Aqua Week.
- Phase 3 (October): The premiere of a short documentary film that captures the project’s progress and outcomes.
- This initiative not only contributes to the protection of a vital marine habitat but also encourages guest participation in meaningful conservation efforts.
The reef at Pullman Maldives Maamutaa serves as the foundation for a range of signature guest experiences designed to educate, inspire, and engage:
- Expert-led guided snorkeling tours
- Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) sessions directly from the beach
- Night snorkeling under UV light to reveal biofluorescence
- Citizen science programs focused on seasonal seagrass research
- Kids’ Ocean Explorers — a playful educational program tailored for young marine enthusiasts
Whether seasoned divers, casual snorkellers, or curious beginners, guests at Pullman Maldives Maamutaa can enjoy direct access to the wonders of the Indian Ocean with ease and unforgettable reward.
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Eri Maldives offers accessible reef diving and snorkelling
Eri Maldives is located within the waters of North Malé Atoll and is surrounded by a house reef accessible to both beginner and experienced divers. With four direct reef entry points and shore access, the resort offers opportunities for snorkelling, introductory dives and certified diving.
The house reef supports a range of marine life, including white-tip and black-tip reef sharks, nurse sharks, hawksbill turtles, mobula rays and spotted eagle rays, as well as schools of reef fish. The accessibility of the reef allows guests to explore the area over multiple days, providing opportunities to observe marine behaviour and habitats over time.
Turtle encounters
Hawksbill turtles are among the most frequently observed species on the reef. The resort’s dive team has identified 14 individual turtles, each recognised by shell patterns and physical features. These include turtles known as Rosie, Cara and Anna, which have been documented through repeated sightings.
The resort maintains records of these turtles, allowing returning guests to identify individuals over time. Guests may also contribute to this initiative by naming newly identified turtles that have not previously been recorded.
Manta ray season
From December to April, manta rays are known to visit cleaning stations at Bodu Hithi Thila, located approximately one hour by boat from the resort. During this period, ocean conditions support plankton flows that attract mantas to the area, where they can be observed feeding or visiting cleaning stations.
Night diving experiences
Night snorkelling and diving activities provide a different perspective on reef activity. Species such as reef sharks, trevallies, moray eels and nurse sharks become more active after dark, offering guests the opportunity to observe nocturnal marine behaviour.
At Eri Maldives, marine experiences form a central part of the guest offering, with the house reef providing consistent opportunities for exploration. The resort’s dive programme is designed to support repeated interaction with the marine environment, allowing guests to experience a range of underwater activity throughout their stay.
Accommodation is available in studio and beach villa categories, with full board packages offered for direct bookings, subject to availability.
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Radisson Blu Maldives image shortlisted for Monaco environmental award
A breathtaking moment beneath the Maldivian skies has earned international recognition, as Manta Sunset Wave, captured by award-winning underwater photographer Henley Spiers, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Environmental Photography Award 2026.
The image, taken during a diving retreat at Radisson Blu Resort Maldives, beautifully encapsulates the magic of the Maldives’ underwater world. Photographed in the waters of the South Ari Atoll during a evening excursion, the image captures the graceful movement of manta rays at sunset, an awe-inspiring reminder of the Maldives’ rich and diverse marine ecosystem.
As one of just 36 shortlisted works selected by an international panel of renowned nature, wildlife, and conservation photographers, Manta Sunset Wave will be featured in the Foundation’s 2026 international exhibition. The collection will debut in the Principality of Monaco before touring globally and will also be featured in a high-quality commemorative photobook, bringing these powerful visual stories to audiences around the world.
Beyond its visual splendour, the image highlights the importance of conservation photography in protecting fragile marine ecosystems. Through his work, Henley Spiers captures not only the wonder of the underwater world but also the urgent need to preserve it. His imagery serves as both inspiration and advocacy, encouraging a deeper connection with the ocean and a shared responsibility for its future.
A public vote is now open until 12 April 2026, and we warmly invite hospitality partners and the wider tourism community to support Henley Spiers in securing the public vote. By doing so, you will help showcase the Maldives’ rich and diverse marine life to a global audience and reinforce the importance of ocean conservation.
Henley Spiers and Radisson Blu Resort Maldives have previously collaborated on creative projects, with Henley serving as Creative Partner to document the resort’s exceptional diving experiences, including the remarkable presence of whale sharks in South Ari Atoll. This ongoing partnership continues to celebrate and protect one of the world’s most extraordinary underwater environments.
Guests at Radisson Blu Resort Maldives are immersed in this extraordinary marine environment, where encounters with manta rays, vibrant coral reefs, and even whale sharks are part of the experience. It is a destination where luxury and nature exist in harmony, offering unforgettable underwater journeys that leave a lasting impression.
To cast your vote, please follow this link.
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Baros Maldives introduces ‘Lines of Respect’ fishing programme
Baros Maldives, the iconic private island resort in the North Malé Atoll celebrated for its timeless elegance and authentic Maldivian spirit, has launched Lines of Respect–a first-of-its-kind sustainable sport fishing initiative that reframes big game angling as a dialogue with nature rather than a conquest of it.
The initiative arrives at a moment when expectations of travel are shifting, as guests seek experiences that both immerse and protect. At the same time, marine ecosystems face growing pressure from overfishing, climate change and biodiversity loss, bringing ocean stewardship into sharper focus than ever before.
Lines of Respect positions Baros as a leader in this evolving landscape, demonstrating that the thrill of sport fishing and a genuine commitment to the ocean’s long-term health are not only compatible, but inseparable.
Cultural pride and conservation practice
Rooted in the Maldives’ deep-rooted fishing heritage–a tradition that has shaped island life and identity for centuries–Lines of Respect draws a direct line between cultural pride and conservation practice. The initiative places particular emphasis on catch-and-release sport fishing, allowing guests to experience the intensity of big game fishing while ensuring minimal impact on marine ecosystems.
Sustainable practices are already embedded in the fabric of daily operations at Baros: strict adherence to Maldivian fishing regulations, the careful release of undersized fish during excursions, and a crew trained to handle marine life with care and expertise. Lines of Respect builds on this foundation and gives it a name, a framework and a clear philosophy.
“With Lines of Respect, guests won’t have to compromise on experience,” said Ibrahim Shijah, General Manager.“It’s about encouraging people to fish with intention. The ocean is generous and it is our responsibility, as hosts and humans, to ensure it stays that way.”
Sport fishing as marine stewardship
Baros sits on the edge of one of the Maldives’ most renowned house reefs–an extraordinary marine environment that the resort has long been committed to protecting. Lines of Respect extends this commitment into the open water, ensuring that every sport fishing experience offered at Baros is designed with the health of the wider ecosystem in mind.
From the vessels used–traditional wooden dhonis that minimise environmental footprint–to the techniques practised and the species targeted, every element of the programme has been considered through a conservation lens. Guests are not simply fishing; they are participating in a practice that respects the future of the Indian Ocean.
This philosophy is further reflected in Fully Ocean, Baros’ new annual sustainability initiative launching in June 2026, which invites guests to explore marine conservation through immersive, hands-on experiences aligned with global ocean awareness events.
Fishing experiences at Baros Maldives
For guests wishing to experience the full breadth of Maldivian angling culture, Baros offers a range of fishing excursions–each guided by an expert crew and designed to connect guests with the sea.
- Sunrise Fishing: A serene morning excursion departing at 6:00 am aboard a traditional wooden dhoni. Using topwater and subsurface lures, guests target tuna, wahoo, bonito and mahi-mahi as the sun rises over the atoll. Offered twice weekly as a scheduled group activity, or as a private experience on request. Duration: two hours.
- Sunset Fishing: From 5:30 pm, guests cast their lines into the calm evening waters using traditional handline fishing with live bait, targeting bottom-dwelling species alongside tuna, wahoo and mahi-mahi. Available as a scheduled group activity or a private excursion. Duration: two hours.
- Big Game Fishing: For those seeking the full adrenaline of deep-water sport fishing, Baros offers morning (from 5:00 am, five hours) and afternoon (from 1:00 pm, four hours) big game excursions. Aboard a traditional dhoni or a sports fishing boat (surcharge applicable), guests venture into deeper waters using trolling, bait fishing and artificial lure techniques to pursue marlin, sailfish, swordfish and large tuna species, including bluefin, yellowfin and bigeye.
- Golden Reel Adventure: The pinnacle of the Baros fishing offering. This private half-day excursion is a deep immersion into authentic Maldivian angling heritage—covering five distinct traditional fishing techniques, guided by an expert crew to prime locations across the atoll. Guests may encounter marlin, sailfish, swordfish and a range of tuna species in an experience that is as educational as it is extraordinary.
Fishing experiences at Baros Maldives are available to resort guests. Booking in advance is recommended. For booking enquiries, please contact reservations@baros.com or call +960 664 2672.
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