News
From Shipwreck to Living Reef: Siyam World launches ambitious marine restoration project
Siyam World Maldives has unveiled one of the newest and most exciting wreck dives in the Maldives. Created from a former Maldivian tuna freighter, the 66.36-metre vessel now rests beneath the waters of Noonu Atoll, offering divers the opportunity to explore a remarkable new underwater attraction while laying the foundations for something even bigger. Over time, through natural coral growth and dedicated restoration efforts, the wreck will gradually transform into a thriving living reef, creating new habitat for marine life and supporting the long-term health of the surrounding ecosystem. This journey from shipwreck to living reef forms the foundation of Wreck to Reef, Siyam World’s new annual conservation initiative under the Sun Siyam Cares sustainability platform.
Taking place from June 11 to 15, 2026, the inaugural edition of Wreck to Reef will bring together divers, marine conservationists, scientists, content creators, ocean advocates, and guests to celebrate both the launch of the wreck and the beginning of its transformation into a living underwater ecosystem. The shipwreck may be the headline grabber, but Wreck to Reef is the real story.
At the heart of the initiative lies a former Japanese-built tuna freighter from the 1980s. Measuring 66.36 metres in length and weighing 499 tonnes, the vessel once transported Maldivian tuna across the atolls to Malé and local canneries before being given a second life beneath the waters of Noonu Atoll. Once responsible for transporting Maldivian tuna across the atolls to Malé and local canneries, the vessel has now been given a second life and a far more exciting retirement plan. The story began in 2021 when Sun Siyam Group Founder and Chairman, Hon. Ahmed Siyam Mohamed shared a vision of creating something truly meaningful beneath the waters of Noonu Atoll, a dive experience that would not only attract visitors but also contribute to the future of the marine environment. What followed was an ambitious journey to source, prepare, and purposefully sink a vessel that could serve as both a world-class dive site and the foundation for a future reef ecosystem.
After being located in Lhaviyani Atoll, carefully cleaned and prepared near Malé, and following government approval, the vessel was transported to Noonu Atoll and purposefully sunk within Siyam World’s territorial waters in October 2024. Of course, no great story happens without a twist.
During the sinking process, trapped air caused the vessel to settle upside down on the seabed. Not exactly the plan. Undeterred, a skilled local team from Miladhoo spent weeks using giant air bags, ropes, and plenty of determination to carefully rotate the wreck upright. Mission accomplished. Today, the bow points dramatically towards the reef at 10 metres while the stern descends to 24 metres, creating an exciting and accessible dive for certified divers. Marine life has wasted no time claiming its new address. Already recorded around the wreck are guitar sharks, blacktip reef sharks, nurse sharks, lemon sharks, grey reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, eagle rays, stingrays, turtles, moray eels, octopus, groupers, snappers, boxfish, batfish, angelfish, nudibranchs, and large schools of jackfish. Soft and hard corals have also begun colonising the steel structure, signalling the start of its transformation into a thriving underwater ecosystem. For a site that officially opened only recently, the speed at which marine life has adopted the wreck has exceeded expectations, reinforcing its potential to become one of the Maldives’ most exciting artificial reef projects.
But here’s the thing. The ship was never the end goal. It was always the starting point. Unlike a traditional dive attraction, Wreck to Reef has been designed as a long-term conservation initiative that will continue to evolve year after year. The ambition is not simply to create one of the Maldives’ most exciting wreck dives, but to establish a living underwater ecosystem that guests can actively help build, monitor, and watch grow over time.
Through guided coral planting experiences, guests will be invited to contribute coral fragments directly onto the wreck, helping create new habitat for marine life while supporting the reef’s ongoing development. Every coral fragment planted becomes part of a much bigger story, one that will continue long after the dive is over. Because let’s be honest, most holiday souvenirs end up on a shelf. This one grows into a reef.
As the project develops, guests will be able to follow its progress through future editions of Wreck to Reef, updates from Sun Diving’s marine experts, and a structured reef monitoring programme led by resort Marine Biologist Mariyam Thuhufa (Thuhu). Coral growth, biodiversity, and the overall development of the ecosystem will be documented and assessed every three months, providing measurable insights into the transformation of the wreck into a thriving living reef. The goal is to create a lasting connection between travellers and the marine environment, transforming visitors into active participants in ocean restoration while ensuring the project’s environmental impact can be monitored, measured, and shared for years to come.
The first edition of Wreck to Reef will feature a packed programme of activities including the official opening dives on the wreck, coral planting dive sessions, marine conservation discussions, local island visits, beach and reef clean-up initiatives, reef observation dives, blue-light night diving experiences, community engagement activities, and a closing gala celebrating the ocean and the people dedicated to protecting it.
Delivered under the Sun Siyam Cares sustainability platform, the initiative reflects the group’s commitment to creating meaningful environmental impact while giving guests the opportunity to be part of something bigger than themselves. With official approval to cultivate coral fragments directly onto the wreck, the site will serve as a living laboratory for reef restoration, biodiversity enhancement, marine education, and long-term conservation.
Commenting on the launch, Sara, Director of Marketing at Sun Siyam Resorts, said: “Wreck to Reef is probably the boldest story we have ever set out to tell from Siyam World, and definitely the most patient one. This is not a single event, nor is it simply the launch of a new dive site. It is the beginning of a long-term commitment to reef restoration, ocean conservation, and meaningful guest participation. Every guest who plants a coral fragment becomes part of a story that will continue growing long after they leave our shores.”
For Siyam World, the project perfectly reflects the spirit of the resort itself: adventurous, unconventional, and deeply connected to the Maldives. It is a place where guests can experience the thrill of exploring a brand-new shipwreck one day and contribute to the creation of a thriving marine ecosystem the next. Because at Siyam World, adventure does not stop at the waterline. Sometimes, it begins twenty-four metres below it.
Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani and Soneva Secret have been named to The Edge List 2026 by Forbes Travel Guide, a leading authority on luxury hospitality.
Now in its second year, The Edge List celebrates luxury experiences that inspire travellers to venture beyond the familiar. This year’s theme, Curated Journeys, celebrates hotels and cruises offering one-of-a-kind, multi-leg itineraries that immerse travellers in the culture, nature and character of awe-inspiring destinations.
Set on a natural island in the Maldives’ Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Soneva Fushi is the original Soulful Playground, where jungle villas disappear into the canopy and overwater retreats meet the reef at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Three decades on from pioneering barefoot luxury in the Maldives, the island’s commitment to protecting the biosphere it calls home remains a foundational pillar that infuses guest experience.
Spread across a leisurely five kilometres in the Noonu Atoll, Soneva Jani is the lifestyle-led Energyscape, where retractable roofs open overwater villas to the night sky and percussive pops hint at a game of tennis unfolding amid the greenery. From stargazing to Ayurvedic treatments, the resort choreographs its own kind of journey—as much about movement and adventure as it is about stillness.
Soneva’s most intimate expression, Soneva Secret is a hideaway in the remote Makunudhoo Atoll, at the Maldives’ western-most tip. With only 13 villas that blur the lines between indoors and out, it offers a rare kind of access: surrounded by untouched marine life, absolute in its seclusion, with no schedule to follow but the guest’s own.
“The places we remember are those that changed how we feel. Across Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani and Soneva Secret, we create spaces, moments and experiences that connect our guests with what truly matters to each of them,” said Neil Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer of Soneva. “We are honoured to be recognised by Forbes Travel Guide for our commitment to innovation, stewardship and meaningful exploration.”
The Edge acronym represents: Exceptional Access to awe-inspiring destinations; Daring Innovation in providing boundary-pushing adventures and once-in-a-lifetime experiences; Global Stewardship with a prioritisation on conservation, minimising impact and care for the community; and Elevated Experience, delivering excellence even in secluded environments.
“Luxury travel today is defined not only by where you go, but by how thoughtfully the journey is crafted,” said Hermann Elger, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide. “The 2026 Edge List celebrates curated journeys that transform travel into something more meaningful, whether connecting guests across extraordinary destinations or revealing the many dimensions of a single place. We are proud to recognise the Soneva portfolio of resorts for crafting experiences that exemplify the art of exploration.”
Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives has unveiled Kodhipparu Reef Connection, a new experience-led stay designed around one of the island’s greatest natural treasures–its award-winning house reef, recognised among the Top 10 House Reefs in the Maldives in the 2026 Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific.
Created around the resort’s Reef Pool Villas, the new experience moves beyond the traditional Maldives villa stay by connecting accommodation, marine discovery, wellbeing and dining through one continuous journey inspired by the reef.
Rather than treating snorkelling, yoga and dining as individual resort activities, Kodhipparu Reef Connection follows the natural rhythm of a day on the island. Positioned to face the sunrise, our Reef Pool Villas allow guests to watch the island awaken from their own private deck, with the house reef stretching out before them. Sunrise yoga turns this natural moment into the beginning of the day’s journey — a quiet connection with the ocean before discovering what lies beneath it.
The connection then moves beneath the surface. Through the Blue Mind reef experience, our Marine Biologist introduces guests to her work protecting Kodhipparu’s house reef, the marine life that calls it home, and how the reef changes throughout the day. Guests learn what to look for–and where and when they are most likely to find it–giving them the knowledge to explore the reef independently and see each snorkel through more informed eyes.
As daylight softens, the experience moves above the water with sunset cocktails and chef’s canapés, followed by a signature three-course dinner at FireDoor, Grand Park Kodhipparu’s overwater speciality restaurant.
A reserved glass-floor table provides the setting for the evening, with the resort’s Marine Biologist introducing guests to Life Beneath Your Table and the marine world visible below before dinner begins.
The experience reflects a wider philosophy at Grand Park Kodhipparu: that modern luxury hospitality should be about much more than the room itself.
Raffaele Solferino, General Manager of Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives, said: “A beautiful villa is important, but today it is only the beginning of what guests expect from a resort. What creates lasting memories is everything that happens around and beyond the room–the connection to nature, food, people and a genuine sense of place.”
“Our award-winning house reef is part of the identity of Kodhipparu, so with Reef Connection we wanted to bring it into the whole rhythm of the stay. Guests wake above it, swim through it, learn about it and, at FireDoor, dine above it. It is a perfect example of what I believe hospitality should be about: not simply selling a room, but creating a reason to stay.”
Located just 20 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, Grand Park Kodhipparu offers guests unusually easy access to the underwater world of the Maldives while staying at a boutique luxury resort. Its house reef begins directly off the island, allowing guests to explore vibrant coral gardens and marine life without the need for a separate boat excursion.
Recognised among the Maldives’ leading house reefs by Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, Hong Kong & Macau’s Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2026, the reef is more than an amenity at Kodhipparu. It is part of the character of the island and increasingly central to the resort’s approach to experiences that connect guests more meaningfully with nature and the ocean.
Kodhipparu Reef Connection includes:
- 3-night stay in a Reef Pool Villa
- Complimentary Half Board upgrade
- Daily sunrise and sunset yoga
- Blue Mind reef discovery with a Marine Biologist, introducing the reef, its marine life and ongoing conservation work
- One signature three-course dinner for two at FireDoor
- Reserved glass-floor dining table
- Sunset cocktails and chef’s canapés for two
- Life Beneath Your Table introduction with the Marine Biologist
Guests booking directly also receive additional Park Rewards benefits and savings across selected dining, spa and watersports experiences, together with personalised service from a dedicated Lifestyle Host.
The launch forms part of Grand Park Kodhipparu’s evolving Connected Island Luxury philosophy, which sees luxury not simply through accommodation or traditional five-star conventions, but through meaningful connections to nature, wellbeing, people and place.
With Kodhipparu Reef Connection, that philosophy begins just beyond the villa deck at sunrise and continues through to sunset with the living reef beneath the resort’s signature restaurant.
Anantara Hotels & Resorts is marking its 25th anniversary with a collection of signature experiences across its portfolio, including a stargazing programme at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas in Baa Atoll.
The anniversary initiative brings together experiences across Thailand, the Maldives and Italy, with a focus on stillness, wellbeing and slower forms of travel. The experiences are being offered across Anantara’s more than 50 properties throughout 2026, with each programme developed around its destination.
In the Maldives, Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas is highlighting the night sky through its Celestial Maldives experience at SKY, the resort’s overwater observatory.
As daylight fades over the Indian Ocean, guests are invited to the observatory for a guided stargazing session with the resort’s SKY Edhuru, or astronomy guide. Using the telescope at the observatory, guests can observe galaxies, constellations and planets above the Maldives.
According to Anantara, the experience reflects the broader theme behind its anniversary programme: encouraging travellers to spend more time observing their surroundings rather than focusing on covering more destinations or activities.
Located in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Anantara Kihavah has incorporated astronomy into its guest experience through SKY, which the resort says is home to the most powerful telescope in the Maldives. The observatory offers guests an opportunity to explore the night sky with guidance from its resident astronomy team while remaining within the resort’s overwater setting.
The Maldives programme forms part of a wider series of anniversary experiences developed by Anantara around different interpretations of rest, reflection and wellbeing.
At Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel in Italy, guests can take part in a morning programme inspired by the property’s history as a 13th-century Capuchin convent. The experience includes a walk through its gardens with Friar Marcus, sound healing in the convent sanctuary and a picnic featuring produce from the property’s gardens.
In Thailand, Anantara Chiang Mai Resort has introduced an experience built around a journey along the Mae Ping River aboard its teakwood boat, Nam Jai. The programme includes visits to Wat Ket Karam and Khua Kaek Bridge, an alms-giving ceremony and a Lanna khantoke lunch beneath Bodhi trees at the resort.
Anantara Layan Phuket Resort is meanwhile offering a wellbeing programme beginning with a personal consultation at Layan Life by Anantara, followed by sound healing, heated herbal therapy, sunset viewing and stargazing.
Anantara said the collection is intended to mark its 25th year by drawing attention to experiences rooted in the character of each destination.
Founded in 2001, Anantara Hotels & Resorts is the experiential luxury brand of Minor Hotels. Its portfolio now spans more than 50 properties, including several resorts in the Maldives.
The signature 25th-anniversary experiences, including Celestial Maldives at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, are available during 2026.
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