Maldives Promotion House – Conrad Maldives Rangali Island welcomes the arrival of marine biologist Lydia Koehler to the five star SubAqua Dive Center.  Koehler will run twice-weekly complimentary guided tours of the resort’s exceptional coral reef in order to give guests a better understanding of the incredible diversity of underwater life and how to safely enjoy it.  These complimentary tours begin with a 30-minute presentation introducing the most common animals to be found on the reef followed by a guided snorkelling session on the resort’s house reef which is just steps from the main beach.

“The reef at Conrad Maldives is one of the best in the atoll with a truly impressive variety of fish, corals and other wildlife,” says Carsten Schieck, general manager.  “These complimentary tours make it possible for guests to discover the many wonders of the underwater world in a safe and appealing way”.

During these excursions, guests may encounter turtles, rays and harmless reef sharks and explore the world of countless fascinating smaller animals such as clownfish, butterflyfish, pufferfish or even the outlandish unicorn fish.  They will learn more about the incredible corals of the reef and the symbiotic relationship between them and the fauna that inhabit them.  Rarer creatures such as manta rays, mobula rays, dolphins or even a whale shark may also make an occasional appearance.

While based at the Sub Aqua Dive Center, Koehler will run several conservation and research projects at the resort, such as monitoring the health and status of the coral and fish on the house reef.  She is also ‘baby sitter’ to 147 endangered baby turtles who recently hatched on the resort’s beaches and are being protected until they are old enough to survive being released into the ocean.

In winter, she will take advantage of the unique opportunity afforded by the resort’s location to study the manta rays that visit the resort every night and can be easily watched from the bridge that spans the resort’s two islands.  She will create a manta identification programme to aid understanding of manta behavior patterns and ensure the resort is able to effectively protect these awe-inspiring creatures.