Underwater
Keeping the underwater world green at Baros Maldives

Maldives Promotion House – Programmes have been introduced to keep the underwater world green at the beautiful island resort of Baros Maldives in the Indian Ocean. Great care is being taken to conserve the natural resources of the island’s lagoon and reef, in addition to the attention given to preserving eco-systems on land.
Baros Maldives is unique in having a house reef encircling the island that is only a few metres from the shore. Even novice snorkellers can swim easily to it and gaze at the living organisms that form the reef.
Guests at Baros Maldives are informed of the dangers of touching coral because of its fragility, as well as being encouraged not to feed any of the fish, turtles and rays to be seen in the lagoon’s shallow waters, because of disruption to their feeding cycle.
The resort has introduced the first certified Eco Dive Centre in the Maldives practising the international Reef Check Programme. This combines education with action to give divers a unique experience while taking an active role in conserving the world’s reefs. The programme includes increasing the awareness of divers about the environment by teaching sustainable dive practice knowledge, participating in reef conservation initiatives, and offers specialty courses that teach divers and guests about ecology and conservation.
In addition, Baros Maldives has launched a Coral Reef Regeneration Programme run by the resort’s resident Marine Biologist. Guests are invited to attach selected pieces of broken, but still living, coral to a frame constructed as a nursery reef. This is located near the linking boardwalk to the island’s Water Villas, so guests can easily observe the reef’s regeneration. Participants are sent an email every six-months, with photograph, showing the progressive growth of the oral they have planted.
By this initiative of involving guests to help keep the underwater world green, Baros Maldives is successfully pioneering responsible and sustainable eco-tourism in the islands.
The resort, on the small private island of Baros, just 25 minutes by speedboat from the Maldives International Airport, has 75 beach and water villas of classic, natural elegance, as well as gourmet-standard cuisine. Since its opening in 2005 Baros Maldives has won many awards, including being voted among the top ten resorts in Asia in 2011 in the Travelers’ Choice awards sponsored by Trip Advisor.
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Consistently awarded, beyond compare: Machchafushi Island Resort’s house reef

Recently recognised among the Best House Reefs in the Maldives by the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2025, the house reef at Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa, The Centara Collection (formerly known as Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa), offers an extraordinary experience for divers and snorkelers alike. The South Ari Atoll in the Maldives is renowned for its exceptional diving sites, snorkelling, and marine adventures, and the resort’s house reef only enhances this natural beauty with its rich marine biodiversity, thriving coral gardens, and easy access from the shore.

The Machchafushi house reef is approximately five times larger than the island itself, encircling a breathtaking lagoon. Most of the coral reef lies on a gentle slope, descending to depths of 15 – 20m, where it then flattens out into a sandy seabed. At around 30m from the top of the reef, guests can explore a remarkable shipwreck. This sunken treasure is home to a variety of marine species, including glassfish, stonefish and nurse sharks.
Among the largest coral species found on any house reef, the Machchafushi house reef is home to rare varieties such as Acropora granulosa and Acropora latistella, found exclusively on the wreck. The surrounding coral gardens showcase vibrant Blue Coral and Staghorn Coral, creating a stunning display of marine biodiversity.

Marine life thrives around the house reef, with seven resident Nurse sharks, including three adults, one sub-adult, and three juveniles. White Tip Reef sharks, the most curious of the reef’s sharks, are often seen coming close to snorkelers and divers. Other notable species include
Black Tip sharks, Lemon sharks, Leopard sharks, Guitar sharks, and various rays. The Black Blotched Stingrays, known for their friendly nature despite their large size, are a common sight, especially around feeding areas and the reef’s shallow waters. The barbless male rays are particularly known for their gentle interactions with guests.

Sustainability is at the heart of Machchafushi Island Resort’s philosophy. Coral protection, reef conservation, and restoration projects are continuously rolled out, ensuring that the house reef remains a thriving ecosystem for future generations. Guests are regularly educated about the reef’s delicate ecosystem, its abundant marine life, and the resort’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainable practices.
Sharing his views, Cluster General Manager of Machchafushi Island Resort and Spa, Francesco Pompilio said, “This honour reflects not only the natural beauty of our house reef, but also the unwavering commitment of our team to its protection and preservation. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and we remain dedicated to safeguarding this vibrant marine sanctuary for generations to come. We are deeply grateful to our guests for their continued trust and patronage.”

Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Machchafushi Island Resort’s house reef, where exceptional diving, vibrant coral gardens, and abundant marine life meet, all set against the backdrop of the Maldives’ unparalleled natural beauty.
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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Sirru Fen Fushi to host ‘One Ocean, One Breath’ with Freedive Maldives to mark World Oceans Day

Sirru Fen Fushi – Private Lagoon Resort, invites ocean lovers and adventure seekers to a purposeful World Oceans Day celebration in partnership with Freedive Maldives, Guinness World Record Holder for the Most People Performing Static Apnea held last October 2022.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of one of the largest natural lagoons and house reefs in the Maldives, the event promises a deep connection to the ocean through expert-led PADI Freediving courses, ranging from basic to advanced levels. Participants will have the opportunity to earn their freediving certification, explore Sirru’s 9-kilometer-long house reef, and admire vibrant marine biodiversity, including manta ray cleaning stations, nurse shark points, flourishing coral gardens, and turtle habitats, home to 93 resident turtles and 11 successful hatchings this year alone.
“Our house reef, one of the longest and most vibrant in the Maldives, is a sanctuary for marine life and a symbol of our deep commitment to ocean conservation,” said Lukasz Prendke, General Manager of Sirru Fen Fushi. “We are honoured to collaborate with Freedive Maldives in celebrating World Oceans Day, not only to offer our guests an unforgettable underwater journey, but also to empower local talents and inspire our community to protect what lies beneath the surface.”
The initiative aligns with the resort’s ongoing sustainability commitments, including regular lagoon cleaning programs and support for local marine conservation efforts. This collaboration further emphasizes a shared mission to preserve the Maldives’ rich underwater heritage and engage the local community in meaningful environmental action.
In a broader commitment to sustainable tourism, Freedive Maldives has also signed a partnership agreement with the Baa Atoll Council to host another record-breaking freediving event in October 2025, coinciding with World Tourism Day, reinforcing Baa Atoll’s position as a leader in eco-conscious marine tourism.
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