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Angsana Velavaru achieves EarthCheck Gold certification

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Angsana Velavaru has achieved EarthCheck Gold certification.

EarthCheck is the world’s leading scientific benchmarking certification and advisory group for travel and tourism. Since 1987, the organisation has helped businesses, communities and governments to deliver clean, safe, prosperous and healthy destinations for travellers to visit, live, work and play.

With the EarthCheck Gold certification, Angsana Velavaru has joined an elite group of industry leaders who, over a period of five years or more, have consistently demonstrated their commitment to host communities and implemented high standards of environmental management.

As stewards of responsible tourism, Angsana has conceptualised the brand’s values in its “Brand for Good” framework to go beyond the precautionary approach and inspire exceptional experiences amongst its guests to “embrace the environment and empower people” at each of its locations.

Velavaru or ‘Turtle Island’ is located in the pristine Dhaalu atoll, and accessible by a 40-minute seaplane flight from the main Velana International Airport. This 113-villa resort offers 79 island villas and 34 InOcean Villas, revealing spectacular views and direct access to the Indian Ocean.

Angsana Velavaru is renowned for its myriad of beach activities as well as groundbreaking initiatives focused on giving back to the community. These programmes are organised by Angsana Velavaru’s Marine Conservation Lab where guests can participate in unique experiences including coral planting to replenish damaged reefs and snorkelling trips to learn about the abundant marine ecosystem and coral gardens found in and around the lagoon.

Guests looking for an adrenaline rush can choose from a wide range of motorised and non-motorised sports. With more than 100 activities available to bring out the intrepid explorer in you, you are likely to be busy enjoying yourself so much that a return trip is inevitable.

With its proximity to more than 30 vibrant dive sites, Angsana Velavaru is the ideal location for novice to experienced divers. Certified instructors at the PADI Gold Palm Five-Star dive centre offer an ensemble of courses and excursions to explore the pristine waters of South Nilandhe Atoll. Divers can choose to get up close and personal with white tip reef sharks, eagle rays, turtles and whale sharks, amongst other exotic species.

Couples looking to tie the knot at Angsana Velavaru can choose from five different wedding themes that showcase the natural beauty of the destination. Saying “I Do” has never been more romantic or unforgettable with various venues available: at sunset on the beach, on a nearby uninhabited island, at the beach pavilion that carries the shape of the traditional Maldivian Dhoni boat, under the full moon, and even underwater.

Angsana Velavaru’s kids club offers child-friendly activities such as Easter egg hunts, craft workshops, Olympic-themed games, and more. Diving lessons, supervised by certified instructors, take place in the lagoon and are a great way to help kids experience their first underwater breath.

Angsana Spa’s revitalising treatments place special emphasis on the use of natural elements such as native flowers and fruits. Therapies are based on the use of aromatherapy, therapeutic touch and a fusion of techniques from East and West to revive and nourish.

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ELE|NA marks World Asthma Day with guided wellness experiences

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ELE|NA marked World Asthma Day with a series of wellness activities across its properties, focusing on the role of breath in overall wellbeing.

The programme was designed to highlight the connection between breathing, movement and daily health practices. According to the company, the initiative aimed to position respiratory health as an integral part of routine wellness rather than a purely clinical concern.

Activities began with guided breath awareness sessions combined with stretching exercises. These sessions focused on controlled movement and breathing techniques intended to improve mobility and support more regulated breathing patterns. The approach was structured to help participants reduce tension and restore a steady physical rhythm.

The programme also included Floating Sound Healing sessions, where participants were positioned on water while exposed to therapeutic sound frequencies. The sessions were designed to support relaxation and mental focus through controlled sensory input.

The overall programme combined breathwork, movement and sound-based therapy as part of a structured wellness approach. ELE|NA indicated that these practices were intended to support awareness, relaxation and physical balance.

The company operates across 12 properties, including OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI, OZEN LIFE MAADHOO, OBLU SELECT Sangeli, OBLU SELECT Lobigili, OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi, VARU by Atmosphere, OBLU NATURE Helengeli by SENTIDO and RAAYA by Atmosphere, as well as properties in India.

Through the initiative, ELE|NA presented its wellness framework as extending beyond spa treatments, incorporating routine practices centred on breathing, movement and relaxation.

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Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives offers Dive Free programme

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Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives is offering guests access to a range of dive sites in South Malé Atoll through its Dive Free programme, aimed at divers seeking structured and accessible diving experiences during their stay.

Located approximately 45 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, the resort provides proximity to multiple dive sites within a 10 to 30-minute boat radius. The surrounding waters are known for varied reef structures, current-driven channels and regular marine life encounters, allowing for multiple dives per day.

The Dive Free programme is available to guests staying three nights or more, offering up to two complimentary scuba dives per day for up to two certified divers per villa.

According to Dive Centre Manager Ibrahim Shaan, the location enables access to a range of dive environments within a short distance, including reef and channel dives. He noted that sites such as Kandooma Thila can be reached within minutes, while additional sites offering different conditions are accessible within half an hour.

Director of Marketing and Sustainability Sharon Garrett stated that the programme is designed to integrate diving into the overall guest experience, reducing both time and cost considerations for certified divers.

Water conditions in the area remain suitable for diving throughout the year, with visibility often exceeding 20 metres. The dive sites accessible from the resort include:

  • Kandooma Thila, a coral-covered pinnacle known for sightings of reef sharks and eagle rays
  • Guraidhoo Corner, a channel dive site with strong currents attracting schools of fish and larger species
  • Cocoa Corner, featuring reef walls and drop-offs with occasional pelagic encounters
  • Kuda Giri Wreck, a sheltered site with a wreck and reef supporting reef fish and macro life
  • Kandooma Caves, characterised by overhangs and reef formations with diverse marine species

Additional nearby sites include Manta Point, Lhosfushi, Medhu Faru and Waggiri, offering a mix of reef and channel diving, with seasonal manta ray sightings.

The resort operates a PADI five-star dive centre with guided excursions and access to multiple sites within short travel distances. The Dive Free programme is positioned as an option for divers seeking to maximise time in the water without the need for domestic transfers, providing direct access to dive locations from a single island base.

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Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives unveils Eid al-Adha experience

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Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives has introduced a curated Eid al-Adha offering aimed at travellers seeking a structured yet flexible way to mark the occasion in a resort setting.

Branded “Island Celebrations: Eid – Connect in Paradise”, the experience is positioned for guests from the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, with a focus on shared experiences, personal time and engagement with the surrounding environment.

Located approximately 20 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, the resort is accessible for short-stay and family travel during peak holiday periods. The property features 120 beach and overwater villas, alongside an overwater spa, house reef and multiple dining outlets.

The Eid experience will begin with an in-villa welcome offering, including Arabic sweets, dates and fruit. The programme is structured around a series of optional activities rather than a fixed schedule. These include lagoon-based experiences, daily yoga sessions at sunrise and sunset, spa treatments, sunset cruises and dining options designed for private or shared settings.

The resort has indicated that the programme is intended to allow guests to engage with activities at their own pace, rather than follow a defined itinerary.

In line with the preferences of Muslim travellers, the resort has incorporated halal-friendly dining options, flexible meal arrangements and an expanded range of non-alcoholic beverages. Villa layouts are also designed to support privacy.
Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives has reported guest ratings of 9.2 out of 10 on halal travel platforms, reflecting demand within this segment.

The introduction of the Eid programme aligns with broader trends in the Maldives tourism sector, where travel experiences are increasingly structured around personalisation, cultural considerations and smaller-scale experiences.

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