The Blue List: Leading Resorts in Oceans Regeneration and Marine Conservation
The Maldives’ Largest Coral Regeneration Project Plants 2000 New Corals
Shadow a ‘Coral Biologist’ for the day at Velaa Private Island
The Maldives is known for its abundance of diverse sea life, and Velaa Private Island has largely contributed to this flourishing underwater world thanks to its unique coral regeneration programme – one of the most extended in the whole Indian Ocean. Since plantation four years ago, Velaa has transplanted over 4,200 nursey grown corals, with 2,000 corals transplanted in 2020 alone which now cover 450m² more of the house reef. There has been a surge in tropical fish since, and the team of coral biologists increased the diversity of corals on the reef by implementing mini rope nurseries to grow sensitive species, such as Acropora branch corals last year.
On one of the Maldives' most secluded private islands, guests can witness first-hand the extraordinary rewards of restoration and help to create a diverse, self-sustaining ecosystem by adopting and attaching corals to the nurseries themselves, following an educational presentation by the resort’s biologists. Those looking to immerse themselves into the marine world can sign up to shadow the coral biologists for the day, collecting research as they snorkel or scuba dive through the blossoming underwater world; black and white tip reef sharks, nurse sharks, manta rays, black-spotted stingrays, and the graceful eagle ray are just examples of the many spectacular species that Velaa’s guests can rub shoulders with during the guided marine excursions.
The World’s Only Exclusive-Use Marine Reserve Now Offers Ethical Whale Sharks Diving
Follow the in-house biologist on an underwater adventure at Thanda Island
Floating carelessly in the protected waters of the Shungimbili Island Marine Reserve a few miles away from Tanzania, Thanda Island is the world's only exclusive-use marine reserve. A leading destination in ocean regeneration and marine conservation, this unique island retreat gives guests exclusive access to Thanda’s full-time marine biologist, Rianne Laan. Rianne is in charge of the coral nursery, where young coral is grown until it’s ready to be incorporated into the reef to stimulate its recovery, as well as the marine life inventory that currently counts more than 280 species of tropical fish making the area a treasure trove for diving enthusiasts.
Guests are encouraged to learn more about the marine life and how to best preserve it, and they can be involved in the local Whale Shark Citizen Science Programme, which asks the public to help with the process of collecting identification data on whale sharks via underwater images. Rianne will be leading these excursions - where even the diving gear is eco-friendly as the new rash vests by Ocean R are made from recycled plastic waste from the ocean! – and guiding experienced and first-time divers in this breath-taking underwater adventure.
New Marine Conservation Programmes Launch at Leading Maldivian Resort
Join the resort’s team and clean up the beaches with Emerald Maldives Resort and SPA
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Launched with sustainability in mind and plastic-free since its conception, the award-winning Emerald Maldives Resort and Spa will celebrate World’s Ocean’s Day with some exciting new initiatives that confirm once again the resort’s commitment to the environment. From 8th June, as a weekly ritual, guests, staff, and everyone on the island will be invited to gather and clean-up the surrounding beaches, the house reef, and the extensive areas of vegetation around the island. Those involved will collect rubbish, plastic bottles, fishing lines and any other items that should not be in the ocean. This will contribute to an immediate sense of achievement, happiness and togetherness: a simple yet amazing gesture of love for our planet.
Emerald Maldives will also be planting coral frames in the ocean to help restore the natural coral reefs surrounding the island. The coral that will grow is the branching type, which grows very quickly and uninterrupted for years. Not only will this help restore the island’s wrap-around reef, but it will make the snorkelling adventures in the resort’s other worldly-lagoon even more exciting than ever before!
Learn the Secrets of the Underwater World in Crete
With CAYO Exclusive Resort and Spa
Closer to home in Crete, CAYO Exclusive Resort and Spa opens this month with an array of underwater experiences, each designed to educate and inspire guests while protecting local marine life. The new design hotel overlooks the UNESCO World Heritage Site nominee, Spinalonga Island, and is just a short drive from Mirabello Bay, where guests can explore colourful marine life and captivating wreckages on private excursions – some of which date back to the 1940s. With impressive visibility and balmy temperatures, the bay is the perfect site for snorkels, scubas and dives – whether it’s a night-time dive in the bustling house reef, rubbing shoulders with octopi and vibrant flabellina, or full-day diving excursions around Elounda, where amberjacks, trumpet fish and rays patrol the waters.
CAYO was designed with sustainability in mind, and works to protect its local environment. From innovative reusable energy sources to its unique terraced architecture, designed to enhance airflow to reduce aircon usage, guests are reminded of how important it is to care for the environment – each guest also receives a seedling to plant anywhere they choose, in a bid to regenerate flora and fauna.
Protect Endangered Turtles
With Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi
Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi is making waves in marine conservation with its innovative sustainability initiatives, from the Coralarium – a coral regeneration project in the form of an underwater art gallery – to the new Turtle Ranger programme. Designed to educate the next generation of eco-conscious travellers on the fragility of the underwater world, those on the Turtle Ranger programme can join the marine biologist to monitor endangered turtles, plant coral and snorkel one of the most biodiverse reefs in the world.
Patrol the beach in search of turtle nests and safely release the baby turtles into the ocean. As one of the most endangered turtles in the world, Fairmont Maldives track the migration patterns of Hawksbill Turtles to help protect them; guests can help collect vital ID data from the turtles that pass the reef – and, if a new turtle is discovered, guests are given the honour of naming them for formal certification. Fairmont Maldives is dedicated to sustainability through banning single-use plastic, beach and reef cleaning initiatives, locally-sourced produce and on-site gardens, water distillery to produce ready-to-drink water and the largest solar panel project in the Maldives.
Coral Propagation and Deep-Sea Exploration
With COMO Maalifushi
Surrounded by a plethora of untouched reefs, COMO Maalifushi invites guests to explore the deep blue and practice marine conservation with their exclusive Coral Propagation and diving experiences. The luxury Maldivian resort offers a number of water-based adventures, coordinated by the resident Marine Biologist, with the aim of educating guests on the vast array of local marine life and encouraging coral to flourish. Continuously planting coral frames on the seafloor, the resort hopes to foster the growth of new reefs, allowing them to prosper in a bid to battle coral bleaching and its disastrous effects. Guests can sponsor a frame, whereby they are sent bi-annual photographic updates to track its progress and receive complimentary dives every time they visit the resort to witness the coral’s growth in person.
On land, things are just as colourful – the Play by COMO kids’ club offers arts and crafts, crystal growing, sand castle making and island nature walks. Older children can partake in water sports, family yoga sessions and cookery classes, while parents relax at COMO Shambhala Retreat, the island’s wellness sanctuary.
