Family Traveler

80Giraavaru,anditssisterresort,KudaHuraa,arepioneersofthisnewfounddutyofcustodianship,thankstotheirenterprisinggeneralmanager,ArmandoKraenzlin.Onarrival,you’regreetedbyalandmarkmarinecentre,rightonthedock,emblazonedwithagiantphotographofatinyscubadiverandahugewhalesharkthatdeliversanunmistakeablemissionstatement.Thecentreisthebiggestinthecountryandoneofthelargesthousedbyanyhotelintheworld,boastingastaffofupto 15 duringthebusysummermonths,whentaggingtheelusiveandmuch-reducedmantaraypopulationtakesplace.Thistakesplacealongsidethecentre’syear-roundworkwithaturtlesanctuaryandclownfishbreedingprogramme,thelattercreatedtomitigatetheglobalappetiteforfillinghomesandrestauranttankswithNemolookalikes.Forus,theturtleswerethesaddestsight,bobbingaroundinsmalloutdoortanks,tryingtoremastertheartofswimmingminusaflipperortwo.Thecurrentsixresidents(includingonesomejokerscalled‘Lucky’)havealllostessentiallimbsto‘ghostnets’–kilometres-longdiscardedfishingnetsthatindiscriminatelytrapmarinelifeintheirweb,creatinganunderwaterhorrorshowofthemaimed,thedyingandthedead.Somecanbehealedandreturnedtothewild,butnotthemanywhoalsosufferfromamysterious,asyetunexplained,epidemicof‘floatingsickness’,whichpreventsthemdivingforfoodandleavesthementirelydependentonthecaretheyreceiveatthesanctuary.Visitingchildrenareencouragedtohelpatfeedingtimesandgetatalkonthethreatstotheturtles’habitat,creatingpint-sizedmarineeco-warriorsbytheendofthestay.It’saparents’dreamtotrytopassontheirpassionstotheirchildren,andperhapsinspirenewones.Inreality,however,sendingoffyour 10 -year-oldtolearna‘dangerous’``````rehabilitation:the``````fourseasonsruns``````aturtlesanctuary``````TOTALLYTROPICALClockwisefrombottomleft:Mariellagetssomedowntime;guestsattheresortcanenjoyturquoisewatersdirectfromtheiraccommodation;asunnycruise;thecurvedinfinitypool;theMarineDiscoveryCentreisagreatlearningresource;reefsteemwithlifeontheatoll