INDULGE IN AN
UNDERWATER SPA
When you’re done
diving with whale
sharks and mantas,
you can check into a
leisurely underwater spa
experience while being
surrounded by colourful
corals and schools of
fish. At Huvafen Fushi
Maldives, which boasts
of the world’s first
underwater spa, guests
can choose between
exclusive facials and
massages by London-
based skincare experts
Teresa Tarmey and
Beata Aleksandrowicz,
while they sip on
champagne. Draped in
the shades of the ocean,
the spa has a stimulating
effect on the senses
while offering a closer
look at the vibrant marine
life of the coral island
from plush spa beds.
The signature treatments
include micro-needling
and a 120-minute
'Underwater Rendezvous'.
If you’re not in the mood
to go underwater, a
four-poster beach sala
awaits you outside for
a breezy spa experience
with azure waters in
the backdrop.
huvafenfushi.comADOPT A
CORAL REEF
According to reports, over
90 per cent of the shallow
coral reefs of Maldives
have been damaged
by climate change and
El Niño effects. Now,
conscious efforts are
being made to restore
the reefs through coral
adopting and plantation
initiatives. Several island
resorts, such as Anantara
Dhigu Maldives Resort
offer coral reef adoption
programmes—guests can
sponsor coral frames. The
process involves taking
broken pieces of corals
and gluing them on to a
concrete frame with the
help of a marine biologist.
Once the coral has been
attached, the frame is
transplanted to a new
home in the lagoon. The
guests can even monitor
the growth of their planted
corals online, long after
their holiday is over. While
it may be a while before
one sees their effort pay
off (since corals grow a
mere two centimetres per
year), the initiative goes
a long way in enabling
oceanic conservation and
awareness among tourists.
anantara.comSIGN UP FOR
A VOLUNTEER
PROGRAMME
While the Maldives is
one of the most luxurious
travel destinations in
the world, one cannot
ignore the fact that the
archipelago is also a
developing nation. Several
social organisations, such
as Atoll Volunteers, offer
customised volunteer
programmes for travellers
to contribute to the
local community. One
can choose from youth
counselling, botany and
gardening, community
organising, eco-waste
management, and
construction, based
on individual skillset.
The programmes offer
a great chance to meet
like-minded travellers
and understand local
communities better.
But it’s not all work and
no play for the volunteers;
they also enjoy excursions
like night fishing,
camping, reef surveys,
etc. while on the trip.
atollvolunteers.comFrom top: A diver
carries a broken coral
fragment for
restoration; underwater
massage at Huvafen
Fushi. Opposite, from
top: Helicopter rides
offer aerial views of the
Maldives; the Voavah
Summer is a two-cabin
luxury yacht.FROM TOP: COURTESY OF ANANTARA DHIGU MALDIVES RESORT; ISU/GETTYIMAG
ES
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