Upcoming events

Six Senses Laamu and the Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI) has announced the return of the Laamafaru Festival, taking place on Saturday, 5 September 2026, at Hamad Bin Khaleefa Al Thani School in L. Gan. After a three-year hiatus, the seventh edition of Laamu Atoll’s largest marine conservation event returns under the theme “Protecting Our Oceans Together”, with everyone welcome to attend.

From May to November, the waters of Hanifaru Bay in the heart-shaped Baa Atoll come alive during manta season — a stunning natural event that reaches its peak from June to October.

A rich bloom of nutrient-dense plankton draws in gentle ocean giants, including manta rays spanning 3 to 5 meters and majestic whale sharks reaching up to 12 meters, adorned with their unique, mesmerizing patterns.

This annual phenomenon offers one of the most awe-inspiring marine experiences in the Maldives. For the best chance to witness these graceful creatures in large numbers, plan your snorkeling excursions around the full moon or new moon phases (ideally 4 days before or after).

Don't miss your chance to swim alongside hundreds of manta rays while staying on our islands this season — it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience you’ll never forget.

Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives has unveiled Kodhipparu Reef Connection, a new experience-led stay designed around one of the island's greatest natural treasures – its award-winning house reef, recognised among the Top 10 House Reefs in the Maldives in the 2026 Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific. 

Created around the resort's Reef Pool Villas, the new experience moves beyond the traditional Maldives villa stay by connecting accommodation, marine discovery, wellbeing and dining through one continuous journey inspired by the reef. 

At The Nautilus Maldives, Ocean Discovery Week returns from 2 to 8 August 2026, inviting guests into a deeper, more personal exploration of the ocean. Set within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of the Baa Atoll, where time gently fades and experiences unfold without script, Ocean Discovery Week is an evolving expression of the ocean’s beauty, mystery, and meaning. More than a programme, it becomes a shared journey into the rhythms of the sea, where discovery feels both intimate and transformative. 

An Ocean Story Told Through a Family of Explorers 

At the heart of this year’s edition is world-renowned underwater photographer Tobias Friedrich, joined by his wife Isidora and their two sons, Kian and Dorian, all passionate divers and ocean advocates. Together, they bring a rare perspective, not only as experts in their field, but as a family united by a deep and instinctive connection to the underwater world. 

Tobias, celebrated for his award-winning imagery and role as a jury member for the Underwater Photographer of the Year, has spent years capturing the ocean’s most extraordinary moments across the globe, from tropical reefs to Arctic depths. His work reflects both technical mastery and a profound respect for the marine environment. 

Isidora, an AmbassaDiver for PADI and a leading voice within the global diving community, complements this vision through storytelling that bridges ocean exploration, safety, and conservation. Through her platform, she brings the underwater world to life with both insight and authenticity. Kian and Dorian, both certified junior divers and emerging ocean ambassadors, add a new dimension, a next-generation voice shaped by curiosity, wonder, and a natural affinity with the sea. Together, they transform Ocean Discovery Week into something deeply human: a story of exploration, learning, and connection across generations.

A Week of Unscripted Ocean Discovery 

Across the week, guests are invited to move fluidly between adventure, learning, and quiet reflection. From encounters with manta rays in the world-renowned Hanifaru Bay to night dives and guided snorkelling along the house reef, each experience unfolds at its own rhythm, shaped by the ocean itself. Photography becomes both art and perspective, with Tobias Friedrich leading sessions on underwater composition, storytelling, and the creation of iconic imagery. From poolside introductions to more advanced techniques, guests are invited to see the ocean through a more thoughtful lens. Alongside this, Isidora curates moments of storytelling and connection, shaping the narrative of the week through engaging sessions and guiding children’s activities with a thoughtful, immersive approach. Evenings shift into shared experiences, from outdoor cinema sessions exploring rare underwater phenomena to conversations that gently reveal the unseen world beneath the surface. 

At Naiboli, a dedicated Ocean Gallery will showcase Tobias’s work through books, calendars, and curated pieces, with selected artworks available. A portion of proceeds will be directed towards marine conservation initiatives, reinforcing a shared commitment to protecting the ocean. 

Where Discovery Begins, and Stays With You 

Ocean Discovery Week unfolds just as freely for younger guests through Young Wonderers, where curiosity leads the way. From coral planting sessions alongside our resident marine biologist, to ocean-inspired art, storytelling, and reef explorations, children are invited to form their own connection with the sea. 

At The Nautilus Maldives, Ocean Discovery Week is not defined by schedules, but by moments. 

A manta encounter that lingers long after. 

A shared dive between parent and child. 

A story told beneath a sky full of stars. 

Here, the ocean is not only explored, but understood, through experience, through artistry, and through connection. 

Surrounded by one of the Maldives' most vibrant house reefs, Sun Siyam Vilu Reef,  invites guests to leave behind more than memories. This World Nature Conservation Day (28th July 2026), the boutique island retreat officially launched its signature 'Adopt-a-Coral' initiative, giving travellers the opportunity to play an active role in restoring one of nature's most precious underwater sanctuaries. 

Driven by Sun Siyam Resorts’ overarching sustainability program, Sun Siyam Cares, this initiative provides a hands-on opportunity to safeguard the fragile aquatic landscapes of the South Nilandhe Atoll. Guests become active participants in the restoration process, carefully attaching live coral fragments onto specially designed nursery frames under the guidance of the resort's marine experts. These structures are then carefully placed in nursery zones across the lagoon to flourish and rebuild vital habitats. 

To commemorate the launch, guests enjoyed an interactive morning event featuring bespoke refreshments and a symbolic frame planting ceremony. Long after returning home, guests continue receiving personalised updates, allowing them to witness the growth of the very coral they helped restore, creating a lasting connection with the island and its surrounding waters. 

"Our reef is the heart of our island, and protecting it is a responsibility we proudly share with every guest who visits us," said Masdhooq Saeed, Cluster General Manager. "By giving our guests the opportunity to plant coral, we offer them a meaningful way to leave our sanctuary even better than when they arrived. It is a genuine privilege to empower our visitors to play a direct role in building a more resilient ecosystem while forging a lifelong bond with the Maldives." 

The Adopt-a-Coral initiative forms a key part of Sun Siyam Vilu Reef's long-term sustainability vision, seamlessly combining luxury island hospitality with meaningful conservation efforts, guest participation, and community engagement. The resort's spectacular house reef is home to an extraordinary diversity of coral formations, tropical fish, turtles, and countless other species, making its protection essential for future generations.

To explore or to book your stay, visit Sun Siyam Vilu Reef. For exclusive offers, join Siyam Rewards and book direct at sunsiyam.com. 

Villa Nautica and diveOceanus, in partnership with The Hub 10 – Finland International School, have launched the first phase of a long-term coral restoration and citizen science programme, transforming the reef surrounding the resort into a living classroom.

Following an introductory marine biology session at the school, students visited Villa Nautica to work alongside the diveOceanus team. They learned how to identify coral species, measure coral fragments, assess coral health and record baseline scientific data before preparing five dedicated coral restoration frames.

The initiative extends beyond a traditional coral planting activity. Each coral fragment has been individually recorded through a Coral Tracker system, allowing students to follow its progress over time. When they return approximately six months later, they will compare new measurements with the data collected during their first visit, documenting coral growth, survival and the marine life beginning to establish around the frames.

Over time, students will be able to observe how initially bare structures develop into functioning reef habitats that support fish and other marine organisms. As each class graduates, responsibility for the monitoring programme will pass to the next group, creating a continuous citizen science project in which each generation builds on the work of those before them.

The initiative forms part of Villa Nautica’s wider coral restoration programme, established in 2024 and managed by diveOceanus. The resort currently maintains approximately 65 coral restoration frames, contributing to more than 130 frames established across Villa Resorts.

Mohamed Seeneen, Director of Operations at diveOceanus, explained that the team has gained valuable knowledge through years of reef restoration during periods of elevated sea temperatures.

“Over the years, we have experienced several marine heatwaves that have affected reefs throughout the Maldives. While our restoration sites have also experienced losses, they have shown encouraging resilience. Rather than continually introducing new donor colonies, we focus on propagating coral fragments that have naturally survived previous bleaching events, allowing these more resilient corals to form the foundation of future restoration.”

The team has already observed coral colonies beginning to develop into more natural reef formations. Species such as the Harlequin Filefish have also been seen returning regularly to the restoration sites, providing an encouraging indication that the developing habitats are supporting marine biodiversity.

Kandima Maldives has unveiled its first on-island ‘Art for Biodiversity’ Exhibition to celebrate Maldives Independence Day this weekend, and as a pilot project brought to life by the resort's long-running KULA Art Initiative, a platform dedicated to promoting Maldivian creativity and connecting local artists, craftspeople and aspiring talents with the tourism industry.

Backed by a grant from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the exhibition will unfold as an island-wide art trail throughout the summer, with an art trail for travellers to discover - featuring creations from 20+ Maldivian artists from across the atoll and globally, spanning a diverse mix of mediums from painting and digital art to installation, and styles ranging from hyper-realism to abstraction. A closing ceremony will be taking place in the latter half of September to mark the finale of the season-long showcase.

Open to artists from around the world following a global call for submissions earlier in the year, the exhibition brings together works united by themes of biodiversity, conservation and ocean ecology, and is an effort to raise awareness on the importance of sustainability through creative work and storytelling.

Further details on the exhibition, including specific works by shortlisted artists and wider collaborations with creative talents, will be announced in the coming weeks.

By embedding local fine art into the tourism value chain, this initiative aims to build a scalable model for biodiversity finance that:

• Elevates Maldivian Art: providing a high-visibility platform for local and emerging Maldivian artists, connecting them with an international audience and premium market
• Funds Conservation & Empowers Communities: generating revenue for local conservation, with proceeds dedicated to the Dhaalu Valla conservation area and community-led projects
• Inspires Wider Change: creating an innovative finance solution that can be replicated across the Maldives through future resort partnerships.

Part of Kandima's Wider Creative Vision

Launched in 2017 when the resort first opened, KULA is an ongoing year-round programme anchored by annual returns of the KULA Art Festival and artist residencies at the KULA Art Studio, where guests can take part in painting classes and other creative sessions hosted by a rotation of resident artists. A related fund, financed by USD1 from every room night booked at the resort, supports local schools and artists through equipment, internships, scholarships and further education.

To mark World Environment Day on 5 June 2026, Sun Siyam Iru Veli, part the Privé Collection of House of Sun Siyam, has officially launched its coral-planting initiative, strengthening the resort's long-term commitment to marine conservation and reef restoration in the Maldives. Introduced as part of the resort's Ocean Week celebrations, this activity invites guests to play an active role in protecting and preserving the underwater ecosystems that make the Maldives one of the world's most extraordinary marine destinations.

Sun Siyam Iru Veli has established designated coral propagation and planting areas within its lagoon following the renewal of its coral planting licence. These are locations where guests can also snorkel with the resort’s Sun Diving team to witness the growth of the corals planted. The initiative focuses on creating new habitats for marine life while supporting the natural regeneration of coral communities surrounding the island. Beyond conservation, the experience offers guests a meaningful connection to the ocean, allowing them to contribute directly to the reef's future health through the island’s Adopt a Coral programme.

The coral planting launch formed the culmination of Ocean Week at Sun Siyam Iru Veli with a programme of experiences designed to celebrate and raise awareness of the marine environment. Throughout the week, guests were invited to explore the Maldives' underwater world through educational and hands-on activities.

A dedicated Marine Night introduced guests to the rich biodiversity found within Maldivian waters, offering insights into the species encountered during snorkelling and diving adventures. From colourful reef fish, sea anemones, and nurse sharks inhabiting the resort's house reef to the majestic whale sharks and graceful manta rays found beyond the atoll, the session highlighted the importance of protecting these ecosystems.

Guests and team members also came together for a reef and lagoon clean-up initiative, helping to remove debris from surrounding marine environments while promoting responsible ocean conservation. As the Maldives enters a seasonal monsoon transition, the initiative serves as a timely reminder of the importance of constantly caring for reefs and lagoons that surround us.

Ocean Week at Sun Siyam Iru Veli coincided with several globally recognised environmental observances, including World Reef Awareness Day, World Environment Day, and World Oceans Day, reflecting the resort's broader commitment to sustainability through the Sun Siyam Cares programme.

“The Maldives is inseparable from the health of its oceans, which is why protecting and restoring our marine ecosystems remains a key priority for us,” said Chaminda Upul Kumara, Group Sustainability Manager at Sun Siyam. “Through initiatives such as coral planting, we aim to give guests the opportunity to engage directly with conservation efforts and leave a positive impact on the destination they are visiting. Every coral planted contributes to the resilience of our reefs and helps preserve the beauty and biodiversity of the Maldives for future generations"

At Sun Siyam Iru Veli, sustainability is woven into the guest experience through a growing range of conservation initiatives, with the coral planting programme marking another important step. For those looking to experience the Maldives while contributing to its preservation, this programme offers a meaningful way to leave a positive impact beneath the waves. 

Discover the initiatives helping to protect natural environments and support local communities across Sun Siyam by visiting the Sun Siyam Cares website. For more information and to book your island getaway, please visit Sun Siyam Iru Veli Offers page or follow the resort on Facebook,  Instagram, or YouTube.