Maldives Resorts

On May 23, 2019, the world observes World Turtle Day. This is an annual observance that is marked to celebrate and create awareness on the need for the protection of turtles from their disappearing habitats across the world. In the Maldives, the tropical waters are home to many of the seven species of sea turtles. Guests travel from far and wide to explore the sea in search of these wonderful creatures.

Across our properties, there are opportunities to spot sea turtles. Green Sea Turtles can be frequently observed in Kuredu Island Resort & Spa, where there is seagrass aplenty. In neighbouring Komandoo Island Resort & Spa’s house reef, you are likely to eye Green Sea Turtles as well as Hawksbill Sea Turtles. Turtle Reef, a dive site just off Innahura Maldives Resort, is the location where 48 Hawksbill Sea Turtles were spotted in a single dive! In the south, Loggerhead Sea Turtles and Leatherback Turtles have been spotted in the South Ari Atoll waters where Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa is located. Most of our resorts have excursions that allow you to hopefully spot these gentle creatures.

Though turtles have existed more than 100 million years, outliving dinosaurs, they are rapidly disappearing. Sea turtles, in particular face several threats from plastic pollution to the destruction of feeding and nesting sites. Plastic bags can be mistaken for food and when ingested, potentially lead to death by blocking the sea turtle’s intestines.

As part of our Sustainability Plan, we are committed to having a minimal operational impact on the environment within which our resorts operate. This means taking care of the natural environment to ensure that sea turtles and other marine life do not lose their homes. Secondly, we also create awareness throughout our resorts on avoiding plastic pollution and respecting marine life.

Read our sustainability plan here and more about sea turtles here.

Happy World Turtle Day!

 

We believe in beautiful destinations, authentic connections with loved ones and spending quality time together. What better place to do this over the Festive Season than at one of the Crown & Champa Resorts in the Maldives.

If you weren’t here, We Missed You and would love to see you soon!

If you were here, we hope you enjoyed every minute as much as we did.

Come island hopping with us as we reminisce about the festive season.

Christmas Eve on Kuredu Island Resort & Spa started with the switching on of the lights, Christmas dinner and a sultry snow party. Santa arrived on Christmas Day on a jet ski to hand out gifts and ended off the excitement with a Beach BBQ Dinner.

The fun continued after Christmas Day with the Christmas Crab Race, a relaxed Christmas Movie and a scrumptious stroll through the Christmas Street Market, which led up to the annual Kuredu Gladiator Fight & Fire Poi. The final hours of 2017 at Kuredu were rung in with a New Year’s dinner and an epic pool party.

The enchanting Hurawalhi Island Resort was a paradise of Christmas celebrations with extravagant cocktails, a picturesque gala dinner and beach party to match.

The island’s New Year’s Eve was an unforgettable gala dinner and tropical soirée with bubbles from Tattinger, followed by a champagne brunch on new Year’s Day.

Veligandu Island Resort & Spa partied the festive season away with delicious dinners, lively entertainment, hilarious games of couple’s lip reading and chill-out saxophone sessions, just to name a few. All guests who purchased a bottle of champagne during New Year’s Eve took part in a festive Champagne Lucky Draw for a chance to win the grand prize of a 7-night stay at Veligandu Island Resort & Spa and more.

Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa kicked off the festivities with gingerbread house building, Christmas and New Year’s greeting card crafts, Christmas movies and toy making with coconut leaves

On Christmas Eve Santa arrived bearing gifts for the little ones, with harmonious Christmas Carols by the island choir with the night ending in a Christmas Gala Dinner and exuberant party.

The New Year’s countdown was celebrated with cocktails, a gala dinner, a party filled with giveaways and best wishes for 2018.

If you know Meeru Island Resort & Spa, then you know there was something for everyone this festive season. Beginning with a journey through the history and culture of the Maldives, nature walks on the island, chill-out sessions and live bands, canoe races and a treasure hunt for kids.

Christmas Eve saw Santa arrive by boat to surprise the kids with gift. The celebration continued with a night of cocktails, a gala dinner and a chance to dance the night away at the annual party.

The countdown to 2017 was the perfect time for a sunset chill-out session, gala dinner and beach party. New Year’s Day started with the fun-filled annual Meeru Guests Vs. Staff Football.

Our adults-only island, Komandoo Island Resort & Spa, had a charming festive season with a cocktail making class, Santa’s arrival, a Christmas dinner and party on Christmas Eve.

As a build-up to New Year’s Komandoo had interactive Maldivian Handcrafts Class, yoga, fruit craving and sushi making before setting off on the last sunset cruise for 2017. New Year’s Eve was celebrated in style with a masquerade ball and champagne countdown.

Here’s to 2018, a year filled with excitement, magic and adventure in the Maldives.

See you soon!

The tropical Maldives contains 26 atolls covering 90 000 square kilometers of the Indian Ocean. Our ocean is our future. To celebrate World Ocean Day, help our Crown & Champa Resorts to keep our ocean healthy.

 

Climate change and the “El Nino” phenomenon had led to coral reefs worldwide being affected in a global bleaching event over the past two years. In 2016, 60% of the Maldives coral was affected and over the past year, the Maldives government and our Resorts hosted ongoing efforts to revitalize the corals and protect the Indian Ocean, including reduced usage of plastic, reef & lagoon cleaning activities, as well as coral planting projects.

 

In the North Malé Atoll and a 55-minute speedboat transfer from Velana International Airport, Meeru Island Resort & Spa continues to support the preservation of the Maldives marine life. Together with the Euro-Divers team, Meeru facilitates both learning and interactive events to encourage awareness, conservation and coral growth.

 

A scenic 20-minute seaplane transfer takes you to Veligandu Island Resort & Spa, a paradise island that offers beach and house reef cleaning events for guests to take part in. Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa is renowned for its spectacular house reef. A 25-minute seaplane toward the South Ari Atoll leads you to this diver’s haven, which has already installed two coral growing platforms. Guests participated in installing the third during their World Environment Day event on June 5, 2017.

 

In the Lhaviyani Atoll, a scenic 40 to 45-minute seaplane transfer away, Hurawalhi Island Resort and the Marine Biology Center with a resident Marine Biologist, leads continuous research efforts towards conserving our marine eco-system. Komandoo Island Resort & Spa and Kuredu Island Resort & Spa actively organize reef cleaning and awareness projects involving guests, the most recent being for World Environment Day on Monday June 5, 2017.

 

The Maldives corals have shown significant amounts of recovery. Colorful tropical fish can still be seen at any of our top dive sites, along our Resort shores and even at the foot of our Water Villas. Help us protect our beautiful underwater world and Indian Ocean on your next stay with Crown & Champa Resorts.

 

“Oceans are the lungs of our planet and the very foundations of life. They provide most of the oxygen we breathe”

The Maldives is the perfect place to experience white, sandy beaches, Indian Ocean sunsets and a glowing marine life, with over 700 varieties of fish that have been seen around the lovely coral reefs and atolls. These can be aptly described as underwater cities. Crown & Champa Resorts invites you to explore the depths of the Maldives sea life for couples, families and children alike.

 

1. Hurawalhi Island Resort’s pristine location at the center of Lhaviyani Atoll’s top dive sites features lively coral reefs and an array of tropical fish on display, expecially sea turtles. Start your Discover Scuba Diving course for a chance to see these special creatures in person.

Fun Fact: Hurawalhi recently hosted founder and CEO of the Olive Ridley Project, Martin Stelfox, for a 4-day informative visit about sea turtles and about threats these magnificent animals are exposed to.

 

2. Take the Sea Turtle Course at Komandoo Island Resort & Spa and explore the different species of Maldives sea turtles that are simply waiting to meet you.

Fun Fact: In the waters around Komandoo there are two different species of turtles that you are likely to encounter – the hawksbill and green sea turtles.

 

3. Dive into the Kuredu Caves with the PADI Sea Turtle Diver Course  and discover Kuredu Island Resort & Spa’s unique community of nature’s toughest survivors, green sea turtles.

Fun Fact: The Lhaviyani Atoll is home to one of the Maldives’ largest populations of green sea turtles, concentrated around Kuredu.

 

4. In North Male, Meeru Island Resort & Spa’s Turtle Reef is the best location in the Maldives to spot Turtles. Sign up for the Turtle Explorer on a Yacht excursion every Tuesday and Saturday.

Fun Fact: Euro-Divers Meeru team rescued an injured turtle that was found floating on the ocean’s surface and unable to dive. The juvenile Olive Ridleys turtle, named Mohar, was transported to Marine Save for recovery.

 

5. Veligandu Island Resort offers complimentary intro dives every Thursday afternoon, from 1630 – 1730 at the South Beach. Get acquainted with the 17 dive sites, the spacious Dive Centre, a great variety of courses for beginner and experienced divers, and the international Ocean-Pro dive team to make your turtle spotting adventure an unforgettable experience.

Fun Fact: Spot some friendly Turtles at the Veligandu East dive site, located to the southeast of Veligandu and only a 10-minutes boat ride away.

 

6. Join the Daily Turtle Excursion and have a chance to see, photograph & maybe even swim with the magnificent turtles at Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa, daily from 1000 – 1100 and Fridays from 1500-1600.

Fun Fact: In the Maldives, 5 out of 7 sea turtle species can be found, including the Loggerhead, Leatherback and Olive Ridley.

 

7. Opt for a family Submarine Excursion, which Champa Central Hotel can book for you during your stay in colorful Malé city. Experience an underwater dive without getting wet, in the large submarine that accommodates 50 persons.

Fun Fact: The submarine dives to the depth of 40 meters and offers amazing photograph opportunities from 24 large view ports.

 

Book your next vacation at any of our family-friendly or adults-only Resorts and Hotel, and delight in the joys of Maldives’ rich and colorful marine life.