The more challenges that climate change throws at the Maldives, the more create innovation it throws right back. The latest approach to coral regeneration is Nova’s depth-adjustable coral nursery. Developed by Nova Marine Biologist, Toby Corren with guidance from Dr. Inga Dehnert during the early stages, the depth of the line with the coral pieces are adjusted by shortening or lengthening the ropes attached to the horizontal propagation ropes which are anchored at the bottom with D-ring anchor points. The main objective of this depth flexibility is to help mitigate stress responses from increased sea surface temperatures in the upper water columns, especially during bleaching events. The project is currently focused on fast-growing scleractinian corals, but they plan to expand the nursery to include a broader range of species in the future.
I’ve already highlighted how Fuvahmulah and Pelagic Divers are specialists in the tiger diving experience, but also thanks to Pelagic Divers, you can be one too. They not only offer a “Tiger Shark” PADI Speciality Course, but they were the ones who actually developed it.
· “Pelagic Divers Fuvahmulah has announced a new partnership with PADI, the world’s leading scuba diving training organisation. Together, they are introducing a Tiger Shark Specialty Course, designed specifically for divers who want to safely and responsibly dive with tiger sharks in the unique waters of Fuvahmulah, Maldives. This course has been personally designed and written by Ahmed Inah, the owner of Pelagic Divers Fuvahmulah. It is based on Inah’s years of experience shark diving in Fuvahmulah and is designed to enable divers to share his passion for responsibly scuba diving with tiger sharks in the area. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced diver, this course will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to safely and responsibly dive with these majestic creatures in Fuvahmulah. The Tiger Shark Specialty Course includes two training dives with tiger sharks, as well as theory and an exam. It is designed to teach divers the basic safety protocols for diving with tiger sharks in Fuvahmulah and is only available through Pelagic Divers Fuvahmulah.”
We were intrigued by Belize because the coral reef off its eastern coast features islands allegedly the most similar to the Maldives of anywhere in the world. I had featured it in my popular “Maldives Methadone” post. We thought that we could enjoy the tropical island (with diving) holiday while also having a few days to explore the rainforest jungle (a bit like the Maldives+Sri Lanka combo popular in the Indian Ocean). We also thought it would be fun to try a “Maldivian” experience somewhere else in the world.
To remind everyone, the criteria for “Maldives-like” includes:
Small size (able to walk around the circumference)
Tropical
Accessible, quality snorkeling
Blue tapestry seascape
Remoteness (ie. “middle of the ocean” feel with mainland not in sight)
Calm ocean from protective atoll/barrier reef
Why bother with “Methadone” when the Maldives itself offers so many options?
Cost – Maldives is one of the priciest destinations on the planet so seeking lower priced options.
Access – Somewhere closer to North/South America especially, but also Asia/Pacific
Variety – A bit of a different culture, history, locale, etc.
We booked a stay a Ray Caye about 30-minute flight from the international airport in Belize City to Placencia and then 50 minute speedboat ride from there.
What was like the Maldives…
· Blind-Taste Test – If you were to blindfold me and drop me down on Ray Caye without telling me where I was and asked me if it was the Maldives, I would really struggle. It definitely has both the look and vibe of most Maldive resorts. Palm trees, coral sand, azure tapestry seascape.
Seascape – Green caterpillar-like islands on the ocean’s horizon with azure tapestry stretching out.
Warm water, ie. 26-30 degrees Celsius, where you don’t need a wetsuit for diving
Pricing was actually comparable to similar properties in the Maldives (we spent about $1000 BB in a oceanside luxury villa with a plunge pool)
The particular property of Ray Caye was really like the EARLY Maldives (ie. early 2000s) which might have particular appeal to those nostalgic for the simpler, less-luxurified times. Staying at several other on-land Belize resorts en route to Ray Caye, we started observing that the Belize tourism industry is considerably less mature than certainly the Maldives. Another case in point was that when I was at the World Travel Market last week, they were the only Central American country without a booth. Aspects that took us back a decade or more include:
One room, rustic airport arrivals with only one other plane on the tarmac
Top hotels really 4+ star
Limited modern conveniences (ie. Internet only in lobby in some resorts, no TVs)
Big diving draw with familiar aquatic creatures like reef sharks, nurse sharks, dolphins, turtles, sting rays, eagle rays, jacks, and even whale sharks
The mainland non-resort areas of Belize reminded me a lot of Fuvamulah in general development, standard of housing and infrastructure (eg.limited mobile data and wifi, commercial establishments).
The one aspect which actually outshone the Maldives was the coral. Belize is also facing considerable coral bleaching with its hard corals, but its soft coral is the most extensive and varied we have ever seen.
There were telltale signs that this was not quite the Maldives…
Seascape – Extent of the azure sea was not quite as expansive. It seems like the general ocean topology is about a couple metres deeper than that of the Maldives. As a result, few variegated blues stand out and you don’t find ocean-level features like sand bars.
Sealife – Not as much marine life (especially the small fish which is partially down to the scourge of the invasive lion fish that feed on them).
Staff freely circulate and hang out in guest areas (which is a more congenial vibe)
Bird life slightly different with pelicans instead of herons as the prime fishing fowl. Also, osprey and frigates soar from tree to tree instead of flying fox bats.
Limited spa (with therapist off for extended periods of time and only a few treatments available)
Less “remote” feeling as you can see the mountains of Guatemala and Belize in the western distance (even though they are not very prominent and mostly shrouded by horizon clouds)
Belize has a more diverse landscape of atolls than the Maldives and a good number of islands are not at all Maldivian-like as they are quite big (eg. featuring big multi-story hotels).
As I mentioned, we combined our island stay with several nights in the Belize rainforest, specifically the resorts Caves Branch and Sleeping Giant, akin to the popular stays in Sri Lanka often combined with the Maldives. The former lodges were like screened-in porches in the middle of the jungle which made the connection with the outside surroundings very intimate. Sort of akin to what a water villa is to the ocean, the “treehouses” (more like “treetop houses”) are to the jungle. Instead of seeing marine life around you, the sensory experience hits most at night when the sounds of the jungle are around you. Especially the howler monkeys who sound like some sort of alien space saber tooth tigers when they get into their howling action.
Here is a summary of our week long itinerary (ours was stretched to 12 days for more diving and rainforest excursions) which is a good framework to start from for a first trip to the destination:
DAY 1:
Arrive Belize International.
Stay at Caves Branch / Sleeping Giant (90 minute transfer from airport)
DAY 2:
Excursions: Mayan ruins, Cave adventure
Stay at Caves Branch / Sleeping Giant
DAY 3:
Excursions: Explore Placencia, beach and beach bars
Stay at 3 Iguanas, Placencia (90 minute transfer)
DAY 4:
Excursions: Money River and Manatee tour
Stay at 3 Iguanas
DAY 5:
Relax or Water Activity
Stay at Ray Caye (50 minute transfer from Placencia)
One would think that of all places, the relaxed chill of the indolent Maldives would be the last place where one would need help sleeping. But sleep is a bit more complicated than that. Global visitors will confront jet lag. High-powered go-getters can often have trouble shifting gears to decompress. People of a certain age (like us) often suffer from disrupted sleep patterns. And even the blessing of the poolside laying about can make it difficult to get a full night’s sleep because you have rested so much during the day. Joali Being now how has a treatment for anyone who not only wants a relaxing holiday, but also guidance on restful nights even after the vacation is over – sleep therapy:
·Regulate and improve your sleeping patterns. By addressing the underlying health imbalances that may be contributing to your sleep concerns, this Wellbeing Programme ensures that not only will you rest better whilst on holiday but also after you return home.”
The Standard features a practitioner who can tell you a story about yourself…now and in the future. They host tarot card reader/healer, Aritra:
“My reading process is a mix of intuition, connection with the universe, and trust in the cards. When I do a tarot reading, it’s important that my aura is clear and my energy is calm and receptive. This helps me connect deeply with the cards and the person I’m reading for. I start by creating a peaceful environment, sometimes with candles or soothing music, to enhance the focus and energy flow. As I shuffle and lay out the cards, I concentrate on the questions or concerns at hand. The cards act as a bridge, allowing messages and insights to pass through. Each card’s symbols and stories guide the reading, providing clarity and perspective. It’s a process of tuning into the energies and allowing the messages to unfold naturally.”
A trip to the Maldives can literally seem like a visit to a deserted tropical island, but the archipelago is rich with history and culture. Many times this local backdrop is quite removed from the contrived resort experience. Many guests are interested in it and get a taste with local island excurisions. But Oaga has infused every single one of its rooms with their own stories taken from Maldivian lore (which you can read here). And the XXX villas have their stories written in the pool which connects them all (as a good story should).
World Travel Market 2024 gave me my annual flesh-and-blood dose of Maldives meeting with so many of the movers and shakers of the Maldives travel sector. I meet new people who have never heard of Maldives Complete (especially the new appointments in the corporate properties) and well as longstanding comrades (like Aminath Hudha, the first Maldivian in the industry to support me – see photo above).
I also caught up with folks from properties I’ve visited, eg. Emerald, Emerald Faarufushi, Sun Siyam, Nika, Centara Ras Fushi. But I also get to meet new people from properties I haven’t visited, eg. NOOE, JW Marriott, Furaveri, Barcelo, Westin, Alila Kothaifaru, Fushifaru, Le Meridien, Drift Thelu Veliga, Plumeria. And especially helpful is meeting people from the brand new resorts coming soon – eg. NH Collection, Avani+, Centara Lagoon, Ananea Madivaru.
I met industry players like Maldives.com, Paula from Magic of Maldives agency, and even Igrahim Shiuree the new CEO of the Maldives Marketing and Public Relationship Corporation. And I uncovered about a dozen new “Best of the Maldives” pieces featuring either new distinctions or ones I hadn’t yet heard about (stay tuned)
The costume awards for “Innovation” and “Wellness” goes to Soneva Fushi’s Cocoon Body Steam:
·This innovative treatment balances 02 and C02 and was developed by Anders Olsson, the founder of Conscious Breathing. It improves vagal tone, increases oxygenation of all tissues, and is applicable for chronic pain recovery, energy and treating inflammation.”
The dress code was “black, dark, spooky or full Halloween ghouls”. So Lori and I went as the spookiest, ghoulish creatures we could think of in the Maldives…Shark Fin Poachers.
In advance of next week’s World Travel Market in London and on the occasion of the scariest night of the year, Sun Siyam hosted a coterie of writers, operators and agents for some Halloween treats with no tricks. Sun Siyam’s largest market is the UK so it invests in keeping it informed and supported. The hotel group (Olhuveli, Vilu Reef, Irufushi, Siyam World) is focusing on adding as many distinctive experiences to their properties in the Maldives so that your trip of s lifetime it not just about the great place where you are, but also great things you do there.
