Best of the Maldives: Pool Hoist – Amilla

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Amilla - pool hoist

IWOOT! (I want one of those) I coach rowing for disabled individuals and one of the challenges is transfers from wheelchairs to the boats the water. We often improvise with manual lifting, but as Lori points out (who used to run a therapy department for disability treatment centre), manual assists for transfers can be dangerous not only for the helper, but for the individual being helped. The proper way to transfer to someplace like the water is with a purpose-built hoist. Also, hoists allow the impaired individual to transfer more gracefully and not feel self-conscious about bothering people to assist them. Thankfully, Amilla Maldives has introduced one to the Maldives:

  • “We have a beach wheelchair to assist with moving on loose sand. For access to the water, we have a floating wheelchair. We also have a portable pool hoist which can be used in the main pool and in the Reef Pool Water Villa. The Two Bedroom Beach Pool Villa’s pool is at a small height, so alternative access through a sling can be arranged.”

Amilla - pool hoist 2

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Best of the Maldives: Largest Floating Solar Array – Taj Exotica

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Taj Exotica - solar array

The best places in the world for solar are power are those with (a) lots of sunshine, and (b) significant expanses of space to collect those sun rays. While the “Sunny Side of Life” has plenty of the former, this island archipelago has notoriously little of the latter. On land that is. But Taj Exotica has taken advantage of the destination’s largest resource – the ocean – in order to reduce carbon footprint to help save that self-same ocean.

  • “The SolarSea system, coupled with a battery storage solution, allows the resort to run entirely on renewable energy during daylight hours. This eco-friendly approach translates to a reduction of approximately 475,000 liters of diesel consumption annually, along with a decrease of 1,200 tons in carbon footprint.”
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Best of the Maldives: Water Villa Solar Panels – SO Maldives Patina / Ritz Maldives

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SO Maldives - solar water villa panels

The Maldives has long been pioneering sustainability with ambitious use of solar power, and now SO Maldives, The Patine and Ritz Carlton Maldives (thanks Paola) have set a new high water mark over the water installing solar panels on the roofs of every single one of their water villas. Top move.

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Best of the Maldives: Recycled Construction – Soneva Jani

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Soneva Jani - crab shack 2

Many resorts recycle the small consumables like bottles and packaging, but Soneva Jani has recycled so much of its construction materials that it was able to make an entire restaurant out of them. In fact, the construction design of the “Crab Shack” was also inspired by the story of a local fisherman:

  • “For years, the fisherman collection small pieces of driftwood and any other gifts the sea would bring him. Friends who saw his enthusiasm started to collect useful items for him, from wherever they could find them. A discard chair, mismatches plates and cutlery, pieces of driftwood…He didn’t mind that every chair in his restaurant would be different, he actually liked the thrown-together feel of it all.”

Soneva Jani - crab shack 3

Soneva Jani - crab shack

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Best of the Maldives: Waste Heat Recycling – Six Senses Laamu / Kuramathi

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Kuramathi - waste heat recovery

Most of resorts recycle our paper, plastic and metal. Some go further to recycle more esoteric items like construction materials and coconut husks. But Six Senses Laamu and Kuramathi have introduced a recycling not a material, but energy. They have installed waste heat recycling technology:

  • “The Kuramathi team initiated a plan to connect large part of the Island to a cutting-edge hot water supply system. What sets this project apart is our innovative approach to using waste heat generated by powerhouse generators. We have harnessed this heat to produce hot water, eliminating the need for traditional electric boilers. This saves not only time but also conserves both water and electricity. As of now, one-third of the Island including 160 villas is connected to the system, with a goal to have the entire Island linked in the future.”
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Best of the Maldives: Smallest Atoll – Soneva Secret

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Soneva Secret - atoll

Having visited 17 of Maldives atolls, there aren’t many left we haven’t been to, but Soneva Secret recently launched in an atoll – Mkaundhoo – that we have not only never been to, but I hadn’t even heard of! One of the distinctive experiences of the Maldives is the dramatic sense of being away from it all in the middle of the ocean. Soneva has taken that dimension to the next level with their “Secret” refuge.

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Best of the Maldives: Disabled Diving – Amilla Maldives

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Amilla - accessible diving

One of my other websites provides information on the sport of rowing for people with disabilities, so it is a delight to see Amilla Maldives offering our favourite Maldives “sport” of diving to disabled guests (something I first proposed in my 2017 “Haven’t Seen Yet” post):

  • “Dive Butler International has experience teaching wheelchair users how to dive. The dive centre itself is accessible, and a chat with our instructors can be arranged even before arrival.”

A great activity especially for the mobility impaired as underwater you don’t need your legs (as Ariel has sung about).

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Best of the Maldives: Snorkel Spotting – Gili Lankanfushi / Baros

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Snorkel Spotter - Gili Lankanfushi

Snorkel Spotter turned 12 years old this week! It’s been a great resource for us to capture and share our extensive house reef explorations (over 100 different house reefs). And various resorts and guests have embraced it as well to do the same, but none more than Gili Lankanfushi and Baros with 22 spottings logged each.

Here is the top ten table:

Gili Lankanfushi

22

Baros Maldives

22

Gangehi

21

Kurumba

15

Dusit Thani

13

Thudu Fushi

12

Veligandu

12

Biyadhoo

12

Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu

12

Fihalhohi

11
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Best of the Maldives: Color Accessibility – Finolhu

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Finolhu - colour accessibility

The Maldives is renowned for its colourful tapestry of mottled blues in the surrounding ocean and sky punctuated by tropical greenery, brilliant white coral sands and the warm yellow glow of sunshine. But for those visually impaired with colour blindness, such rich variations are not only lost. But Finolhu has implemented an innovative programe to bring as much of this visual richness to these guess with the EnChroma sunglasses and snorkel masks.

  • “The vibrant island destination offered guests EnChroma sunglasses and snorkel masks to colour-blind guests. This allows colourblind guests to not only experience the colourful art and architecture of Finolhu but also experience the shades underwater. Baa Atoll is renowned for having some of the most vibrant coral reefs and marine life. With the EnChroma snorkel masks colour blind guests can finally explore the colours under the waters in the Maldives. For the very first time!. Upon arrival, one of the first things guests would take note of is the uniquely beautiful colour of the ocean. The resort has so many hues and shades of life to share with its guests. And Finolhu Maldives has taken a unique step towards inclusivity at the property. Just last year, Finolhu Maldives became the first Maldivian hotel to offer glasses for colourblind guests.” “(Finolhu Maldives: Unparalleled Vibrance for Colour Blind Guests!”)

(thanks Paola)

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