Sun Siyam Olhuveli not only serves up amazing sushi, but also will teach you how to make it yourself at their sushi class. Taught by sushi chef (not to be confused with “sous chef”) Namal, he takes you through the process of making sushi, maki rolls and sashimi. Our son, Chase, once gave me a gift of such a class in London and it was as much fun as it was insightful. So, Lori did the classwork and I concentrated on quality control (to which I can attest she passed with flavourful flying colours). If you want a more pampered way to enjoy sushi, Olhuveli’s “Theo’s Coffee Shop” offers 100 varieties in total including a range of dessert sushi made with fruit.
Best of the Maldives: Lobster Sushi – Sun Siyam Olhuveli
This is not a “Haven’t Seen”, but it should have been. Lobster is the most iconic luxury seafood, and sushi is a delightful, light delicacy for the warm weather. The dish Sun Siyam Olhuveli’s Executive Chef Didi Hassan’s signature specialty. Specifically, it is lobster maki with lobster mousse and cream, topped with tobiko and salmon roe. TripAdvisor Forum Destination Expert Moirad tells me that Raffles also features lobster sushi, but they ae going to have to show me what they have to convince me that it could be more spectacular than this presentation).
Best of the Maldives: Raised Beach Dining Cabana – Sun Siyam Olhuveli
Two of the most distinctive aspects to the Maldives is the intimacy of the islands with the surrounding ocean, and the mesmerizing vistas of dappled blues. One of the most memorable ways to enjoy both is the iconic beach dining. Many resorts now set tables on the sand by the water or construct special cabanas for dining to provide a bit of shelter from the ocean breeze and occasional shower. Sun Siyam Olhuveli has taken the latter to literally the next level with an elevated cabana so you sea view is all the more dramatic.
Best of the Maldives: Sheltered Snorkeling Lagoon – Olhuveli
Lots of tropical destinations have islands with dappled blue water surrounding them, but one of the qualities that distinguish the Maldives is the mill pond tranquillity of these waters. The ringed atolls encircle a semi-protected region in the middle of the Indian Ocean which dampens the larger sea currents and swells of the open ocean. Especially, the shallow lagoons whose limited depth further mutes the volatility of the water.
This calmness not only contributes to the destination’s renown for languid relaxation, but also makes for some distinctively easier water enjoyment, especially snorkelling. The problem with snorkelling is that the lagoons are so sheltered that they don’t get the nutrient flow that current normally deliver and in recent years, they have gotten particularly warm both conditions of which impede the growth of coral.
But sometimes coral croppings do emerge which make for excellent beginner snorkeling. Sun Siyam Olhuveli has a sweet spot combination of no just one bur 2 sheltered lagoons with low-depth snorkeling. They are both on par with Kuda Huraa and Canareef that similarly impressed us years ago with their lagoon coral gardens, but Olhuveli has two, they are more sheltered and the one by the arrival jetty does have a drop-off at the end. We had one of our most memorable snorkels ever here on our previous visit with an octopus playing hide-and-seek with us.
Siyam (r)evolution
One of the great joys of working on Maldives Complete is the escapism to paradise that it provides me while hunkering down in the grey days of England. And as the days are growing shorter and the winds colder, Sun Siyam brought an evening of Maldivian sunshine to London to announce its brand revamp on the occasion of its 35 year anniversary:
- “More than a visual refresh, the brand (r)evolution introduces a bold new brand statement anchored in The Home of the Maldivian Spirit, reinforcing the group’s position as one of the Maldives’ most culturally authentic resort operators. The transformation elevates guest journeys with new Signature Experiences introduced across all six resorts and strengthens direct relationships with customers through Siyam Rewards. A single identity now unites the group’s five Maldivian resorts and its Sri Lankan retreat under The House of Siyam. To help guests and partners navigate the portfolio, each property is now grouped under three distinct collections: Luxury, Privé and Lifestyle.”
The positioning makes a lot of sense for a successful player in the Maldives market. If you grow with your success, you have to add new islands as the diminutive land masses contain what you can add to existing properties. If you add new islands, then you risk having your properties competing with each other. So you have to have some differentiation so people can choose your brand for its brand values and reputation (eg. the signature experiences), but choose specific variations based on more targeted price points or vibe.
The London event featured more than just the sunny warmth of Maldivian festivity, but a few special guests. First was Dolores Semeraro, serving as vibrant emcee for the evening, who was one of the first people we met in the Maldives when she was running marketing for LUX South Ari Atoll in 2012. She and her husband, Dominik Ruhl, are part of the early pioneers in the Maldives travel sector and are now leading experts on the sector who have helped me with Maldives Complete on many occasions.
Also, gracing the stage was Aston Merrygold, of the band JLS and “Strictly Come Dancing” fame. A real class act, he and his family are fans of the Siyam resorts. He did more than a token set, but played multiple sets and spend time in between talking with the guests (who took many selfies), and even performed his signature backflip on stage.
Best of the Maldives: Swim Up Jacuzzi – Olhuveli
Swim-up bars and jacuzzis both give pools an extra boost of relaxing in the water. But how about a swim-up bar in a jacuzzi? Well that is just another pool innovation introduced by Sun Siyam Oluveli. So they are not just the proud home of the largest pool in the Maldives, but also (from what I have seen), the largest (and most extravagant) jacuzzi there!
