Where time stops and beautiful stories unfold
Located in Raa Atoll near Baa Atoll, a UNESCO biosphere reserve, InterContinental® Maldives Maamunaga Resort (InterContinental Maldives), is one of the most unparalleled locations in the Maldives to discover marine life. As part of its commitment to protecting the environment that surrounds the resort, InterContinental® Maldives Maamunagau Resort has launched two integrated partnerships with the Manta Trust and Ocean Group, and employed the skills of dedicated Marine Biologist, Maria Andersen.
Maria, working closely with the Manta Trust and Ocean Group, has developed a first-of-its-kind program for guests to fully-immerse themselves in the world of marine conservation. Through a range of hands-on activities, including tracking mantas, replanting coral, and evening talks, guests will reach a new level of understanding and appreciation for the delicate eco-systems.
Maria Andersen, Marine Biologist at InterContinental Maldives comments; “It is so important to preserve, sustain and restore our reefs, and protect the incredible array of ocean wildlife we share these beautiful waters with. We are lucky to have one of the Maldives’ most vibrant house reefs and we encourage guests to immerse themselves in our marine conservation efforts, which not only gives a new perspective on this incredible beauty but is also vital in raising awareness of this important cause.”
The Manta Trust Partnership has been created to conserve a large area in the Raa Atoll, a previously unmonitored area. With a record number of manta sightings recorded in the Maamunagau Lagoon, including many juvenile manta rays, the area has become one of the most important nursery sites in the country.
As well as engaging daily snorkel excursions with the mantas, the Manta Trust-led programme, “Adopt a Manta” allows guests of InterContinental Maldives to name new mantas and track them as they migrate around the Maldives. 100% of the funds generated by the “Adopt a Manta” programme go directly to the Manta Trust, which funds a holistic approach to protecting manta rays.
InterContinental Maldives is also working with Ocean Group, who, along with Maria and her team, are committed to restoring and protecting the resort’s vibrant reefs through a coral nurseries program. They will use their skills to target specific species of coral to rehabilitate and restore the surrounding reefs after the bleaching in 2016 devastated branching coral in shallow reefs, as well as promoting the diversity of corals through targeting other species that have also been impacted by the bleaching mortalities. Guests can once again play the part of marine conservationists, by planting the corals and tracking their growth once they have left.
Not limited to mantas and coral, Maria and her team will also be able to share insights on turtles, dolphins, sharks and other marine inhabitants who dwell within the Indian Ocean idyll. Complementing the daytime activities and enriching the guest experience, will be a series of evening presentations about various marine conservation topics.
IHG® InterContinental Hotels Groups, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has been a pioneer in travel for over 70 years, and with their first resort in the Maldives, the brand continues its legacy by combining world-class luxury with a deep respect for the delicate and complex marine ecosystems in which the resort it situated.
