One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives launches National Geographic Aquatic Discovery Dive Program

The One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives, has launched the National Geographic Aquatic Discovery Dive program. Guests will now be able to be involved in the resort’s environmental initiative to conserve existing corals and help spread the growth of corals in their natural environment of the lagoon and the house reef surrounding the resort.

The diving experience begins with an overview from Oliver Deubel – Dive Centre Manager who will lead the group in collecting detached pieces of coral samples at nearby dive or snorkel sites for transplantation, followed by de-stressing the coral samples in an oral de-stress pool for approximately 24-hours after planting on the concrete base. After which the de-stressed corals will be moved to the coral table stations in selected areas of the lagoon. Pending the growth progress of the corals, guests will be able to replant the corals at the coral replant station (on the house reef) and glue it to the rock structure of the reef with underwater adhesive. Guests may then return on their next visit to monitor the growth and development of the corals they had planted.

This project demonstrates One&Only Reethi Rah’s commitment to help harmonize the surrounding reefs and to protect the twelve crescent-shaped beaches and shorelines from erosion. Coral reefs and the surrounding marine life have been the foundation of costal communities for centuries.

“Understanding the role of these reefs and learning to care for them enables our guests to gain valuable insight and appreciation for the marine life that depend on them,” said Oliver Deubel – Dive Centre Manager. “It is through this respect and empathy can outsiders truly act responsibly towards a particular culture.

A traveller, who plants a coral with an awareness of its vitality to its surroundings, is rewarded with satisfying, tangible evidence that their efforts are beneficial to the local community. This greater sense of ownership is accompanied by an increased awareness of the fragility of the environment and results in more enthusiastic efforts of tourists to protect and engage with it,” added Deubel.

PADI National Geographic Dive Centres are PADI's elite dive centres with the highest of customer standards and product offerings. At One&Only Reethi Rah’s Dive Centre, a team of professionals conduct classes for all levels in several languages. Digital cameras and camcorders are available to film the colourful Indian Ocean marine life.

All instructors are qualified as National Geographic Diving Instructors and will lead the divers to observe and explore the dive sites like an underwater scientist.

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