The Maldives offers visitors a surreal underwater encounter with a treasure trove of marine life revealed in a profusion of psychedelic colours and variety. The breathtaking beauty of the rich biological diversity of the ecosystem has fascinated both snorkellers and divers and is the top attraction of the destination. While guests enjoy the riches of the Indian Ocean, Four Seasons Resorts Maldives recognises the importance of responsible tourism and has implemented a number of environmental initiatives and projects to conserve and protect the marine life and habitats of the Maldives.

Coral Tray Propagation Project
In 1998, unusually warm oceanic waters caused by an exceptionally strong El Niño event bleached and killed corals across a large portion of the Maldivian reefs. Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru runs a comprehensive coral propagation project to artificially cultivate corals and to nurture the ailing reefs back to health using coral trays. The 250 coral trays planted since 2006 (when the Resort opened) have shown amazing growth rates. At Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, a further 170 coral trays have been successfully installed in the waters surrounding the island since 2007.

The results from the experiments and techniques developed at Landaa Giraavaru are also pioneering the global development of artificial reef regeneration. The team of resident marine biologists at the Resort regularly monitors the island’s natural coral reefs, and as of the end of 2008, the coral cover on the Resorts’ surrounding reefs has increased by an amazing 20%. Various techniques are being used, including the creation of artificial reef structures and metal frames to grow coral fragments and facilitate coral transplantation. These new artificially generated reefs attract a multitude of marine life, enabling one to snorkel through a vibrant coral garden again. The ultimate aim of the project is to return the reefs to their pre-1998 condition, before the El Niño event.

Guests at both Resorts are offered the opportunity to sponsor a coral tray, which will fund research and expand the restoration of the islands’ coral reefs.

Maldivian Manta Ray Project
The Maldives is one of the best places in the world to encounter manta rays, graceful creatures with wing-like pectoral fins that reach a length of 4 to 4.6 metres (13 to 15 feet). The Marine Research Centre at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru is the base for eminent pioneering works on the manta rays. The team of marine biologists conducts research on all aspects of the manta ray’s biology and behaviour, from population estimates to migration routes and the use of critical habitats. This important research is leading to greater knowledge and awareness of these little-understood gentle giants, which are listed as “near threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). To date, the project has identified more than 1,500 individual manta rays; this database represents the largest recorded population of manta rays anywhere in the world.

Sea Turtle Nesting Project
In the Maldives, it is possible to see five of the world’s seven species of sea turtles. Most of the time, however, it is the Hawksbill and the Green Sea Turtle that are commonly sighted. At Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, both are year-round residents that nest on its white sand beaches. After mating at sea, the female turtles crawl up to the beach to dig nests in the sand into which they deposit their eggs. The Resort has implemented a number of measures to ensure that sea turtles continue to nest and breed on the island, unimpeded. The Resort’s lighting is positioned sensitively so that it does not disturb the hatching turtles, and fencing is put up around the egg chambers for protection.

The Resort’s marine biologists patrol the beaches nightly to monitor and record data on turtle nests. The data collected is passed on to turtle researchers who are working to preserve these globally threatened species. To date, the Resort’s marine biologists have assisted many female turtles stranded on the beach and 80 turtle hatchlings to move safely into the ocean.

Whale Shark ProjectLittle is known about the whale shark, which is the world’s largest fish. The Maldives is one of the best places in the world to view these rare and elusive creatures. The aim of this project is to collect data through sightings so that the size and structure of their population can be determined, and to track the foraging and migratory behaviour of these endangered gentle giants. The Marine Research Centre at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru has more than 100 sharks and 450 valuable sightings in its database; the information is shared with other scientists and whale shark researchers around the world.

Fish Laboratory – Larval Fish Capture Project
The popularity of keeping tropical marine fish as pets has increased significantly in recent years, and there is valid concern that the capture of adult fishes directly from the reef to supply the pet trade will have increasing detrimental effects on the wild population of the target species.

With this in mind, a new research project is under way in the fish laboratory at the Marine Research Centre that aims to find a viable breeding process to produce tropical marine fish to supply to the ornamental pet trade. The first step of this ongoing research involves the capture of coral reef fish fry in their post-larval stage. Most coral reef fish have a high mortality rate of 95%, dying within their first week mainly due to predation. By capturing an insignificant portion of these fish fry, the Resort is developing a resource that would otherwise have been wiped out naturally. The fish fry are reared in the laboratory, and breeding techniques are experimented on commercially desirable species. It is hoped that when a successful breeding process is established, it can be shared with local companies to provide a sustainable alternative source to the Maldivian ornamental fish trade.

Baa Atoll ProjectIn early 2007, the team of marine biologists at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru took the initiative to gather the six resorts in Baa Atoll to work together to promote sustainable environmental practices as well as to create an awareness and educate people about threats to the local marine life within the Atoll and throughout the Maldives. From this, the Baa Atoll Project (BAP) was formed. It meets regularly to discuss issues such as marine life protection, night fishing practices, waste disposal and educational programmes. A particular emphasis is placed on the protection of sharks. Pressure from the BAP has led to a government-hosted workshop to discuss conservation efforts.

Green Fund
Four Seasons Resorts Maldives has created a Green Fund, a reserve to provide a source of funding for its various conservation and marine research programmes at both its Resorts. Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru contributes USD 1.00 from the revenue of each occupied room to this Fund. Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa contributes USD 4.00 from each guest who attends the marine presentations that are available daily at the Resort.

Marine Life Presentations and Guided Excursions for GuestsThe teams of resident marine biologists at both Resorts have taken hundreds of guests snorkelling and diving with the manta rays, turtles and many other amazing creatures in the marine gardens of the Maldives. The fascinating underwater encounters coupled with daily marine presentations on various topics such as the creation of the coral reefs, the life history of the reef fishes, sharks and manta rays and the current environmental challenges facing the Maldivian archipelago have enriched guests’ experiences. Many have claimed that it has instilled a new-found appreciation and respect in them for the marine world. Because Four Seasons Resorts Maldives believe that education is the key to successful conservation worldwide, both Resorts have ensured that all its environmental projects are readily accessible to guests during their stay.

Environmental Education Project for the Local CommunityLaunched in 2008, this initiative aims to involve the Maldivian communities in the conservation efforts and research projects carried out by Four Seasons Resorts Maldives. In particular, it seeks to introduce students from local schools to the Resorts’ environmental projects with the aim of enhancing their knowledge of marine biology and environmental awareness. This programme is closely linked to the national curriculum taught in the local schools and provides the students with an opportunity to practise techniques taught in the classroom. The first of such visits took place on November 2, 2008, when Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa hosted 13 students of Aminya School in Malé for a one-day “Introduction to Practical Marine Biology” course. During their visit, the students were taught to snorkel and then, utilising their new skill, they actively participated in the coral tray propagation project in the Resort’s lagoon.

Landaa Garden
The lush vegetation at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru produces large amounts of natural compostable foliage, which is either trimmed by the gardeners or falls naturally from the trees and plants. Instead of burning or shipping this waste to Malè, the Resort mulches and turns this organic waste into nutritious compost for the plants growing in the Landaa Garden, thereby recycling the natural nutrients of the island. In return, the Landaa Garden produces fresh vegetables, herbs and fruits that are used in the preparation of dishes served at the Resort.