Hands-on Education and Restoration Opportunity 2026 5th-12th of July 2026
Ocean Hero – Active Holiday for the Ocean (18y +)
Looking for a luxury resort experience while taking action to protect the ocean? Join our experienced marine biologist team for a once in a lifetime holiday. During the Ocean HERO week at Diamonds Thudufushi, we have 5 full days loaded with hands-on activities and unique experiences. Discover the secrets of the marine world and encounter the magnificent sharks and mantas of the Maldives. Be part of the marine biologist team, who will show you how to evaluate coral health and fish diversity during practical in-water activities. Discover our vibrant marine life and join us in protecting and preserving precious coral reef ecosystems for future generations. Give back to the ocean during our desert island cleaning trip, learn how to regrow a reef during our coral restoration sessions and be part of the largest ‘reef star’ restoration project in the Maldives. All Ocean Heros will receive a certificate of completion from the Maldives Marine Lab in collaboration with MaRHE Center of the University of Milano-Bicocca.
DAY 1 – Arrival in Paradise
Welcome to Paradise at Diamonds Thudufushi
Check-in and relax in your villa, first dip into the Indian Ocean
Introduction to Ocean Hero Program
Meet the marine team and get ready for some exciting days ahead
Receive your personal participant kit
Special Ocean HERO Dinner
DAY 2 – Island Paradise
MORNING
Program Overview: Setting the Scene
Knowledge Dive: The Maldives – Sustainable Paradise?
Introduction to the Maldives: geography, tourism, challenges and solutions for a sustainable future Island Activity: Tour of the Marine Lab Thudufushi
Water Activity: Guided snorkel on Thudufushi reef, visit the“Big Build”
AFTERNOON
Boat Excursion: Desert Island visit, beach clean-up and snorkel
EVENING
Island Dinner under the palms
DAY 3 – Crazy Corals
MORNING
Sunrise Salutation Yoga session before Breakfast
Knowledge Dive: The Coral Reef – a fascinating underwater metropolis Coral reef ecology: who lives on a reef, what are corals and why are they important? Island Activity: Coral Health Check
Learn how to do determine the condition of a coral reef
AFTERNOON
Water Activity: Coral Health Check
Let’s assess the health of our reefs together in the water
EVENING
Thudufushi Ocean Film Festival
A coral restoration journey around the world
DAY 4 – Fantastic Fishes
MORNING
Sunrise Snorkel – Experience the reef waking up
Boat Excursion: Snorkeling trip to buzzing coral reefs
A morning of snorkeling with our marine biologists, who will show you how to distinguish between different types of fish and how to observe their behaviors
AFTERNOON
Knowledge Dive: Finding Nemo & Co. – Coral reef fish diversity Learn about the most common fish families, their habits and surprising behaviors Water Activity: Fish Transects: counting all the fish in the sea?
Active fish census exercise (transect) under the guidance of our biologists
EVENING
Sunset Ocean Cocktail on the Beach
Dinner over the Ocean at Aqua Restaurant
DAY 5 – Maldives Uncensored
MORNING
Knowledge Dive: Everything you need to know about Maldives Learn about local history, culture, food and fisheries of the Maldives Boat Excursion to a Local Island
Meet the locals, island tour, school visit and Bodu Beru drumming session Lunch with the Locals
AFTERNOON
Reef Snorkel Boat Excursion on the way back to Thudufushi
EVENING
Maldivian Dinner and Bodu Beru Performance
DAY 6 – Sharks and Rays
MORNING
Boat Excursion: Manta, Manta!
We will look for Mantas by dhoni (traditional Maldivian boat) and swim with them! We will also collect their favorite food, plankton!
AFTERNOON
Knowledge Dive: Sharks and Rays of the Maldives
Learn about their unique biology, the threats they face and how we can protect them Island Activity: Marine Lab Shark Time
Investigate the plankton we collected under the microscope and enjoy a virtual swim with whale sharks, mantas and tiger sharks
EVENING
Sunset boat trip to Diamonds Athuruga with a thrilling night shark snorkel Dinner in Athuruga and return to Thudufushi
DAY 7 – Saving Corals with Reef Stars
MORNING
Knowledge Dive: Saving our coral reefs
Why are coral reefs disappearing and what can we do to protect and restore them? Learn about different restoration methods and a global movement that is trying to save coral reefs Island Activity: Microfragmentation Workshop
Try this coral restoration technique that uses a diamond band saw and a smart trick to make corals grow faster.
Water Activity: Collecting corals of opportunity on the housereef
AFTERNOON
Island Activity: Be a Reef Star!
Together we attach the collected corals to reef stars and add them to our large-scale coral restoration site, the Big Build!
EVENING
Program Closure: Recap and Presentation of Certificates
Ocean Hero Special Team Dinner
DAY 8 – Departure from Paradise
Check out and Departure
Return to reality as a true Ocean Hero – empowered with new skills, unforgettable memories, and lasting friendships!
Ocean HERO – Terms and Conditions:
Inclusions:
5 full activity days with theoretical and practical activities led by our marine biologist team Snorkeling excursions by Dhoni (traditional Maldivian boat)
Free rental snorkeling gear
Training material, Ocean Hero kit bag and certificate
Conditions:
Participants must be 18+ years
Participants must be able to swim confidently in deep water and be able to use snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel and fins; a snorkel lesson/refresher can be booked ahead of the program) – all water activities are conducted snorkeling.
Activities and order of topic days is subject to weather conditions and may be altered or substituted Min/Max participants (4 -12)
Program language: English (assistance in Italian and German is available)
