For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.
Jacques-Yves Cousteau
The Maldives are a unique and extremely charming place, in particular because of one of the main protagonists of its ocean, the coral. Did you know that corals are actually little animals (polyps), that live in a kind of friendship (symbiosis) with a very small plant (algae) and that produce a tough skeleton which eventually forms the basis of today’s coral reefs? Without the centuries of hard work by these little corals, our resort guests would not be able to enjoy the incredible beauty and diversity of our coral reef. But just like most corals around the world, our beautiful paradise is under imminent threat and needs active protection.
Recognising the critical importance of healthy reefs for an ocean full of life, Diamonds Thudufushi has taken action early on and launched the “Coral Conservation Project” back in 2015. The project’s main objectives are to preserve coral reefs by encouraging responsible tourism, while actively protecting and regrowing corals around our resort.
For example, since 2015 our guests have had the opportunity to name and adopt a coral frame (iron structure covered with sand) which, together with our marine biologist, is stocked with rescued corals and placed on the reef. Back home, the “coral frame parents” will receive regular updates and pictures about the growth of their little coral reef on Thudufushi. Today, more than 300 coral frames provide a new home to countless marine creatures and make snorkelling around our coral garden a unique adventure.
However, our efforts to protect coral reefs do not stop here. In 2023, we partnered with Mars Sustainable Solutions, a true giant in the coral restoration world, to boost our impact on Thudufushi reef. Following a pilot project using their Reef Star technique, we joint forces and together with our partners, marine biologists, local volunteers, guests and staff of Thudufushi, we launched the largest single installation of more than a 1000 reef starts! Since 2024, the BIG BUILD project is thriving and growing a little larger every day, providing a beacon of hope to the corals of tomorrow.
