As the gentle waves caressed the shores of the Maldives, a subtle movement caught my attention. With a sense of curiosity and excitement, I witnessed a rare and heartwarming spectacle–a baby shark gracefully swimming towards the beach. The azure water accentuated the contrast with the shark’s sleek grey skin.
You can enjoy the amazing aquatic life in the Maldives without getting your feet wet. Here, the waters have long been a haven for marine life. Resorts in the Maldives, which were once defined only by overwater villas, are now scaling it down to openly display—and eventually protect—the archipelago’s stunning but threatened flora and fauna.
I have always thought a holiday in the Maldives would be too slow for me. While it is a playground for those seeking aquatic adventures, it is also a place where you can learn how to balance the allure of paradise with conservation efforts. During my stay at Patina Maldives, the resort exemplified how the luxury hospitality sector can become a catalyst for positive change.
Sustaining paradise through corals
Even if it’s not exactly good news, the Maldives have been forced to take the lead globally in innovation and transformation when it comes to combating climate change and safeguarding the waters.
While getting up close and personal with nature is undoubtedly one of the attractions of travelling to the Maldives, it’s also one of the main risks to the area. In this instance, there is a paradox created by nature-based tourism. Although tourism is a major contributor to the country’s economy, the industry is usually held accountable for worsening the environmental crisis. Resorts are known to use excessive amounts of energy and resources and produce waste, and their unchecked growth has had a disastrous impact on marine life and coral reefs.
Even if it’s not exactly good news, the Maldives have been forced to take the lead globally in innovation and transformation when it comes to combating climate change and safeguarding the waters. With its dependence on tourism, Maldives recognises the urgency of preserving its coral reefs to ensure the long-term viability of its marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of its communities.
Patina Maldives is one of four islands that comprise the artificial archipelago of Fari Islands, made across approximately 10 km of reef on the northern tip of North Male Atoll. The resort is dedicated to preserving a unique location—the proposed nursery for corals. Guest engagement is at the core of this initiative. Visitors have the opportunity to engage in coral conservation by moulding ceramic structures to aid coral growth.
The use of clay structures in reef restoration offers several ecological benefits.
To gain a more holistic understanding of marine conservation, I participated in hands-on ceramic hand-building sessions to craft unique plates used by the resort’s marine biologists. This was an intense one-hour session assisted by the resort’s marine biologist who explained how clay structures aid the restoration of local reefs. Moreover, I could adopt a coral frame to help protect and enhance the biodiversity of coral reefs in the Patina Maldives.
These structures are an eco-friendly alternative to the traditional metal ones, which tend to rust. The use of clay structures in reef restoration offers several ecological benefits. This is how the process works: You shape their eco-friendly clay into intricate surfaces with crevices and edges to encourage coral larvae attachment. Additionally, the porosity of the clay allows for water circulation, nutrient exchange, and the establishment of a healthy microbial community.
However, planting these ceramic frames and structures in the resort’s house reef takes time. It takes around 12-14 weeks for the clay structures to be ready to be carefully deployed onto the reef areas. Once they are ready, the structures are anchored to the seabed and arranged in configurations that maximise their effectiveness. Moreover, Patina closely monitors the reef site, assessing factors such as water temperature, nutrient levels, and the success of coral settlement. For those who opt for it, the reports are even sent to the guests; I am yet to receive mine.
Along with reef regeneration, the Patina team is concerned with reef protection, which includes cleaning up any waste. With many guests looking for a life beyond a hammock, activities like this inspire hope for the future of the Maldivian reefs. At least, it did for me.
Splashing across the ocean waves
You stand on the beach, watch the waves rise and fall and the tropical birds soar overhead, and realise that there are only a few places on Earth that treat you to an encounter like this. While the popular way to enjoy the open sea is on a cruise ship, it pales in comparison with exploring with a personal watercraft. And in just 10 minutes, I learnt how to jet-ski accompanied with the thrill of a lifetime! And now, I am rushing through the wind and splashing across the waves at 30 miles per hour, skimming across the Indian Ocean.
With each acceleration, all I had to do was trust the machine. And that very moment, the ocean became a playground.
For a novice like me, operating a personal watercraft is a matter of faith. And most of the time, you realise you’re a natural at it. As the salty breeze whipped through my hair and the roar of the jet ski echoed the call of the ocean, I merged seamlessly into the symphony of wind and water. The pace was set for my aquatic adventure.
As the jet ski cut through the waves, a surge of adrenaline coursed through my veins. I watch each approaching ripple in the waves with suspicion for the first few minutes. Later you realise, the machine won’t abandon you and your instructor is your guide. It appeared that I was simply moving too slowly. The guide revs up the engine and I watch as the speedometer climbs to 45 miles per hour. My shrug seemed like it might fly off, yet the craft managed all kinds of waves with grace. So did I.
Finally, I catch up with the machine. With each acceleration, all I had to do was trust the machine. And that very moment, the ocean became a playground. The thrill of acceleration, the sharp turns, and the jumps over the crests of waves turned into a rollercoaster-like experience on the open water. At last, I straighten up and raise my eyes to soak in the Maldives’ beauty. The view is breathtaking.
It was just about sunset. As the sun was on its way to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange, I was opened to a magical spectacle. On one side was the immaculate Patina shoreline with its gleaming beach and slanted palm trees. And the wide blue, seemingly unending ocean to my right. I realised I enjoy the rush of reaching top speed, yet I can watch nature up close. In the art of splashing across the ocean waves on a jet ski, after 40 minutes, it was time to leave for Patina.
Marine life in sunsets
Right before the daylight dips in the Maldives, the country steps fully into its best self. I got the opportunity to sail across the ocean looking for dolphins as the night was ready to kiss the sky. Canapés, cocktails and captivating scenery filled my two-hour float in one of Patina’s boats. And it’s a sail I won’t easily forget. I felt tranquil walking inside the beautifully designed boat with Champagne, watching the boat gently rock, and feeling the warm breeze on my skin.
To put it correctly, dolphins are like the hippies of the sea–all about love, fun and play.
Fishermen in the Maldives have for generations thought dolphins kept watch on them. Their idea that dolphins help them get more fish is unwavering. Truly, the Maldivian waters, clear and shimmering, beckon you to explore the secrets they hold beneath.
As the boat took sail with the sun casting its warm glow, something caught my eye–the back of a polished slate-grey body breaking the water’s surface. Another one leapt high out of the ocean and spun in circles through the air. And there it was, my first sight of a very playful spinner dolphin! In the vast open sea in an endless expanse of cement grey and dark blue, it is easy for the slate-hued dolphin to blend right in. It seemed to keep following the boat, and it appeared to be just as interested in us as I was in it.
To put it correctly, dolphins are like the hippies of the sea–all about love, fun and play. That initial sighting set the way for an evening packed with a few blink-and-miss encounters, with dolphins defying their reputation as difficult to notice. Yet appearing in great numbers, if only for a brief while.
But after some time, I think the earlier spinner dolphin had called its friends. Their sleek bodies arc through the water, catching the last rays of the setting sun. A school of 5-6 spinner dolphins were all jumping high up to show their graceful acrobatics. It was the sight of a lifetime!
Life in the Maldives moves slowly. It’s something I love and miss the most.
As the boat glided through the azure sea, the experienced guide well-versed in the dolphins’ habits, skillfully navigated to the pods’ favourite haunts. Just after noon, the tide brings along food and fish for them. They frequently live in pods of 6-10 individuals. But one dolphin caught my attention the most, probably a baby swimming closer to our boat than its parents and the rest of the clan nearby. The guide tells me that sighting so many dolphins all at once is a matter of luck and chance. I thanked the universe immediately.
Although there has been peaceful coexistence between humans and spinner dolphins for many years, some scientists and conservationists are concerned that the sheer volume of people seeking up-close encounters with these endearing marine mammals—many of whom are transported by fast-moving tourist boats—may put the dolphins under stress.
As the boat slowed upon reaching the shore, I watched the day fade behind the horizon. The sky changed from bright yellow to deep orange in minutes, and then it was gone. As nature played its grandeur, the setting allowed me the chance to reflect on the day. Life in the Maldives moves slowly. It’s something I love and miss the most.
