[F]our Seasons Resorts Maldives celebrated World Environment Day and World Oceans Day 2013 with a series of activities, including reef & beach clean-ups, and a treasure hunt.
At Kuda Huraa, we sent out an open invite to all our guests to help us in attaching coral fragments onto a special frame in celebration of World Oceans Day. The event proved popular with families and was a great way to raise awareness, with the children in particular asking lots of questions about the corals. Once the frame was completed we took a series of family group photos before transplanting the completed frame into the shallow lagoon.
World Environment Day was marked by a special project on the nearby local island of Bodu Huraa. As a way to raise global awareness of the need to take positive environmental action, this year we educated employees on waste recycling. We utilised the recycling centre and conducted a clean-up along the jetty front on Bodu Huraa, bringing the waste to the centre for separation into recyclable and non-recyclable products. The MDC staff also gave a presentation regarding the principles behind the centre, and its effectiveness in reducing quantities of ocean debris and amounts of toxic gases produced through burning.
The morning of Environment Day saw the first reef-clean up at Landaa Giraavaru, involving staff from the Resort’s MDC, Recreation, Dive and Security teams as well as four apprentices. Split into two dive teams and one snorkelling group, we collected lots of rubbish including numerous fishing lines. In the afternoon, two groups of divers (MDC, Recreation, Launch and apprentices) returned to the ocean for a further two reef clean-ups.
World Environment Day (June 5th) + World Oceans Day (June 8th)
[O]n June 7th a new group including staff from the MDC, Spa and apprentice teams, as well as a couple of guests, embarked on a beach clean-up (the proposed reef clean-up for that day being hampered by rough weather). The strong winds and rain didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of everyone involved and we collected a lot of rubbish that would otherwise have ended up back in the sea. Special congratulations to our “ever happy” guests, to Captain Badhuru, and to Yoann for driving the boat and the whaler through the huge swell.
4 Reef Clean-ups + 1 Beach Clean + 1 Treasure Hunt
[O]ceans Day on June 8th was marked by a treasure hunt. While looking for coconuts with clues, participants were able to learn how to minimise their impact on the environment. They also enjoyed a run around the Resort’s staff area as well as a final snorkel in front of MDC! Only two staff teams participated: Bella and Fernando, and Shaffeeq and Azeem. As the only participants, they won a private cruise on Landaa Summer 3 and a private manta safari respectively.
On the same day the last reef clean-up was conducted just in front of the Staff Beach by a team from the MDC and Dive Centre. In addition to an encounter with a huge school of Trevally, lots of rubbish was collected including a couple of old tyres.
A huge thank you to everyone who participated; it was a great few days spent protecting the planet and enjoying time together.
Hope you enjoy our slideshow and video – big thanks to Yoann & team for taking these !
Click the large photo or thumbnails to scroll
