Groupers (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus)

• 2023 batch – Due to an overnight malfunction with the water flow system in May, only 4 individuals remain from this batch, but these survivors continue to grow well. On 27 July, the 4 individuals were delivered to the kitchen, averaging 36cm in length and 1.0kg in weight.
• 2024 & 2025 batches – To enhance growth rate, both year’s batches were mixed and graded by weight during May, and again in June, with all individuals divided across four 1000L tanks. We observed some mortality when the population density exceeded 80 individuals per 1000L, highlighting the importance of controlling population size.
  Overall monthly food consumption declined from 28.1kg in June to 27.1kg in July. This could possibly be explained by the change in the groupers’ diet, from anchovies in June, to baitfish in July. Baitfish are larger, with more texture in the flesh and skin compared to anchovies, and so the groupers could have a slower digestion rate for the baitfish.
  On 27 July, we received a new batch of 310 groupers at our facility. We grouped them across our 6 new 1000L tanks, with approximately 50 individuals in each tank. On admittance, average size was recorded as 8.0cm, and average weight as 62g. Every group was fed with baitfish and anchovies.

Ornamental Fish & Shrimp Breeding

• Clark’s anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii) – Our breeding pairs continue to lay egg clutches, but no larvae are collected as we focus on other residents. [Lifecycle graphic]
• Dancing shrimp (Thor amboinensis) – the population was growing old, so 3 large females were isolated in a Kreisel tank to collect the larvae as soon as they hatched. On 27 May, the first batch of 30 individuals was been collected and kept in one small tank. Individuals are fed with rotifers and algae, in tanks with air-flow circulation.
• Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) – A new small-sized peacock mantis shrimp has been found and added to tank #32.
• Five-line Cardinalfish (Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus) – 5 five-line cardinalfish were collected from the House Reef and added to tank #16 along with the moon wrasse.

Macroalgae

As part of the algaculture project, the species selected for the experiment has changed. Rather than using sea lettuce (Ulva sp.), which proved to be challenging to grow as this species is known to live in colder waters, sea grapes (Caulerpa racemosa) have been selected to be the species of focus. As it can grow locally in the Maldives, it can get used to the temperature and water conditions of Landaa Giraavaru. As so, some samples were collected on Kihadhoo Island. They were resettled in a larger pound that has originated from the water outflow of the grouper tanks. This pound area has increased by digging a larger area. Since they’ve been resettled, algae have been growing steadily.

Guest Excursions

At Landaa, we are excited to have started our new Shark Safari trip, in collaboration with our Recreation team colleagues. This excursion appears popular so far, despite some unfavourable weather conditions.

To fulfil one of our main goals for the year 2025, all guest excursion presentations have been updated to guarantee an informative and fresh perspective on the snorkelling experiences offered at Four Seasons Kuda Huraa. In this new format, all presentations will provide information specific to the pertinent locations and likely sightings, including details regarding expected boat travel time and how to sustainably interact with marine life to have the best possible experience.

Guided Adventure Snorkel

Our Guided Adventure Snorkel excursion from Kuda Huraa allows snorkellers to admire one of the best reefs in North Malé Atoll, now thriving after the devastating global coral bleaching event of 2016. ‘Coral Garden’ is a diverse site, with alternating sandy patches and pinnacles filled with a great diversity of coral and fish species. Several megafauna species are regularly sighted here, including blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, pink and mangrove whiprays, and hawksbill turtles. We are delighted to be able to share the beauty of this location with our guests, and excited to discover more of the marine life in this area.

The seasonal weather patterns have enabled some unique sightings of marine megafauna in the Male’ Atoll area. In particular, wind-driven circulation on the East side of the atoll had resulted in high surface planktonic productivity, attracting lots of filter-feeding elasmobranchs. Several reef mantas (Mobula alfredi) were sighted somersault-feeding at a shallow reef close to the resort. And in a surprising encounter at Bahthi Faru, a manta was seen gliding just next to the reef, blessing 2 lucky guests with a once-in-a-lifetime snorkelling encounter!

Parley Maldives

In Kuda Huraa, we are proud to participate in the efforts of Parley Maldives, a program focused on tackling plastic pollution in the Maldives by implementing a strategy aimed at avoiding plastic, intercepting plastic waste, and redesigning materials. The program involves local communities, businesses, and government to intercept and recycle plastic waste, educate the next generation, and reduce reliance on single-use plastics. Every month, our Marine Biologists sort through the resort’s Parley bag to make sure only recyclable materials are sent to the upcycling facilities. A big thank you to our Rooms division for helping us with this month’s efforts.

Baa Atoll Marine Biology Internship – Stage 1 (May 21-24)

We were pleased to welcome a total of 24 Grade-9 students from schools all across Baa Atoll, for Stage 1 of our Baa Atoll Marine Biology Internship program. The internship began with a meet and greet, followed by ice-breaker activities in the evening with our teams, before an early bedtime ready for a full 3 days of learning!

Interns were given a full back-of-house tour, discovering Landaa’s sustainability initiatives across the Resort. They also enjoyed presentations on ‘Plastics and Climate Change’ by Shaahina Ali (Parley), and ‘Environmental Conservation in Maldives’ by Marie Saleem (Reefscapers cofounder) and our marine apprentice Raaidh

We gave the interns a tour of our Centre, along with an introduction to our coral, turtle, and fish lab projects. We gave presentations on a variety of topics including coral reef ecology, cetacean biology and conservation, as well as marine biodiversity. The interns also helped build a large coral frame, snorkelled on Landaa House Reef, and participated in a Dolphin Cruise. Manta Trust team members gave a presentation on the biology and conservation of manta rays in Maldives, introducing the interns to elasmobranch research.

Huge thanks to the Baa Atoll Council and the Baa Biosphere Reserve, as well as our Four Seasons management colleagues for making such a great event possible and successful!

Baa Atoll Marine Biology Internship – Stage 2 (July 1-5)

Between July 1st and 5th, we proudly hosted Stage Two of the Baa Atoll Marine Biology Internship Program, welcoming back all participants from Stage One, which was held the previous year. This follow-up program was designed to deepen the interns’ understanding of marine conservation and provide them with more hands-on, immersive experiences across a wide range of topics.

Over the course of five days, the students engaged in an exciting and diverse schedule of activities, each tailored to build on their foundational knowledge and inspire a continued passion for ocean stewardship. Throughout the week, the interns demonstrated curiosity, teamwork, and a growing commitment to marine conservation. Stage Two of the internship not only strengthened their scientific knowledge but also provided unforgettable field experiences designed to inspire the next generation of ocean advocates.

Our extensive program included:

• Turtle Rehabilitation & Care: Interns visited our turtle rescue centre to learn about the threats facing sea turtles in the Maldives. They gained firsthand experience assisting with feeding, health checks, and enrichment activities for our resident turtles undergoing rehabilitation.
• Sustainable Aquaculture & Fish Feeding: The group explored sustainable aquaculture systems and the importance of responsible marine food production. They also participated in feeding sessions, learning about dietary needs and behavioural cues in various fish species.
• Manta Ray Safari: One of the program highlights was a guided safari to observe manta rays in their natural habitat at Hanifaru Bay, the largest known aggregation of reef mantas in the world.
• Shark Education Session: Through interactive presentations, participants explored the biology, behaviour, and conservation needs of sharks. The session aimed to dispel common myths and highlight the ecological role of these important predators.
• Discover Scuba Dive (DSD): In partnership with the resort’s Dive Centre, each intern had the chance to experience their first breath underwater through a supervised DSD session. This was an empowering opportunity for many to overcome personal boundaries and develop a deeper connection with the reef environment.
• Coral Restoration Workshop: Interns revisited our coral propagation techniques, assisting with coral collection, frame building, and monitoring. This hands-on experience reinforced the importance of coral reef restoration in the face of climate change.

An important component of Stage 2 was coral conservation, managed by our Reefscapers coral experts. Shortly after their arrival, students attended a 30-minute interactive presentation focused on coral morphology, where they were introduced to the different growth forms of a variety of coral species. From branching Acropora to massive Porites, the session aimed to equip the interns with the skills needed to distinguish between 16 unique coral growth forms.

After the presentation, the interns explored our vibrant house reef, which served as the perfect natural classroom for our first hands-on activity: Coral ID Bingo. The objective was not only to make species identification fun, but also to strengthen their ecological understanding of reef systems. By learning to identify the different coral growth forms, students could begin to interpret what the biodiversity of a reef says about its overall health and functionality.

To ensure each student had the opportunity to actively participate, the group was split into smaller teams. Each team was composed of four interns and accompanied by one member of our team. This format allowed for close guidance and discussion. By the end of the session, students were able to point out a wide range of coral structures and began asking insightful questions about coral ecology, threats, and resilience. The activity proved to be an effective (and fun!) way to set the tone for the rest of the internship: combining fieldwork, learning, and teamwork to build a deeper connection to the reef.

School Visits

During May, 2 groups of students from Villa International High School visited our Marine Discovery Centre, to spend a day with our Marine Biologists. In the time spent together, we discussed the current state of Maldivian reefs and the pivotal role that education plays in promoting sustainable practices for the future. Pledging to join efforts toward coral reef restoration, our team and the students built a coral frame together to reinforce that positive change starts with each of us taking responsibility and actively being a part of the progress.

During June, 6 students from Maldives National University and 44 students from Billabong High International School visited our Marine Discovery Centre to spend a day with our Marine Biologists. In the time spent together, we discussed the current state of Maldivian reefs and the pivotal role that education plays in promoting sustainable practices for the future. Pledging to join efforts toward coral reef restoration, our team and the students built a coral frame together to reinforce that positive change starts with each of us taking responsibility and actively being a part of the progress.

Huraa Ocean Fest

In a great and memorable first, our marine biologists hosted the first-ever Huraa Ocean Fest: a day to celebrate the ocean, its beauty, and its bond with the Maldives. During this beautiful day, our team hosted a presentation at the Huraa School with kids aged 11 to 16. In the afternoon, a big event was held with more than 400 kids of all ages, with face-painting stations, games, music, and fun marine-themed activities. All materials used for the event were recycled from used plastics, discarded cardboard, and empty soda cans as a testament to our mission to keep the ocean a clean and healthy ecosystem.