Our dedicated Coral Biologists keep you up to date with all the latest news and photos direct from our Centres at Kuda Huraa and Landaa Giraavaru.
Read how our coral reef propagation project is progressing in 2023, and see our latest hands-on experiments studying resilience to coral bleaching.
What a month it has been! I have spent most of my time in the water, monitoring hundreds of coral frames around the island, and leading snorkel trips with guests. 🤿
Then there’s the seasonal coral spawning: tagging, gamete checks, checking for bundling, and literature research on spawning cues (tides, sunset, moonrise, temperature, etc). And then finally… the amazing spawning events themselves! 🧡🟠
As I finish my marine internship, I can’t believe how quickly the time has gone! 💙
Kuda Huraa now feels like home, and my days are spent monitoring coral frames, caring for our injured turtles, and leading snorkel trips. I am also researching ‘sea turtle buoyancy syndrome’ to improve our rehabilitation protocols to aid more turtles in the future.
A warm hello from our Marine Discovery Centre at Landaa Giraavaru. 💙 My name is Gesa, the new marine biology intern, supporting the Reefscapers coral team during their second spawning season of the year.
My first few weeks on site were packed with new ideas, from turtle care to Artemia production and dolphin cruises – it’s always great to broaden your skill set!
I’m Kelly, the newest Marine Biology Intern at Marine Savers. 👋
When I first caught sight of the turquoise-blue waters outside the plane window, I was speechless … photos cannot do these beautiful Maldivian islands justice. After a quick ferry ride, I was welcomed by the friendly faces of the people who would soon become my good friends. My marine adventures started the very next day, and there hasn’t been a dull moment since …
My time as a Reefscapers marine biology intern has come to an end in the Maldives, but I still have some adventures to share!
I continued caring for our sea turtle patients, made new coral frames with guests, swam with mantas in Hanifaru Bay, and encountered hundreds of dolphins. 🐬
Thanks everyone at Marine Savers, for embracing me as part of their team, and for all their patience and knowledge shared. 👋
Enjoy a video tour of our facilities, and learn about some of our marine conservation projects. 🐢
Simon welcomes you to our Marine Discovery Centre at Landaa Giraavaru, then Aku shows you around the Fish Lab. 🐡
You will also meet Kat (our turtle veterinarian) and Margaux (coral biologist) before joining Helen (marine biologist) on a cruise, taking photos for our Dolphin ID project. 🐬
My first month in Landaa went by so fast, and I’m back to tell you about my recent adventures. 🤿
I have started to lead snorkel and dolphin tours for the guests… my favourite activities include taking photographs of the dolphin fins for our ID Project. 🐬
Many Spinner dolphins later, I’ve been able to improve my photo skills, and now I even have a dolphin with my name! 📷
The past 6 weeks have been a fantastic learning experience. Our coral work has really stepped up a gear, and I’ve been helping to relocate new coral frames to the House Reef. We’ve been busy retransplanting coral fragments onto the shallow-water frames, and monitoring for signs of coral spawning in the evenings.
It is very encouraging to see how many of our corals have survived this year’s seasonally warm ocean temperatures.
Hi, I’m Mônica, the new marine biology intern. Sea turtle conservation is one of my passions, and taking care of the turtles is one of my daily tasks here at Landaa’s Rescue Centre.
We currently have 5 patients, 3 Olive Ridley’s, an adult Hawksbill and a small Green turtle. Unfortunately, 3 of them cannot ever be released back to the wild due to permanent injury caused by entanglement in ghost nets.
Hi, my name is Shona and I am the new Marine Savers intern at Four Seasons Kuda Huraa. I am super excited to be diving (quite literally) back into the world of marine biology, and have so far been welcomed by eagle rays and blacktip reef sharks!
I continue to be amazed by the incredible diversity of marine life, although I do have a long way to go before becoming an expert in species identification.
“Just how did a winter-sport-loving Canadian become a tropical marine biologist?” I always enjoy sharing the unorthodox path that brought me from snowy mountains to these coral reefs. 🧜
It’s a serenely beautiful experience to walk the length of our island each morning, watching the sting rays and marvelling at the sunrise, and it’s a privilege to be working in these world-renowned turquoise-blue waters every day. 💙
The Maldives had always seemed a mythical place of manta rays and whale sharks, but when I boarded the Four Seasons boat and saw the brilliant blue ocean (and several flying fish!) … I knew that I had finally arrived.
Within minutes of starting my very first snorkel, I spotted 3 blacktip reef sharks and 2 hawksbill turtles swimming on the reef. I was well and truly hooked on this magical underwater world …
March has flown by, and I can’t believe I have been here two months already. We have had the arrival of my first turtle patient, an Olive Ridley amputee named Ari, with a BIG personality!
Having dug my first relocated beach nest (hard work!), I now have a new found respect for female turtles’ excavation capabilities.
And I find time to visit the local island of Bodu Huraa, to explore the rock pools and mangroves.
Hi, I’m Bethany, the newest marine biology intern at Kuda Huraa. Leaving on a rainy February day in Scotland to arrive in the Maldives with blue skies, white sands, and thirty-degree heat felt like I was dreaming!
I have seen marine life of all colours, shapes and sizes … from sharks and eels, to spinner dolphins and sea turtles, plus all the reef fish you can imagine… it’s difficult to know where to look!
Enjoy Laura’s final blog chapter as our marine biology intern here at Kuda Huraa.
It’s all-hands-on-kayak, as we paddle across the lagoon to relocate some coral frames, bathed in glorious seasonal sunshine and blessed with excellent visibility underwater. The conditions are perfect for training our new marine biologist, Bethany.
Thanks for all your help, Laura … missing you already. 💙
This month, join Laura underwater in Kuda Huraa’s sandy lagoon, as she visits our coral gardens, and gets hands-on with the urgent relocation of our ‘at risk’ artificial reefs.
Life starts to return to normal following the hectic festive season, and we say a beachside Bon Voyage to 2 of our favourite long-term turtle patients, Taz and Speedy. So long, little guys. 💚
Come and join me at Kuda Huraa for my second month as a marine biology intern.
We’ve been working on a major project with our Resort colleagues to rescue some coral frames from the seasonally shifting sands … it’s been all hands on deck, with some ingenious solutions.
We wave goodbye to 2 Green turtle friends, and I’m practising my photography skills, both above and below the waves. 📷
Our dedicated Coral Biologists keep you up to date with all the latest news and photos direct from our Centres at Kuda Huraa and Landaa Giraavaru.
Read how our coral reef propagation project is progressing in 2022, and see our latest hands-on experiments studying resilience to coral bleaching.
Hello, I’m Laura, the new Marine Savers intern, with sharks and rays and fish of every imaginable colour, living right on my doorstep!
Here at Kuda Huraa, my work as a marine biologist is only just beginning, and I still have so much to learn about sea turtle conservation, coral propagation and marine life in the Maldives!
