On 8 June, Summer Island Maldives celebrated World Oceans Day with a special morning of activities that raised awareness about marine conservation. Umair Badheeu, the Maldives’ national record-holding freediver and a passionate advocate for ocean protection, led the event.
Throughout the morning, guests and resort staff took part in a variety of ocean-focused experiences that helped them build a deeper connection to the sea and understand the importance of preserving marine ecosystems for future generations.
Exploring Freediving and Mindful Ocean Connection
The day kicked off at Avi Bar, where Umair introduced participants to the fundamentals of freediving; a breath-hold diving technique that fosters a more mindful and immersive experience underwater. Thanks to his approachable teaching style, Umair guided guests through key skills that helped them appreciate the ocean in a new way.
As the session progressed, participants gained confidence and curiosity, eager to explore more of what the underwater world has to offer.
Guided Snorkelling Tour Showcases Coral Conservation Efforts
Soon after, attendees joined a 90-minute guided snorkelling tour of Summer Island’s vibrant house reef. The tour also included a stop at the Blue Lagoon coral garden, which features the world’s largest 3D-printed coral reef, a major step forward in marine restoration.
Before entering the water, participants completed a full equipment and safety briefing. Along with that, they received a helpful refresher on respectful reef practices to make sure they approached the marine environment with care.
During the tour, Umair gave a live freediving demonstration, which added a memorable and inspiring highlight to the whole experience. Guests gathered around to watch, many expressing their excitement and admiration afterward.
Meanwhile, the resort’s Water Sports and Transport team supported the session from start to finish, making sure everything ran smoothly and that guests enjoyed the activities safely and comfortably.
Open Q&A Sheds Light on Ocean Health and Conservation
After the snorkelling tour, everyone gathered once more as Umair hosted an open Q&A session. Here, he shared personal insights on the health of our oceans and explained why conservation matters now more than ever.
At this point, Umair also highlighted several of Summer Island Maldives’ sustainability efforts, including:
- A coral planting programme that helps regenerate local reefs
- Ongoing initiatives to eliminate single-use plastics throughout the resort
- On-site guest experiences that promote marine awareness
Later in the day, guests teamed up with resort staff for a hands-on ocean clean-up.
More Ocean Awareness Activities Planned For Future
Encouraged by the enthusiastic response, Summer Island Maldives now plans to host regular ocean awareness sessions throughout the year. Each event will spotlight a different marine conservation theme from reef restoration to sustainable tourism. Offering guests and staff more opportunities to engage with and help protect the Maldives’ extraordinary underwater world.
