The underwater world of the Maldives is world-renowned for offering incredible scuba diving and snorkelling opportunities and as soon as you venture into the ocean you’ll realise why! Get ready to be surrounded by an abundance of marine life – some colourful, some camouflaged, some tiny and some huge, as well as endangered species that need our care respect when we visit their habitat. Please help us to protect our precious marine life and ensure adventures in the ocean are sustainable by looking but not touching and staying a respectful distance away so as not to cause distress, physical harm or any change in behaviour.

Sea Turtles – Kuredu is very fortunate to have the Maldives’ largest population of green sea turtles residing on the doorstep and, as such, our guests have numerous sightings of these amazing creatures during their stays with us. Turtles are endangered and protected by law and touching them is strictly prohibited and causes them a great deal of stress and harm. Although it’s possible, and tempting, to get very close to them, guests must stay a respectful distance away so as not to disturb their natural behaviour. Turtles need to be able to graze freely for food and get to the surface to breathe and if we get too close it can inhibit this behaviour. If you’d like to find out more about these ancient creatures, visit the Marine Center and have a chat to our friendly sea turtle biologist from Olive Ridley Project who will be very pleased to answer your questions – you can even join them for a turtle tour!

Coral Reef – Coral reefs are one of the most important ecosystems on the planet and also extremely fragile so please help us to preserve them for further generations by being aware of where your fins are when snorkelling and diving. Never stand on the reef or hold onto it. Prodivers dive center have a team of snorkel guides who are more than happy to advise and teach you how to snorkel and use fins correctly, so if you aren’t sure, or have never tried snorkelling before, please do pop in and see them.

As well as protecting the reef and creatures, another reason to look but don’t touch is to protect yourself; although the Maldives’ marine life doesn’t pose a direct threat, you’ll want to avoid accidental nips from inhabitants of the reef that may be resting there.

Please help us to protect our precious marine life and ensure adventures in the ocean are sustainable by looking but not touching and staying a respectful distance away.