To celebrate World Oceans Day on 8 June, Summer Island Maldives hosted a morning of celebration for the ocean, headlined by Umair Badheeu, the Maldives’ national record-holding freediver, and a passionate advocate for marine conservation.

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Guests and staff took part in ocean-focused activities designed to inspire a deeper connection with the sea and raise awareness about the need to protect marine ecosystems for future generations.

The morning began with an introduction to freediving at Avi Bar, led by Umair. Participants learned the fundamentals of breath-hold diving and how this practice encourages a more mindful experience with the underwater world.

Afterwards, guests and staff were taken on a one-and-half hour guided snorkelling tour of Summer Island’s house reef, including the Blue Lagoon coral garden, home to the world’s largest 3D-printed coral reef. The session included a full equipment and safety briefing, a refresher on respectful reef practices, and a live freediving demonstration. Guests praised Umair’s approachable teaching style and the informative, engaging nature of the experience. He was supported by the resort’s Water Sports and Transport team, who helped ensure the session ran smoothly.

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Following the snorkelling tour, Umair hosted an open Q&A session, offering personal insights into the health of our oceans and the urgency of conservation. He also highlighted Summer Island’s ongoing sustainability efforts, including a coral planting programme to help regenerate local reefs, initiatives to eliminate single-use plastics, and on-site guest experiences that foster marine awareness.

Later in the day, guests joined Summer Island’s staff for an ocean clean-up, as part of the resort’s ethos of responsible tourism and marine stewardship.

Given the enthusiasm from the day, Summer Island Maldives plans to host more regular ocean awareness sessions throughout the year, each spotlighting different marine conservation themes.

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