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Web Release
13-05-2025
- Web Release
EXCLUSIVE PRIVATE ISLAND ESCAPE INTERCONTINENTAL MALDIVES MAAMUNAGAU RESORT NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE BUYOUTS
Entertainment Web Release Selection By Editor_wr On May 13, 2025 Nestled within its own pristine lagoon on the serene southernmost tip of Raa Atoll, on the edge of a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort announces an extraordinary opportunity: the option to hire the entire island for an exclusive, unparalleled private paradise experience. For the first time, guests can indulge in a fully customised luxury retreat, whether for a romantic escape, a multigenerational family holiday, or an unforgettable gathering with friends for a special occasion. A Bespoke Private Island Experience The opportunity for a complete buyout allows guests to immerse themselves in the island's microcosm, with total privacy and the freedom to tailor their experience exactly as they desire. The resort's enviable position in the Raa Atoll, a dedicated manta ray sanctuary, offers unique access to one of the world's most spectacular marine environments. The colourful coral house reef teems with black tip sharks and turtles, and manta rays are frequent visitors between December – April each year as they migrate between the atolls during the northeast monsoon months. Guests will have exclusive use of the resort's on-site Manta Trust team, with private snorkelling and diving sessions tailored to their experience level. From swimming alongside majestic manta rays and whale sharks to curated excursions led by expert marine biologists, the possibilities for an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime experience are limitless. Luxurious Accommodation & Personal Service The resort boasts 81 Beach, Lagoon, and Overwater Villas and Residences, each thoughtfully designed to harmonise with the island's natural beauty. Guests can choose from a variety of options, ranging from beach villas, overwater villas with infinity pools, and spacious beachfront residences. Allowing for a variety of room configurations and set-ups for different types of travellers, accommodation on the island is exquisite, with something for everyone in a group, whether they prefer to watch the sunset over the vast Indian Ocean laid out before them, or bask in morning bliss with sand beneath their toes from the first step outside the villa. Villas : Overwater Pool Villa, One Bedroom Lagoon Pool Villa, Sunset Overwater Pool Villa, One Bedroom Sunset Lagoon Pool Villa, Beach Pool Villa, Family Beach Pool Villa, One Bedroom Sunset Beach Pool Villa, Two Bedroom Family Lagoon Pool Villa, Two Bedroom Family Beach Pool Villa Residences: Two Bedroom Overwater Pool Residence, Two Bedroom Beachfront Pool Residence, Three Bedroom Overwater Pool Residence, Three Bedroom Lagoon Pool Residence, Three Bedroom Royal Beachfront Pool Residence Every villa is appointed with expansive indoor and outdoor living spaces, a dedicated butler service, private pools, luxurious BYREDO amenities, and a signature pillow menu to ensure personalised comfort. World-Class Culinary Experiences Guests with exclusive island use will enjoy additional dining experiences. The resort's gourmet culinary offerings showcase exquisite global flavours with a Maldivian touch, featuring: The Lighthouse Restaurant: A fine dining experience with 360-degree island views The Fish Market: An interactive sea-to-table kitchen where guests can select fresh seafood with guidance from expert chefs Café Umi: For whiling away the days underneath the palms, a casual dining experience at Café Umi offers a relaxed atmosphere Teppanyaki Experience: An exquisite fusion of Japanese-inspired dishes, cooked and served by master chefs The Wine Cellar : Private tastings featuring the world's finest vintages, delivered by a master sommelier : Sunset Bar: Champagne sommeliers and handcrafted cocktails make this overwater idyll an exceptional spot to watch the sun go down Pool Bar: Swim up and cool down with a cocktail at the Pool Bar, located in the main activity hub of the resort The Retreat: An adults-only enclave offering cocktails and finger food, alongside peace and serenity to those who escape here The Collective's Culinary Classes: Hands-on cooking experiences for budding chefs at The Collective, a laid-back dining option and pizzeria Guests booking an island buyout will have the option to personalise their dining experiences at every moment, with bespoke menus, themed banquets, and exclusive chef-curated dining under the stars. Anything is possible with the resort's devoted culinary team. Adventures Beyond Imagination There are extensive activities available to guests which can all be curated with an Island Buyout experience. With things to do above and below the surface of the surrounding ocean, thrill-seekers and peace-seekers will be kept happy. The marine centre is open all day every day, and offers activities including snorkelling, fishing trips, boat cruises and even underwater photography. Windsurfing, motorised water sports, catamaran sailing and diving courses are also available for those looking to experience some adventure on the water. Ocean Activities: Dolphin cruises, sunrise fishing, night snorkelling, turtle safaris, boat rental, paddle boarding, PADI dive courses and much more! Watersports: Kayaking, Wakeboarding, Water Skiing, Jet Skiing, X Jet Blade, Parasailing Recreation Schedule: Can be completely tailored for Island Buyouts but includes aerial yoga, aqua aerobics, table tennis, sound healing Planet Trekkers Kids Club: Designed for children aged 4-12, Planet Trekkers blends interactive games, creative arts and crafts, and exciting mini expeditions, inspiring budding marine biologists and curious explorers alike Teen Programme: A dedicated teen activity offering including cooking classes, diver certification, young spa and more! Finding Tranquility AVI Spa is the resort's wellness haven, offering guests a place to truly unwind and relax in an overwater setting. Perched above the tranquil waters of the Indian Ocean, the AVI Spa has been designed to inspire relaxation, rejuvenation, and restoration. Within its six light-filled treatment villas, the soothing sounds of the ocean set the stage for deep relaxation, as expert therapists guide guests through indulgent, holistic wellness rituals. With signature brands including Biologique Recherche, Eminence Organics, Margaret Dabbs London and Kerstin Florian, the spa offers an extensive treatment menu to suit all skincare and relaxation needs. Seamless Arrival & Exclusive Buyout Inclusions Upon arrival in Male, guests are welcomed by the resort's Airport Representatives and escorted to the Seaplane Terminal, where the private InterContinental seaplane lounge awaits, for a seamless transfer to the island. For large group arrivals, the resort provides a dedicated concierge service to ensure smooth check-ins, luggage handling, and customised welcome experiences. The exclusive island hire includes: Daily gourmet breakfast Complimentary use of resort facilities, including the Fitness Centre, Yoga Pavilion, and Planet Trekkers Kids' Club Welcome amenities, including sparkling wine and a selection of sweet and savoury treats Complimentary non-motorised water activities and snorkelling equipment Rates & Booking Information Rates for exclusive island buyouts start from USD 1,6 million, inclusive of 17% GST, 10% Service Charge, and a Green Tax of USD 12 per person per night. For inquiries and reservations, please visit or email [email protected] . The Island Buyout Brochure can be accessed here: Exclusive Island Buyout Brochure Next Post Serco's Climatize and ExperienceLab transitions into +impact Comments are closed.
WIRED
18-02-2025
- Science
- WIRED
Mobulas, a Wonder of the Gulf of California, Are Disappearing
Feb 18, 2025 7:30 AM Whether by tracking them with acoustic tags or flying drones, or through exposing the black market for their meat and parts, conservationists are determined to protect the magnificent rays of the Pacific. Photograph:In the eastern Pacific Ocean, mobulas alternate between silent undulation underwater and acrobatic leaps out of it. These magnificent rays are at risk of disappearing due to targeted fishing, being caught as bycatch, and climate change. Scientists at the research collaboration Mobula Conservation are teaming up with artisanal and industrial fishermen to protect them. Also known as 'Devil Rays,' mobulas are elasmobranchs: a subclass of fish—including sharks, skates, and sawfish—that are distinguished by having skeletons primarily made from cartilage. More than a third of the species in this group are threatened with extinction. Of the nine species of mobulas, seven are endangered and two are vulnerable according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Researchers Marta Palacios, Melissa Cronin, and Nerea Lezama-Ochoa founded Mobula Conservation in 2020 with support from the international charity organization the Manta Trust. 'We do science for action, everything contains a conservation objective,' says Palacios. The marine biologists met years ago on El Pardito Island, in the Gulf of California, whose waters are home to five mobula species. The smallest, Mobula munkiana , has a 1.10-meter wingspan; the largest, Mobula birostris , reaches 7 meters across with its fins extended. The scientists at Mobula Conservation do everything they can to protect these rays: implanting acoustic transmitters and flying drones over their groups to trace their movements, chasing them to film them underwater, sailing at night to record the impact of fishing bycatch, or uncovering the black market for mobula meat and parts around the world. Lezama has worked for years modeling the critical habitats of mobulas in the Pacific Ocean, and Cronin collaborates with geneticists at the University of California, Santa Cruz to uncover the dynamics of their populations. A recent study led by Palacios revealed that mobulas are caught in 43 countries and consumed in 35. In Latin America, the rays are fished for food, while in African and Asian countries the demand is for their meat and gill plates because of their popularity in the Asian medicinal market. Tonics made from mobulas are said to treat multiple ailments, although there's no scientific evidence to support their efficacy. Even when mobulas are not targeted, they can end up in fishing nets as bycatch. Instances of up to 200 rays being caught in a single net have been reported. Between 1993 and 2014, more than 58,000 mobulas were reported caught in the eastern Pacific across the five species that inhabit the region. About 13,000 individuals are caught as bycatch each year by the tuna industry. It's not known how many mobulas ply the seas, but landings of them suggest severe and rapid declines across species and in various regions. To better understand the situation, Cronin and Lezama study industrial fishing in Ecuador, while Palacios focuses on artisanal fisheries in the Gulf of California. All of these researchers are seeking to unravel the life histories of these animals and to involve fishermen in their conservation. From Research to Action For 11 years, Palacios has made the Baja California Sur desert his home and mobulas his cause. In 2014, while sailing the Gulf of California, he came across Mobula munkiana for the first time. During five days at sea, hundreds of the rays jumped alongside his boat. 'They were everywhere, jumping all over the place, and no one knew what they were doing or where they were going,' he recalls. The lack of answers ignited the Spanish biologist's curiosity. Mobula munkiana can form massive aggregations in the sea, with thousands of individuals sometimes grouping together across hundreds of kilometers of ocean. These rays can be found in the eastern Pacific, from Peru to Mexico, where they are nicknamed 'tortillas' because of the sound they make when they return to the sea after jumping out of the water, which is similar to making tortillas by hand. Of all the mobula species, Mobula munkiana is among those that like to jump out of the water the most. Photograph: wildestanimal/Getty Images These rays are not the only elasmobranchs that jumps out of the water. Many species do so to remove parasites, clean their gills, or as part of courtship. However, while sharks and manta rays jump alone, M. munkiana jump in groups. They jump year-round, regardless of whether they are newborns, adults, females, or males. 'It probably has different functions within their communication, but we don't understand what they are communicating,' Palacios explains. In coastal areas, aggregating can be a death sentence for these rays if they coincide with artisanal tuna fisheries that use gillnets and purse seines. And if that were not enough of an existential risk, their biology also conspires against them too: their reproduction rate is slow. Depending on the species, it takes between five and 10 years for mobulas to acquire the capacity to reproduce, and they have long gestation periods of more than 12 months, producing only one offspring at a time. They can go between two and seven years between pregnancies. Furthermore, in the Tropical Eastern Pacific, 23 percent of the 132 species of chondrichthyans—the class to which elasmobranchs belong—have been found to be highly vulnerable to climate change; the worst affected are species that use the coasts as nurseries, such as M. munkiana . Sea warming encourages ocean waters to separate into layers of different densities, a process known as stratification, which makes it difficult for cold, nutrient-rich bottom water to rise to the top of the sea, which can affect food production. An aggregation of M. munkiana off the coast at Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Photograph: wildestanimal/Getty Images Years ago, on the Gulf of California, Palacios began implanting small acoustic devices in rays that transform them into data messengers. Fishermen, hired for the task, capture the animals and then return them to the water. This strategy is known as passive acoustic telemetry, and although seemingly invasive, is carried out with extreme care. Once released, the animals resume their swim. Each time a tagged animal passes near an underwater receiver, the date and duration of its visit is recorded. With this data, in 2021 Palacio was able to describe for the first time a breeding area of M. munkiana in a bay in the Gulf of California. To further reconstruct the life history of these creatures, the scientist collects testimonies from fishermen and observes their monumental groups using drones. Palacios sleeps little these days. He spends his nights watching the fishermen of bottom-spotted stingrays, a commercial and legally fished species in Mexico, as they cast their nets into the sea. In those nets, mobulas are caught incidentally. One experiment of his consisted of more than 40 nights documenting the situation and assessing whether the use of lighter nets could reduce bycatch. A Lack of Strict Protection Because of their supposed medicinal properties, the meat and gill plates of mobulas are increasingly in demand in Asia. Palacios recently led a study to try to understand the magnitude of the problem, which involved 100 surveys and interviews in 19 countries. The research team analyzed data from 75 nations, including photos and records of seizures in Palestine, Somalia, Vietnam, and Hong Kong. Selling gill plates in a dried seafood store. Photograph: Jonathan Wong for South ChinaThe study revealed that meat is exported from countries such as Bangladesh (to mainland China, India, and Myanmar), Ecuador (to Peru), India, Madagascar, Madagascar, Mauritania, Myanmar (to Thailand), Oman (to United Arab Emirates), Senegal, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. The highest prices for dried meat—up to $10/kg—were found in Bangladesh and Myanmar, while fresh meat reached $8/kg in Benin, Mexico, Brazil, and the Republic of Congo, with M. mobular and M. alfredi being the most hunted species. Gill plates are harvested in 14 countries across Africa and Asia, and are imported mainly to mainland China and Hong Kong, where a kilogram can cost $1,260. They also reach Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand. The researchers also found that although international mobula trade involves 20 countries, only five reported it to CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Since 2013, CITES has allowed regulated trade of mobulas in an effort to prevent their extinction, but trafficking of these animals' meat and parts has not decreased. Some researchers therefore recommend moving to a full prohibition of trade. Habitat care is also weak. UN biodiversity targets have called for nations to designate 30 percent of their waters as marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2030. While MPAs have increased dramatically in size over the past 15 years, currently only 16 percent of marine habitats critical to sharks and rays fall inside an MPA, and only 7 percent of these habitats are 'no take' zones, where fishing is completely banned. This story originally appeared on WIRED en Español and has been translated from Spanish.
Web Release
27-01-2025
- Web Release
Experience Thrilling Manta Ray Encounters at The Fourth Edition of The Manta Retreat at InterContinental Maldives
Following the launch of the Manta Retreat in 2022, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort welcomes guests to the fourth Manta Retreat, taking place from the 17th to the 20th of March 2025. Spreading curiosity and excitement to learn about manta rays and their natural habitat, the Manta Retreat offers a great platform to learn, explore and understand these gentle giants while participating in enriching workshops and conservation activities. Participating guests can expect an unparalleled experience centred around the majestic manta rays that inhabit the waters of Raa Atoll. The retreat also includes guided snorkelling excursions that gives guests a chance to swim alongside these gentle giants and observe their behaviour up-close. A series of workshops, including the Manta ID and Manta Research sessions, will provide insights into the identification and study of individual manta rays, offering participants a rare opportunity to adopt and name their own manta. The fourth edition will once again be led by Meral Hafeez, the Manta Trust base leader at InterContinental Maldives. With her marine expertise and passion for educating guests on all manner of underwater creatures, Meral will guide participants through an immersive experience allowing guests to explore the lives of manta rays and the learn the importance of their conservation. Adding to the experience, is another dedicated workshop where attendees can also learn about the fascinating world of plankton, which is the primary food source for manta rays. Further, guided house reef snorkelling sessions will uncover the vibrant marine life around the resort, while the Coral Restoration and Planting Workshop allows guests to contribute directly to the health of the reef. For those eager to deepen their understanding, Meral Hafeez's engaging talk, 'Manta Ray of the Maldives,' will highlight the unique characteristics and behaviours of these magnificent creatures. The retreat also offers a conservation-focused element, emphasising the collaborative efforts between InterContinental Maldives and the Manta Trust. Since 2019, the partnership has supported research and education initiatives aimed at protecting the vulnerable reef manta rays and their oceanic relatives. The retreat helps raise awareness and funds to sustain these vital efforts, ensuring that participants leave not only with cherished memories but also as advocates for marine conservation. This is more than just a retreat; it is an invitation to join a movement dedicated to preserving the ocean's delicate ecosystems. Guests can immerse themselves in the luxury and tranquillity of InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort while contributing to meaningful conservation efforts. When: From March 17th, 2025 to March 20th, 2025 Inclusions: – One Manta Ray Excursion In Raa Atoll – One Manta Ray Research Trip – Name And Adopt A Manta Ray – Manta ID Workshop – Manta Research Workshop – Manta Ray Of The Maldives Talk – Guided House Reef Snorkelling – Plankton Workshop – Coral Restoration And Planting Workshop – Manta & Devil Rays Of The World Guide Book – The Manta Trust Snorkel Mask Strap – Manta Trust Rash Guard Club InterContinental Additional Benefits: – Daily breakfast in Cafe Umi from 7am to 11am – Afternoon tea from 3pm to 5pm – Evening aperitif from 5pm to 7pm – Pool side soft beverages available from 11am to 6pm – Private lounge access at the Seaplane terminal – Planet Trekkers kids club access – Island butler and 24 hour e-Butler service – Byredo luxury bathroom amenities – 30-minute resort photoshoot session – A range of complimentary non-motorised water sport activities including catamaran sailing, windsurfing, and stand-up paddling Price: USD1490++ per guest Terms and Conditions: – Minimum age for participants is 10 years and above – All participants have to be confident swimmers to join the snorkelling excursions
