Maldives: a destination for sports, relaxation, and nature

It was 1972 when the exotic dream known as the Maldives began to circulate, first in Italy and then around the world. Its creator was a traveler and talent scout for new destinations who, having reached the archipelago the previous year aboard a cargo ship from Colombo, returned with a group of 22 aspiring Italian Robinson Crusoes, including journalists and photographers. Word of mouth spread and has been unstoppable ever since. And while the postcard-perfect image has maintained its white sand, iridescent turquoise lagoons, blue ocean, and brilliant green equatorial vegetation over the decades, much has changed in terms of hospitality and luxury. Maldivian resorts have redefined their parameters, while maintaining two cornerstones: the promise of immersion in the local nature and the sense of total freedom on holiday. To fulfill this first commitment, environmental protection has become an urgent priority.

Bolifushi Resort

"You can adopt a metal core with coral fragments grafted onto it. Once a plaque with the guest's name is affixed, they receive a photographic update on their growth every six months," explains Nuria, a Spanish marine biologist. Together with her colleague Erin, a Zimbabwean, she works to protect the coral reef at the five-star super-luxury Ozen Life Maadhoo Island Resort in the South Malé Atoll. It's one of two resorts in The Ozen Collection, part of Atmopshere Core, an Indo-Maldivian group specializing in high-end hospitality, which currently operates nine properties in the Maldives (expected to expand very soon).

On Sundays and Thursdays, the two marine biologists entertain guests by illustrating the reef's diverse fauna and its fragilities. "El Niño causes water temperatures to rise and the coral to bleach," Erin explains, "but the coral still has a month to live and, with timely intervention, it can be saved."

Bolifushi Resort

With the staff of Dolphine Base, the ocean professionals who run the resort's diving center, you can head to Manta Point to witness the marine dance of these elegant creatures, or swim with nurse sharks and their colorful entourage of remoras and small yellow fish that resemble bouquets of primroses in the blue, and then admire turtles and dolphins. An excursion worth the trip alone. Back in the ocean, you return, this time fully clothed, to the M6m, a restaurant six meters below sea level. After a glass of champagne, you reach it by elevator: a circular, intimate space where lobster and ocean specialties are served, while blacktip sharks and colorful fish, perhaps attracted by the lights, parade around. The feeling of being in an aquarium is belied by the reality of being under the ocean without any surrounding barriers.

And, because luxury means worry-free living, dinner is included in the Indulgence Plan, which covers everything from spirits (over 80 wines) to restaurants, twice-daily snorkeling, and transfers aboard an elegant speedboat complete with Wi-Fi. Guests can freely choose from the pan-Asian flavors of Tradition Peking and Tradition Indoceylon to the Maldivian specialties of Lonu (try the Mas Bai, spiced rice with tuna), from the international and Indian cuisine of The Palms to the hefty dose of romance of a tête-à-tête dinner on the beach. Wine, recommended and explained by Manak Rej, Cluster Wine Operations Manager for the Atmosphere Core group, is the focus of special evenings organized in honor of partner wineries (from Italy's Bottega to France's Guy Charbaut). "It's not just about offering great wines," explains Nicolas Laguette, director of wines at Atmosphere Core. "Our goal is to tell stories, evoke emotions, and create memorable moments. Every glass becomes a journey, every sip a discovery." And if wine culture is held in high regard even in these latitudes, the same is true for gin: in the dedicated Gin IN bar, Prajwal, gin manager, leads a tasting that is an authentic journey into the history of the famous spirit.