THE HOUSE REEF
Our house reef and its clear waters and myriad of marine life is one of the Maldives’ most famous scuba and snorkelling utopias. Descend into an explosion of colourful coral gardens and glide amongst schools of tropical fish.
Coral reefs protect our pristine beaches and guard the island’s crystal-clear lagoon. However, for all of its beauty and apparent resilience, coral is a sensitive organism, vulnerable to extreme weather and sudden environmental changes. As a result of the 2015 and 2016 El Niño events, the Maldives lost most of its shallow coral reefs when sea temperatures increased by 4°C.
MALDIVES' BEST HOUSE REEF
While the exquisite beauty of this renowned snorkelling and dive destination in the Maldives has captivated tourists for years, a 2022-2023 study conducted by a team of world-renowned marine biologists has now confirmed the sheer scale of the rich biodiversity within the island’s pristine marine ecosystem. Showcasing Anantara Kihavah's delicate reef balance, the report underscores marine conservation significance. This book aims to inspire ongoing conservation with its portrayal of underwater beauty and fragile reef nature at Anantara Kihavah.
Wonders of Kihavah | Reef Book
YELLOW WALL – A DESTINATION DIVE
The Yellow Wall is a vertical section of Anantara Kihavah’s famed house reef that descends to a depth of 25 metres, although most of the living marine community is found at shallower depths and so easily observed while snorkelling. A destination dive in itself, the Yellow Wall’s striking beauty is found in the teeming abundance of sealife inhabiting it. Covering its surface, overhangs and edges, the Yellow Wall is dominated by widespread colonies of soft corals in multiple colours. However, the predominant gold and yellow variations make it clear to any diver exactly why this not-to-be-missed reef earned the name of the Yellow Wall.
CORAL ADOPTION PROGRAMME
Through our Coral Adoption Programme, you will first learn key information about coral reefs in a brief talk before being carefully supervised in attaching your ‘adopted’ fragments onto ropes in the resort’s lagoon. You may then snorkel out to view the placement of your adopted line into our nursery where it will be attended and mended until healthy and robust enough to be permanently transplanted into our beautiful house reef by our Marine Biologist and dive team. Even after you return home, you can follow your adopted coral’s progress with photo updates and, of course, return visits.
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KIDS MARINE BIOLOGY PROGRAMMES
Experience once-in-a-lifetime encounters with a variety of marine creatures while learning about their life and habitat, and even participate in some of our conservation projects. Anantara Kihavah’s Marine Biology Courses for kids offer days of fun activities led by our friendly Marine Biologist. The Kids Marine Biology Programmes at Anantara Kihavah introduce kids ranging from eight upwards to diving and snorkelling and teach them in a fun and interesting way about the reef ecosystem and the biodiversity of the reef.
MARINE BIOLOGY TALK
Guests can learn all about the fascinating world of marine life and its preservation through fun and informative Marine Biology Talks presented by our resident marine biologist before experiencing once-in-a-lifetime encounters with a variety of marine creatures in their natural habitat.
