Velaa Private Island Coral Regeneration Project

Velaa Private Island in the Maldives focuses on sustainability during Earth Month and all year long with its coral regeneration project, which aims to raise awareness about destroyed coral reefs after a severe global bleaching in 1998 and 2016 destroyed 60 percent of the Maldives’ reefs.

© Velaa Private Island

Located on the Noonu atoll, Velaa Private Island began the project five years ago and has since transplanted more than 8,000 nursery-grown corals, increasing overall growth on the island by 5 percent. The transplanted coral boasts an 80 percent survival rate. The resort’s four nurseries have the capacity of nursing more than 6,000 corals. In 2021, the in-house team of coral biologists created mini reefs with surrounding loose rocks to stabilize the reefs and add to the diversity of the coral.

The resort offers guests opportunities to witness this project firsthand. Following an education presentation with the coral biologists, guests then help attach coral to the nurseries themselves. Guests may also shadow a coral biologist for the day, participating in research and dives. The resort’s dive shop offers PADI certification for all skill levels, from beginner to master. If you prefer to stay on land, take part in one of the awareness workshops on topics including sea turtle nesting and the shark population.

© Velaa Private Island

The project creates a thriving environment for local marine life, including black and white tip reef sharks, nurse sharks, manta rays, black-spotted stingrays and eagle rays.