Calling all ocean lovers! Gili Lankanfushi, the pioneer of sustainable, barefoot luxury in the Maldives, is delighted to unleash a shoal of sensational activities in celebration of World Oceans Week and World Environment Day 2022.
Taking place between 1st – 8th June, aquatic adventures on offer range from treasure hunts and themed Jungle Cinema screenings – suitable for big and little fish alike! – to a series of guided snorkels, educational presentations, and talks. Guests will even have the opportunity to participate in Gili’s famed Coral Lines conservation project, which encourages guests to learn about coral reef restoration and rehabilitation, to visit the nursing coral on ropes and to even adopt a coral.
Ocean Life ‘Treasure Hunts’, during which guests can win edible prizes and ‘Fish ID’ certificates by spotting 10-20 different species of fish, rays, sharks, and turtles, will run all week long. The full schedule is as follows:
World Ocean Week & World Environment Day at Gili Lankanfushi
Wednesday 1st June
- Kids Activity: Treasure Hunt
- Ocean Series Presentation 1: Fish ID
- Jungle Cinema screening: David Attenborough – A Life on Our Planet
Thursday 2nd June
- Complimentary Ocean Life Fish ID Snorkel
- Coral Lines Demonstration Workshop
Friday 3rd June
- Ocean Series Presentation 2: Ocean Ecosystems: Seagrass, Corals and Mangroves
- Ocean Series Presentation 3: Plankton – the forgotten photosynthesisers
- Complimentary Ocean Life Fish ID Snorkel
Sunday 5th June – World Environment Day
- Kids Activity: Ocean Origami
- Eco-centre guided tour
- Environmental Hour: presentation and discussion on climate change, the threats faced by the Maldives and Gili Lankanfushi’s sustainability initiatives
Monday 6th June
- Complimentary Ocean Life Fish ID Snorkel
- Ocean Series Presentation 4: Shell Creatures of the Maldives
Tuesday 7th June
- Kids Activity: Ocean drawing class
- Jungle Cinema screening: Finding Dory
Wednesday 8th June – World Ocean Day
- Private snorkel session with MB Group A
- Marine creature sandcastle/sculpture competition at palm beach
- Presentation: Marine Megafauna of the Maldives
- Private snorkel session with MB Group B
Sustainability at Gili Lankanfushi
Sustainability has been at the heart of Gili Lankanfushi’s vision since the resort’s conception, with the preservation of the natural environment and marine ecosystem of utmost importance.
The entire resort has been constructed with sustainably sourced and recycled materials, and all rooms provide organic toiletries in refillable earthenware containers, keeping plastic use and wastage to an absolute minimum. A dedicated desalinisation plant turns seawater into still and sparkling drinking water for guests and much of the restaurants’ fruit, vegetables and herbs are grown in the resort’s organic garden, which is composted with recycled food waste.
The island’s dedicated marine biology team constantly monitor and protect the health and biodiversity of surrounding coral reef ecosystems, educating guests and regularly hosting visiting scientists and academics.
Further sustainability initiatives include:
- On-island Marine Biology shack, Gili Veshi.
- Protection and replenishment of sea grasses, known as the ‘lungs of the sea’.
- Monitoring and management of invasive Crown of Thorns Starfish species.
- Working hand-in-hand with the Manta Trust to protect Manta Rays, and the Olive Ridley Project to rescue injured sea turtles.
- No plastic policy on island, with recycling initiatives to rid the oceans of single-use plastics from neighbouring islands.
- On-island eco-centre to recycle glass, plastic, aluminium, and food waste.
- All fish caught using sustainable methods and purchased from local islands.
- Sustainable Living Training for all staff.
