Gabriela Dawson 
With two major global environmental events, June is often referred to as ‘environment month’. Hurawalhi Maldives celebrated both World Environment Day and World Oceans Day this past week.
Ten guests joined the Marine Biology Center’s afternoon program. After a presentation about the importance to protect the environment, especially from plastic pollution, we went out on a mission to clean up the beach of an uninhabited island. Several bags of waste were collected, mainly plastic items. The obligatory toothbrush was among them. We last cleaned up the very same island on 22nd of April. The guests, Hurawalhi heroes of the day, were rewarded with a snorkelling session after the clean-up.
To mark World Oceans Day, Lisa, Hurawalhi’s resident marine biologist, invited guests to join her for Nature Walks. Both sessions were highly appreciated by guests, for the walk allowed them to get to know more about the island’s flora and fauna and made them realise that Hurawalhi is much, much more than simply a resort. In the afternoon, Zoe Cox from the local NGO Naifaru Juvenile gave a presentation on sea turtle conservation; following Zoe’s knowledgeable and passionate talk, guests were invited for a house reef snorkelling tour, during which they spotted 22 mobula rays (Mobula kuhlii), the record for most sighted individuals at Hurawalhi’s house reef! What a rewarding experience on World Oceans Day!
Divers removed debris, which ocean currents brought in, from the deeper areas of the reef during the house reef clean-up dive.
On behalf of everyone at Hurawalhi, a big thank you to all guests and team members who participated in World Environment Day and World Oceans Day events.
