Anantara Kihavah Villas goes to sea with marine biologist Joseph Lassus

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Avatar of Linda Hohnholz
Written by Linda Hohnholz

LOS ANGELES, California – Situated in the Maldives’ Baa Atoll island archipelago, Anantara Kihavah Villas is the perfect place from which to enjoy the underwater world of the Indian Ocean.

LOS ANGELES, California – Situated in the Maldives’ Baa Atoll island archipelago, Anantara Kihavah Villas is the perfect place from which to enjoy the underwater world of the Indian Ocean. Here, you can snorkel some of the world’s most treasured reefs, explore uninhabited deserted islands, or cruise in solitude into a tapestry of unimaginable colors.

Recovering from the 1998 El Nino that destroyed most of the country’s shallow reef coral, in June 2011 UNESCO declared the Baa Atoll a Biosphere Reserve. Operating as an eco-conscious beach resort, Anantara Kihava Villas has been dedicated to supporting the recovery since opening in 2012. This luxury resort counts among Green Globe’s top performing members.

In its commitment to protect and preserve the environment, the property has initiated the Coral Adoption Program – a long term plan designed to share learning experiences with guests, accelerate the regeneration of coral growth and the atoll reef, and ultimately ensure the future of this unique Maldivian destination.

With the recent arrival of marine biologist Joseph Lassus to Anantara Kihavah, guests can draw on his expert knowledge as they descend into the ocean’s dazzling depths and discover the magical underwater world that lies below. On dry land, the exploration into the ocean’s treasures continues at the resort’s signature underwater restaurant, ‘Sea’. Hosting presentations for guests in the mesmerizing surrounds of ‘Sea’, Joseph describes the natural aquarium through the glass walls as it envelopes the restaurant to provide a breathtaking 180 degree view of fish, turtles, sea eels with all their friends at play.

“Before arriving in the Maldives, I was involved with a WWF project at the Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve, in Mexico,” said Joseph Lassus. “This opportunity to be the marine biologist at Anantara Kihavah Villas provides me with a perfect combination of teaching to dive and snorkel, which I love to share with guests, as well as continuing my research in exciting new fields of exploration and behavior associations of aquatic life. Here, I encounter completely different species to those I am familiar with from my native home in the French Caribbean, such as the Napolean Wrasse, Clown Fish, and different coral. They all exist in a fragile community – one cannot survive without the other.”

Guests can join Joseph on diving, snorkeling, dolphin discovery, turtle quest and manta excursions, or participate in coral transplanting and essential research snorkeling adventures, taking identification images of larger animals.

Anantara Kihavah Villas is passionate about bringing story collecting travelers closer to the natural, cultural and historic allures of this fascinating island nation, which is perfectly described as the greatest paradise on earth, the Maldives.

ABOUT ANANTARA KIHAVAH VILLAS, MALDIVES

Set on Kihavah Huravalhi, one of the most pristine Maldivian islands, the resort is just 35 minutes by seaplane from Male International Airport. Following the scenic flight, guests arrive to a picture perfect setting surrounded by the jewel colored waters and uninhabited islands of the majestic Indian Ocean. 79 spacious private pool sanctuaries, ranging from 260 to 2,730 square meters, are either poised over the water with sweeping ocean views or nestled along a pristine stretch of private beach.

Comprising 74 one-bedroom villas, 4 two-bedroom residences and a three-bedroom residence, each hideaway boasts large personal infinity-edge pools, dining pavilions, expansive wooden sundecks and ample lounging areas complete with swinging daybeds, hammocks and sun loungers. All villas feature his and hers walk-in closets, rain showers, outdoor showers and over-sized bathtubs big enough for two. Sunken glass bottom bathtubs in the over water villas offer a mesmerizing view of the sparkling ocean, both below and beyond the adjacent infinity-edge pool.

Media Contact: Elisabeth Smailes, Area Director Marketing Communications, Maldives, Email: [email protected] , www.anantara.com , Mark Thomson, Group Director of Public Relations, Email: [email protected]

ABOUT GREEN GLOBE

Green Globe is the worldwide sustainability system based on internationally accepted criteria for sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses. Operating under a worldwide license, Green Globe is based in California, USA and is represented in over 83 countries. Green Globe is recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, supported by the United Nations World Tourism Organization. For information, please visit www.greenglobe.com

Green Globe is a member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) .

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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