IT’S TIME TO “CELEBRATE COMMUNITY. CREATE CHANGE”
On 18th July each year, female divers and marine conservationists are celebrated for Women’s Dive Day and at Adaaran Select Meedhupparu, women are shaping the future of marine conservation. In line with the day’s theme of “Celebrate Community. Create Change, the resort excels at providing life-changing opportunities to all guests, supporting their female staff to follow their passions and become pioneers, and fostering deep connections with the ocean for all.
Part of Aitken Spence Hotels’ Maldivian collection, the resort has exclusive 50% discounts for female guests diving on Women’s Dive Day and is sharing stories of three inspiring women changing the diving landscape on the island: a marine conservationist developing a coral restoration programme, an 88-year-old guest who discovered her love for diving later in life, and a former corporate guru who followed her dream and swapped business suits for wetsuits and became the Assistant Base Leader.
Introducing…
Fabiana Nicoli
Fabiana Nicoli is a Marine Conservationist at DivePoint Maldives at the Raa Atoll resort, where she is redefining marine travel with purpose. Originally from northern Italy, Fabiana’s background in International Environmental Law and specialisation in Marine Environmental Management and Marine Biology has taken her around the world before joining the team at Adaaran Resorts. Always looking to innovate, Fabiana is developing a coral restoration proposal for submission to the Maldivian government for Adaaran Select Meedhupparu that would establish a dedicated coral nursery to rehabilitate damaged reef systems.
Drawing on years of expertise and education, Fabiana’s work is rooted in science with marine conservation efforts including underwater ecological monitoring, tracking coral bleaching and threats such as crown-of-thorns starfish and Drupella species outbreaks; Advanced 3D reef modelling and data analysis; marine education, mentoring, and outreach for both guests and local communities; and Benthic and Pelagic population surveys and studies.
Mrs Patricia Fung
Patricia Fung is a repeat guest of the resort who discovered her love for the ocean later in life. After completing her first dive at 68, Patricia has since returned to Adaaran Select Meedhupparu 12 times and has completed more than 1,500 dives worldwide. Patricia fondly recalls that her first dive was a complimentary offering by a Maldivian resort. This experience changed her life, and she considered it to be a “wonderful experience. It felt like entering another world”. Inspired by her first dive, Patricia then completed her diving course with her daughter and granddaughter; a true bonding moment for three generations of women. Now 88, Patricia has visited numerous diving sites across the Maldives, yet she and her husband, Ignatius, find themselves returning to Meedhupparu. A true testament to the expert dive team on the island, Patricia considers every dive to be magical at the resort. Patricia’s story is a powerful reminder that age should never limit adventure and cements the resort as an inclusive and nurturing community that celebrates female divers of all ages.
Karolina Ruehmer
From the boardroom to the blue ocean, Karolina took an inspiring leap to pursue her dreams of being a dive instructor. Having spent almost a decade working in the Personal Hygiene sector working with brands such as P&G and Johnson & Johnson, Karolina’s hobby was exploring the ocean. Tired of waiting for her next holiday, Karolina used her annual leave to become a certified instructor in scuba diving, freediving, and mermaiding and completed an online course in Tourism Management. A year later, she made the life-changing decision to resign from her corporate position and moved to the Maldives to become a dive instructor. After a rewarding year at Grand Park Kodhipparu, Karolina joined Adaaran Select Meedhupparu as an Assistant Base Leader in 2023. Since joining the team, Karolina has been led by her dream and passion and is determined to share this enthusiasm with every guest who seeks underwater discovery.
Aligning with the strong community philosophy on the island, Adaaran Select Meedhupparu is encouraging women to dive this week, whether they are brand-new to the experience or have been seasoned divers for decades. Committed to providing opportunities to all, female guests can enjoy 50% off diving activities and on Mermaid Experiences on 18th July. In addition, the dive team will provide complimentary underwater photography/video for all participating female divers so they can take home a visual souvenir of them connecting with the great ocean.
This Women’s Dive Day is about encouraging women to take a leap, try something new, and discover a new dream. At Adaaran Select Meedhupparu, a community has been founded based on a supportive and nurturing environment where guests can encounter and learn more about the majesty of the ocean’s depths, guided by talented and enthusiastic female divers.
