Autumn Ocean Exploration: Nova Maldives and PADI Unite for Project AWARE Week This September

This September, Nova Maldives teams up with PADI, the world’s leading organisation for scuba diving education, to co-host Project AWARE Week from 16 to 20 September 2026. Brought to life by the resort’s marine team , the week gives resort guests, from first-time snorkellers to seasoned divers, the chance to combine wildlife observation with hands-on conservation work, turning a week in the water into an educational escape.

The timing carries extra weight: this year’s AWARE Week coincides with PADI’s 60th anniversary, and lands as the resort marks its own fourth year of operation in the South Ari Atoll. Now in its eighth global edition, PADI AWARE Week has grown into one of the dive world’s most significant citizen-science movements, and has rescued over 41,000 entangled marine animals to date. Four years into its own story, Nova continues to contribute to this ongoing commitment, focused on building a growing alumni of ocean advocates who leave AWARE Week already counting down to the next.

A Week of Ocean Action

Guests staying at Nova throughout the week can take part in a programme designed for every ocean lover, including:

• Ocean Immersion & Storytelling: Celebrating the wonders of the underwater world, drawing inspirations from Blue Planet and iconic ocean documentaries that showcase the beauty and fragility of marine life.
• Dive Against Debris – underwater clean-up dives in the lagoon, where guests help remove plastic debris and log it into PADI AWARE’s global database.
• Whale shark snorkelling – guided in-water encounters with the gentle giants of the South Ari Atoll, swimming alongside them in open water rather than observing from a boat.
• Manta ray & turtle spotting excursions – guided boat trips out to the resident feeding and nesting grounds where mantas and turtles gather year-round, offering a close-up look at their natural behaviour.
• Coral restoration workshops – where guests learn about coral planting practices and how they can take part in the resort’s ongoing reef regeneration work.

“Some of the most meaningful work happens when you show up year after year. Four years into Nova’s story, we’ve learned that the health of the reef tells us a great deal about the impact we’re making, and that the guests who choose to return aren’t just here for the view. They’re here because Nova reflects something they already care about, including care for the ocean, a sense of community and a more thoughtful way of experiencing the places we visit. That’s what we hope Nova can inspire in new and returning guests alike: less a destination, more a calling,” says Abdulla Aboobakuru, General Manager at Nova.

That commitment in marine conservation work extends beyond the week itself: Nova’s active coral nursery is now home to a growing collection of hand-planted coral frames. Each metal frame holds multiple individually tied coral fragments that are transplanted onto Nova’s house reefs, with guests regularly invited to take part in the planting. Throughout the regeneration process, these young colonies are closely monitored by Nova’s marine team, helping them populate, stay healthy, and thrive. Longstanding partnerships with the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP) and Manta Trust, where Nova is an accredited Responsible Manta Tourism Operator, underpin a year-round commitment to marine conservation, of which AWARE Week is the latest chapter.

For those ready to trade a week of routine for a week of real impact, rates in a villa at Nova starts from £339/night on Full Board Plus during the programme period, bookable at nova-maldives.com.