Cora Cora Maldives & MARS Incorporated Expand Coral Restoration with 200 New Reef Stars

Cora Cora Maldives’ Coral Restoration Project, in collaboration with MARS, Incorporated, is the second largest in the Maldives.

On the 30th and 31st of August, the resort’s management team, freedom fighters and guests placed 200 reef stars (coral nurseries) in two zones in their lagoon. Cora Cora Maldives set an ambitious target of creating 15,000 coral fragments by the end of 2025, and to achieve this, the resort has partnered with NGO Save the Beach Maldives and MARS, Incorporated to use the MARS Assisted Reef Restoration System (MARRS) to increase efforts to create resilient coral reefs. Through continuous collaboration, large-scale reef rehabilitation in the Maldives can be accomplished.

What’s next for Cora Cora Maldives’ Coral Restoration Project?

• Together with MARS, Incorporated and SHEBA Group, Cora Cora Maldives will undertake another expansive reef star installation on 22nd and 23rd September, building 3,750 Coral Fragments into the signature reef star frames. This will be one of the largest undertaken in a single build since the project began.

• Global Spotlight: In September, Kaushiik Subramaniam (BBC Natural History Unit – Featured Filmmaker and British Wildlife Conservation Biologist) and Jack Searson (Head of Film, Ocean Culture Life) will arrive on the island. Kaush and Jack are SHEBA Hope Grows Ambassadors and will undergo Coral Restoration training led by Kate Janetski, MARS Marine Program Lead & Global Training Manager, thus establishing the resort as the Centre of Excellence and a Training Hub.

• In October and November, two more big reef builds are planned along with weekly Adopt-a-Coral activity with guests. In October, Cora Cora Maldives will also join hands with Save the Beach Maldives on a Local Community Restoration Build, empowering local youth to take ownership in reef restoration.

“We are incredibly proud of our progress so far, not only in numbers but in the passion driving the project,” enthuses Giulia Morello, Resident Marine Biologist. “Each reef star we place is a symbol of hope for our oceans and a reminder that large-scale restoration is possible when people come together. The project is continually evolving, requiring daily efforts to keep it monitored, with every step bringing us closer to our next goal.

“From the very beginning, we understood that the key to success is sharing and involving our leaders, freedom fighters, partners, and guests in rebuilding a connection with nature. We carry the responsibility and hope for each growing coral fragment in the water, which motivates us to stay committed and focused during the restoration process. The road ahead is long and full of challenges; however, our team is united with passion and resilience. We will keep going, keep building, and keep restoring – leaving behind a legacy of hope, one reef star at a time.”

As Cora Cora Maldives reflects on their incredible work thus far, the resort and its partners cannot help but feel immensely proud of the progress that has been made in the coral restoration journey.

Comprising of 100 villas, a water sports & diving centre, a gym, an overwater yoga pavilion, an outdoor cinema, and CoRa Kids club. Cora Cora Maldives is 45 minutes by seaplane from Velana International Airport or 30 minutes by domestic flight, followed by a 20-minute speedboat journey and is the ultimate idyllic island escape.