From Reef to Canvas: Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort Celebrates Ocean Aware Month

For Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort, the ocean is more than the setting for an island holiday. Surrounded by the marine environment of Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the resort has built its Ocean Aware Month around creating opportunities for guests to explore, understand and connect with the underwater world.

Held this September 2026, the programme brings together marine experiences, conservation activities, creative workshops and specialist-led sessions, building on the success of the resort’s first Ocean Aware programme in 2025, with the win of Best Dive Resort 2024. Developed in collaboration with Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) AWARE, the initiative has grown from a dedicated awareness week into an annual programme designed to make the ocean accessible through different experiences and perspectives.

The idea behind the programme is rooted in a simple connection between understanding and conservation. By bringing guests closer to the marine environment, Avani+ Fares aims to encourage a deeper appreciation for the ocean and, in turn, a greater desire to protect it.

Exploring the Ocean From Different Perspectives

Ocean Aware Month brings a diverse group of ocean advocates and creatives to the island, giving guests the opportunity to experience the marine environment through different disciplines.

Freediver and ocean advocate Hanli Prinsloo leads breathwork and freediving experiences, while underwater storytellers, photographers and artists including Dani Wentzel and Mariyam Firusha bring their own perspectives to the programme. Artist, scientific illustrator and PADI AmbassaDiver Janavi Kramer adds a creative dimension through ocean-inspired workshops.

The programme also gives guests the chance to develop new skills while exploring the reef, from learning underwater photography and videography techniques to discovering ways of capturing marine life through art.

For PADI EMEA Regional Manager Matt Wenger, the programme is an opportunity to connect guests with the marine environment while encouraging greater awareness of its protection.

“During PADI AWARE Week at AVANI+ Fares Maldives, we celebrate our connection to this remarkable environment and our shared responsibility to protect it. Through awareness, education, and meaningful action, we can help ensure that the beauty beneath the surface remains a gift for generations to come,” said Matt Wenger, PADI EMEA Regional Manager.

From the House Reef to Hands-on Conservation

The marine environment surrounding Avani+ Fares remains central to the programme, with the resort’s house reef providing direct access to the underwater world.

Alongside reef excursions and freediving, guests can take part in coral planting and Dive Against Debris, while beach clean-ups provide opportunities to contribute to the wider conservation effort.

The programme also creates a platform for Maldivian voices. Mariyam Firusha, a PADI Scuba Diving Instructor and PADI AmbassaDiver, brings a local perspective to the initiative and advocates for greater participation from Maldivians in diving and marine conservation.

“You can’t protect what you’ve never had the chance to see. I want more locals to experience what lies beneath our ocean, because these reefs are our home and our responsibility. We need more local voices in the industry — not only to show the world how beautiful the Maldives is, but to lead the way in protecting it,” said Firusha.

Beyond the September programme, Avani+ Fares continues to incorporate marine and environmental activities into the wider guest experience, from encounters with the island’s natural environment to opportunities to participate in conservation initiatives.

Where Ocean Stories Become Art

The connection between the ocean and creativity is another focus of this year’s programme.

Underwater photography and videography sessions invite guests to look at the reef through a different lens, while Janavi Kramer’s workshops explore marine life through illustration and art. Her approach adds another way for guests to engage with the underwater world, particularly for those who may not spend their holiday beneath the surface.

“Being part of PADI AWARE Week at Avani Maldives was such a wonderful experience. I loved having the opportunity to bring people together through creativity, share my passion for the ocean and hopefully encourage people to look at the underwater world with a little more curiosity and appreciation,” said Janavi.

The creative programme complements the resort’s marine experiences, allowing guests to take their encounters with the reef beyond the water through photographs, illustrations and stories.

Experiences for Every Generation

Ocean Aware Month extends beyond diving and specialist-led activities, with a selection of experiences designed to involve families and younger guests.

Art sessions, interactive games, sand art and beach clean-ups provide accessible ways for children and families to engage with the theme, while the wider programme allows more experienced guests to explore freediving, diving and underwater photography.

With the programme continuing into its second year, Avani+ Fares is building Ocean Aware into a recurring September programme that brings together marine experiences, conservation and creativity. The initiative gives guests new ways to discover the ocean while creating opportunities to learn from divers, conservationists and creative voices throughout their stay.

September provides a natural setting for Ocean Aware Month, aligning with PADI AWARE Week, World Manta Day and World Tourism Day. With these ocean and tourism-focused observances falling within the same month, Avani+ Fares Maldives brings them together through a programme that reflects the resort’s connection to the marine environment and its role in creating greater awareness of ocean conservation.