Diving into the Deep
Away from the pressures of surface life, the alternative underwater world is a place of peace and tranquility. This is combined with the euphoria, awe and many say emotion, of sharing a fleeting connection with a passing green turtle or manta ray.
There is something almost meditative about letting go all thoughts and enjoying the sensations of the sun sparkling on the surface above, and the cool waters deeper below. From snorkeling Six Senses house reefs to taking on a subaqueous adventure with an experienced instructor, the best spots are the ones recommended by locals.
The Supermarket dive site off the shores of Six Senses Fiji is one such unforgettable experience. All year round, it showcases a plethora of marine life. White and black tip reef sharks are a common sight. They are not aggressive to humans but may come closer to investigate. Another thrill is to encounter green and hawksbill turtles. The latter are easy to identify through their sharp curving beak. After spending 20 years in the open ocean feeding on jellyfish, they settle in coral habitats and change their diet. They play a key role in the reef ecosystem as they eat the fast-growing sponges and enable other species and to colonize the gaps they create.
As the reef drops off into the blue, schools of barracuda, colorful fussilers and grey reef sharks cruise along the reef wall. On top of the reef, divers can glide through the different maze-like caverns, and encounter clown fish, angel fish and parrot fish, as well as moray eels who also make these areas their version of their Finding Nemo home.
Laamu Atoll in the Maldives is home to Hithadhoo Corner and more than 120 resident manta rays, which researchers from the Manta Trust have been studying since 2014. From May to July and October to November, courtship is high on the mantas’ minds. The rare manta chain dance is truly a once in a lifetime experience to witness, during which the female tests the males’ strength by leading them on a dance, looping and swerving until there is only one male left.
Laamu has the only year-round manta ray cleaning station in the Maldives as well as the world’s first non-invasive underwater ultrasound scanner. This leading conservation effort enables contactless scanning of wild pregnant reef manta rays to study gestation and embryonic development. This information is vital to guide conservation strategies.
You’re never to young or too old to become a marine conservationist so please join our marine researchers and biologists to see what we’re up to. You may have the opportunity to get involved in ongoing research projects, restoring seagrass beds, protecting our beautiful residents such as turtles and manta rays or replanting corals in one of coral nurseries. Six Senses Laamu offers a Junior Marine Biology program to tap into the passion of future ocean stewards and encourage them to protect endangered habitats both in Laamu in the Maldives and across the globe.
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