EDUCATION

RESORT

EDUCATION

At MUI, we believe being a marine biologist at a resort is about more than just being a snorkel guide; above all, it’s about science communication. Every single guest interaction is an opportunity to inspire others to care about the importance of protecting our oceans. Different people engage with conservation messages in different ways, which is why we offer a range of activities, hands-on workshops, presentations, kids club, dolphin cruises, guided snorkels, reef clean ups, and more.

Looking for a marine biologist during your visit to Six Senses Laamu? You’ll always find one of our team members in the Welcome Pavilion or in our office above the Deep Blue Divers dive center.

WEEKLY

ACTIVITIES

The MUI team hosts a variety of activities that guests at Six Senses Laamu can join everyday. Click on each image to discover more:

We often get asked, “when is the best time of year to visit Six Senses Laamu for marine life?” The answer: any time!

Looking back at over 5 years of data from all snorkels and dives, our guides spot an average of 9 large animals or megafauna each and every time they enter the water. We see dolphins, turtles, sharks and rays year-round however, there are some seasonal events you might want to plan your trip around: 

REEF MANTA RAYS

Reef manta rays can reach up to 4.5m in wingspan and their graceful over-head passes bring experienced divers to our Manta Point site to meet the resident population of 132 mantas (as of January 2020). Our Manta Trust researchers join each guest dive to the site to inform you of the correct behavior and to identify manta rays based on the unique spot patterns on their bellies.

Sightings: Year-round

Peak sightings: During two annual courtship seasons: May/June and October/November

We ask that guests follow the swim with manta rays guidelines published by the Manta Trust. This activity is recommended for AOW, Nitrox certified divers due to the depth and often challenging surge and currents at this site. Contact our Green Fins eco-certified dive center Deep Blue Divers for inquiries about guided dives and courses. 

TURTLE HATCHING

Each year critically endangered green sea turtles visit Olhuveli Island to lay their nests. Individual females in Laamu have been recorded to reproduce on average every 3 years, meaning the number of turtle nests laid on the island can vary greatly between years. Since the Olive Ridley Project (ORP) started collecting nesting data reliably, the team have recorded as few as 9 nests in 2020, while 2018 saw 29. From the time the eggs are laid, it can take between 50 and 70 days for the hatchlings to emerge (with an average of 58 days), depending on the weather conditions during development. Warmer weather and higher sand temperatures typically indicate shorter incubation periods.

Peak hatching: There is no true nesting or hatching season in Laamu, please check with our Turtle Biologist to see if there are any nests due to hatch during your stay.

The ORP team introduce our guests to the Turtle Hatching Guide prior to and during hatching events. This ensures the least stress possible for the newly emerged hatchlings. Only 1 in 1,000 critically endangered green turtle hatchlings survives the 15-50 years required to reach maturity and we want to give every turtle the best chance of beating these odds with minimal interferences, while allowing our guests to witness the beauty of the occasion.