In honour of providing exceptional services to female diving, OBLU NATURE Helengeli by SENTIDO, a resort in the portfolio of hospitality company Atmosphere Core, and dive centre partner TGI Maldives were once again placed as the world’s most desirable tourism destination on the global map, jointly receiving the Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Diving award from PADI®.
PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors®) is the world’s largest purpose-driven diving organisation, operating in 180 countries and territories with over 30 million diving certifications issued. With more than 6,600 PADI dive centres and resorts worldwide, it is a remarkable achievement for TGI Maldives and OBLU NATURE Helengeli to receive this particular contribution award.
Announcing its 10th global celebration, PADI introduced the ‘Women in Diving’ initiative and its flagship annual PADI Women’s Dive Day to increase women’s inclusivity in the dive industry. The Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Diving Award recognises TGI Maldives and OBLU NATURE Helengeli for breaking down barriers and empowering more women to explore the underwater world.
Dr Abdulla Niyaz, Minister of State for Tourism of the Republic of Maldives; along with Matt Wenger, PADI Regional Manager for Maldives; and Ibrahim Shiuree, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation (MMPRC), attended the presentation award ceremony held on the shores of Helengeli Island. To support female diving, the resort held a PADI Women’s Dive Day Celebration event from July 14th to July 17th, inviting 10 female journalists from around the world alongside women dive instructors from TGI Maldives.
Acknowledging the importance of the positive promotion of female diving in the Maldives, Minister of Tourism, Ibrahim Faisal commented, “As the world’s most desirable holiday destination, we have witnessed our small country transform over the last 30 years. From humble beginnings in our archipelago, we have evolved our island nation to create a paradise for all to enjoy. Today, the demographic profile of inbound tourists is a lot different from the early days. From exploring couples in the 1980s, we now see a mix of all segments, including couples, families, and group parties—all wishing to experience the magic of the Maldives first-hand.
“As global society evolves, so does the Maldives. It is testimony that in the last decade, we have seen the introduction of friends, families, and an increased number of solo travellers. A large portion of these travellers are females who wish to escape and enjoy the castaway feeling of freedom and independence only the Maldives can offer.
PADI’s award, presented at OBLU NATURE Helengeli in partnership with TGI Maldives, reinforces the hotelier Atmosphere Core’s commitment to offering experiences for all. The Ministry of Tourism congratulates the team at Helengeli Island and, more importantly, the highly skilled team at TGI Maldives for creating a centre of excellence for female diving. This award recognises all involved as well as the Maldives as the leading dive destination for all divers around the world,” added the Minister of Tourism.
PADI’s Regional Manager, Matt Wenger added, “Positive promotion and support for female diving have been at the heart of PADI’s philosophy since our inception in 1966. As part of PADI’s Pillars of Change, we are focused on fostering diversity, elevating the healing aspects of the sport, and nurturing inclusion so that the underwater world is accessible to all. We are thrilled to recognise TGI Maldives and OBLU NATURE Helengeli for their contributions in encouraging more females to seek adventure and save the ocean.
“We proudly mark the 10th anniversary of ‘PADI Women’s Dive Day’ with this award to TGI Maldives at OBLU NATURE Helengeli. The award recognises the combination of what we believe is a world-class location and overall experience joining PADI-recognised dive sites, exceptional dive centre services, and exemplary hospitality.”
From beginners to the experienced, female divers will struggle to find a more beautiful location to escape to than OBLU NATURE Helengeli. Whether ocean scuba diving at a well-known dive site, finding a new unexplored location, or snorkelling a vibrant coral garden teeming with marine life, there are endless opportunities to seek a glimpse of the local manta rays, turtles, octopi, and sharks, not to mention the abundant schools of tropical creatures inhabiting the Indian Ocean. With occasional pods of dolphins swimming by restaurants just off the island reef, it’s an island destination perfect for both big-blue exploration and unforgettable castaway life.
Aside from the stunning dive sites, scuba diving and snorkelling are beautifully woven into the overall resort lifestyle, which seamlessly integrates with the ELE|NA spa experience. Divers can enjoy elevated relaxing and healing treatments and therapies designed to soothe before and after diving. Breathwork and floating meditation sessions accompany sunset yoga to ensure that all divers are guaranteed a relaxing vacation both underwater and on the island.
Receiving the award on behalf of TGI Maldives and OBLU NATURE Helengeli, dive centre Operations Manager Greta Marcelli and resort General Manager Ali Shakir both concluded, “Our partnership here at OBLU NATURE Helengeli continually strives to improve guest experiences, both on the island as a dream destination and in the ocean as a place of true wonder.
“Working closely with PADI, we aim to provide the safest certified dive courses to encourage those curious to explore the wonders of the ocean, as well as escort professional divers to uncharted locations. Receiving this ‘Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Diving’ award, marking PADI Women’s Dive Day’s 10th celebration, is testimony to the efforts made by the team in and out of the water. The combination of first-class hospitality coupled with exceptional dive experiences, positions OBLU NATURE Helengeli at the forefront of the sport in the Indian Ocean, not just for female divers, but for all.”
OBLU NATURE Helengeli by SENTIDO is located at the tip of the North Malé Atoll, reachable by a scenic 50-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport.
