Let’s dive into the depths and meet some of the amazing turtles you may encounter during your visit to Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives:

Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas): The most common species found around the Maldives, the green sea turtle boasts a captivating olive-green shell, hence its name. They are herbivores and play a vital role in maintaining the health of coral reefs by grazing on seagrass, helping to prevent overgrowth. With their streamlined bodies and powerful flippers, they gracefully navigate the depths of the ocean.

Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata): Sporting a distinctive beak-like snout, hawksbill turtles are truly a sight to behold. These elegant creatures have intricate patterns on their shells, resembling the intricate patterns found on hawks’ wings. They primarily feed on sponges, playing a crucial role in maintaining the delicate balance of the reef ecosystem.

Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta): Loggerheads are the largest hard-shelled turtles in the world, known for their strong jaws and reddish-brown carapace. These majestic beings roam the ocean, covering vast distances in search of food. Their diet consists mainly of crabs, mollusks, and other marine invertebrates.

Observing Turtles in their Natural Habitat

As ambassadors for our reefs, we stress the importance of observing these turtles in their natural habitat while ensuring their safety and well-being. Here are a few tips from us to make sure you have fun while being respectful and safe as well.

Keep a Respectful Distance: When snorkeling or diving near turtles, maintain a respectful distance of at least three meters. This allows the turtles to go about their daily activities undisturbed and ensures a harmonious coexistence.

Avoid Touching or Chasing: As tempting as it may be to reach out and touch these gentle beings, resist the urge. Touching turtles can cause them distress and disrupt their natural behaviors. Avoid chasing or following them closely, allowing them to swim freely without feeling threatened or scared, as gentle as they are, they are known to bite if threatened.

Snorkel Quietly: When snorkeling with turtles, be mindful of your movements and avoid making excessive noise. Sudden movements and loud noises can startle them, leading to stress and potentially harming their well-being. Instead, embrace the tranquility of the underwater world and let the turtles approach you at their own pace.

Responsible Photography: If you wish to capture a magical moment with a turtle, do so responsibly. Maintain a respectful distance and use underwater photography techniques that minimize disturbance. Remember, it’s essential to prioritize the welfare of these magnificent creatures over getting the perfect shot.

Listen to the Experts: Pay close attention to the safety briefing provided by your guide. They will offer valuable insights on how to approach and interact with turtles, ensuring you have an unforgettable experience while safeguarding the well-being of these incredible creatures.

Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives offers a gateway to a world teeming with vibrant marine life, where the enchanting sea turtles take center stage. By adhering to responsible snorkeling practices and paying close attention to the advice of our colleagues at Dive and Sail, we can marvel at these magnificent creatures while preserving their natural habitat for generations to come. Remember, it’s our collective responsibility to ensure the well-being of sea turtles and the delicate ecosystems they call home. So, while we invite you to dive into the crystal clear waters, embrace the wonders of our beautiful reefs, and embark on an unforgettable journey to snorkel with these amazing creatures, let’s leave only ripples behind as a testament to your adventure.
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Sustainability being the cornerstone of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts and across its properties in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, continuously redefines new benchmarks in terms of sustainability and inculcating its core values of compassion, inclusivity, empowerment, and diversity.

Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon, a property managed by Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, home to one of the best coral reefs in the Maldives has taken a step ahead in its sustainability endeavours. The resort focuses on several sustainable initiatives including minimising the usage of plastic, producing organic fruits and vegetables in-house and conservation of coral reefs.

Minimizing waste and single use plastic

During the bygone year the resort was able to reduce its plastic usage simply by replacing plastic garbage bags with washable and re-usable garbage bags and plastic laundry bags has been replaced by hand-made paper bags which are mad out of magazines found in the property. Moreover, the resort has replaced its plastic water bottles by introducing refillable, customized drinking water bottles and has introduced wooden key cards, paper bags, wooden straws, and wooden bins with the objective of further reducing the usage of plastic within the property. Through all these efforts the property has been able to reduce the usage of over 11,500 KG of plastic material during 2021 and 2022.

Taking a step ahead, the resort has introduced tote bags which are purely made of damaged umbrellas found within the property. These bags have become a popular accessory among guests within the resort.

Farm to Plate

The resort has introduced a special initiative, ‘Farm to Plate’, an organic vegetable farm which focuses on producing fresh fruits and vegetables within the property. The farm has a dedicated composting area where dry leaves are converted to compost and wastewater is used as the main source to water the farm. The resort works closely with the local community to recycle coconut palm leaves to make roofing covers for public areas within the resort.

Conservation of Coral Reefs in the Maldives

As part of its marine life conversation programme, the resort has placed several artificial Reef Cubes made from crushed glass to increase fish population around the property. In addition, monthly reef & beach clean-ups are arranged by the resort where guests are encouraged to participate. In an effort to reduce its carbon footprint, the resort has introduced various initiatives including the use of solar power, reduction of Carbon Dioxide emission and water saving initiatives.

Sustainability, which is a driving force has been embedded into the DNA of Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts and is an ongoing pledge and Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon is dedicated to make a real difference by driving an eco-friendly change and delivering value to its guests, people, and planet. With a number of sustainability projects on the horizon, the resort remains well focussed on the current sustainability initiatives, and the future projects would draw more attention to the conservation of coral reefs, marine life, and ocean literacy, all while creating greater awareness on various issues related to sustainability and wellbeing. As a brand built on its core values and principles, Cinnamon Hotels & Resort is committed to creating a better tomorrow, both socially and environmentally.

The ‘Cinnamon Rainforest Restoration Project’ in collaboration with Ruk Rakaganno (The Tree Society of Sri Lanka), Forest Department-Sri Lanka, and John Keells Foundation aims to restore a deteriorated 50-acre plot over a period of three years after which nature will take over the regeneration process.

Here are 5 facts about the Cinnamon Rainforest Restoration Project:

1. Restoring and reforesting this 50-acre site will further enrich the ecological significance of the region which also consists of numerous waterfalls and places of cultural and religious significance. Restoring and reforesting this 50-acre site will further enrich the ecological significance of the region which also consists of numerous waterfalls and places of cultural and religious significance.

2. The rate of loss of green cover during the past 50 years is unprecedented in human history and World Environment Day is one of the largest movements for the environment. This year’s theme,“Only One Earth”, which was also its motto for its 1972 conference, reflects the need to live sustainably in harmony with nature.

3. Likewise, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is propagating a shift towards a greener lifestyle through policies and individual choices. The Cinnamon Rain Forest Restoration Project provides a role model for working with nature rather than against it.The 50-acre site is situated in the Ratnapura District, at a proximity of 3.5 kilometers from the biodiversity hotspot and UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, one of the few virgin forests left in the world.

4. Interested guests from Cinnamon properties will be escorted by a trained naturalist guide to the site while encouraging them to adopt some trees. In time to come, the project also anticipates attracting environment lovers and students.

5. Natural systems are vital for our future. Nature not only provides us with food, water, clean air but it is also one of our strongest allies against the climate crisis. This World Environment Day, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts reflected on this initiative and placed a spotlight on this cause.