Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa Maldives, The Centara Collection, will host an exclusive underwater photography and media experience from 14 to 17 October 2026, in partnership with Youth Global Program, Nikon Middle East and Nikon India.
Supported by Lexar Middle East and Hollyland Middle East, the programme will bring together Nikon’s underwater photographers and select international media for an immersive exploration of the resort’s marine environment and the underwater world of South Ari Atoll.
Located within the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA), Machchafushi offers a unique setting for underwater photography. The resort’s award-winning house reef spans more than five times the size of the island, featuring vibrant coral gardens, diverse marine life and a range of distinctive dive sites.
The experience will take Nikon underwater photographers and select media beneath the surface of Machchafushi, offering the opportunity to capture the island’s marine environment from a unique perspective. From coral formations and marine life to the deeper waters surrounding the island, the programme will showcase the diversity and character of the South Ari Atoll, including the renowned Kudhi Maa shipwreck, which rests between approximately 12 and 30 metres under the surface and has become an established artificial reef.
Together, Machchafushi’s award winning house reef, vibrant coral gardens, diverse marine life and Kudhi Maa create a compelling underwater canvas, offering visiting photographers and media an opportunity to experience and document a lesser seen perspective of the Maldives.
Beyond the reef, the programme will introduce participants to the wider Machchafushi experience, connecting the underwater environment with the island’s natural surroundings, dining, wellness and slower rhythm of island life. Together, these experiences offer a broader perspective of Machchafushi and its place within the South Ari Atoll.
The collaboration brings together Nikon’s expertise in photography and Machchafushi’s distinctive marine environment, creating an exclusive platform to showcase the underwater character of the South Ari Atoll through the lens of leading underwater photographers and international media, with support from Lexar Middle East and Hollyland Middle East.
Taking place from 14 to 17 October 2026, the experience will offer an opportunity to discover and document Machchafushi beyond the shoreline, from its award-winning house reef and vibrant marine life to the distinctive underwater landscapes surrounding the island. Through the photographers and media attending, the experience will bring a different perspective of the Maldives to audiences around the world.