Exploring the Depths: An Underwater Expedition to Uncover the Secrets of the Maldives

When people think of the Maldives, images of luxury overwater villas extending from wooden docks or pristine beaches lined with soft white sand often come to mind.

Despite the Maldives being one of the most sought-after vacation spots and a top destination for divers, experts say there is still much to discover about its underwater ecosystems.

In a bid to unlock some of these underwater mysteries, the Maldivian government has partnered with the UK's Nekton marine research institute to launch an ambitious new expedition into the nation's uncharted waters.

The Nekton Maldives Mission, set to begin on September 4, will involve scientists from both the Maldives and around the world. The mission will include deep-sea research beyond 30 meters, using two advanced submersibles—one capable of reaching depths of 1,000 meters.

The mission is focused on assisting the Maldives in managing the effects of the global climate crisis.

'The Maldives is 99% ocean and only 1% land, with an average elevation of just 1.5 meters above sea level. As a result, the nation is increasingly vulnerable to rising sea levels,' states Nekton in its report.

'However, by gaining a deeper understanding of what lies beneath the surface, efforts can be made to protect the marine life and ecosystems, ultimately helping the country build resilience against climate change,' the statement continues.

Nekton has chosen 10 Maldivian marine scientists to be the first 'Maldivian Aquanauts.' These scientists will lead more than 30 submersible descents to explore the depths of the nation’s waters. The inaugural descent will be led by an all-women team of aquanauts.

'We are investigating the location, health, and resilience of our coral reefs, particularly the deeper ecosystems that remain largely unexplored. This will help us identify critical habitats for conservation and management,' said Shafiya Naeem, the Maldivian team leader and director general of the Maldives Marine Research Institute.

'The coral reefs surrounding our atolls play a vital role in mitigating the effects of rising sea levels and more frequent, intense storms. They are also the foundation of our economy, livelihoods, and food security,' Naeem added.

A 35-day mission

The RV Odyssey, an expedition vessel, will transport scientists from the Maldives, the UK, India, and South Africa on a 35-day journey to explore the vast waters of the Maldives.

The ship is equipped with two submersibles, each designed to carry a pilot and two scientists. These will be used alongside robotic and autonomous systems, along with over a dozen research technologies, to gather crucial data.

The newer of the two submersibles is the REV Ocean-owned Aurelia, which completed extensive sea trials off the coast of Barcelona this summer. It is now certified as the world’s most advanced submersible of its kind, according to Nekton.

The second submersible, the Omega Seamaster 2, is the same model that was used in a Nekton mission to the Seychelles in 2019, where marine explorers discovered dozens of new species and mapped previously uncharted waters below 30 meters off the coast.

The Aurelia will dive to depths of up to 1,000 meters, while the Omega Seamaster 2 will focus on exploring the first 500 meters beneath the surface.

On the 35-day mission, marine biologists, data scientists, and filmmakers will gather species samples, conduct detailed mapping, and document the condition of the coral ecosystems around the Maldives.

Oxford University, involved in the mission, states that the team will also examine how marine life adapted to historical sea level rises caused by the last Ice Age's ice melt. They will explore the largely unexplored and unprotected deep corals and reefs of the Rariphotic Zone, which act as refuges for marine species from shallower waters.

Additionally, the team will study the abundance of 40 shark species and 18 ray species at the top of the food chain in the Maldives, which serve as a vital indicator of the overall health of the ocean, according to the university.

A key component of the mission's mapping operations is a survey of a subsea mountain located in the Northern Indian Ocean.

Nekton has stated that all samples and data gathered during the mission will remain the exclusive property of the Maldives – a shift from some past Western-led scientific expeditions.

Promoting sustainable tourism growth

How does this mission tie into tourism in the Maldives?

The Maldives consists of 26 atolls and more than 1,000 islands, many of which are home to numerous resorts, spread across 90,000 square kilometers. In 2021, the country attracted over 1.3 million tourists, about 80% of the numbers seen in 2019. Tourism accounts for approximately 28% of the nation's GDP, according to the World Bank.

Monitoring the health of the Maldives' waters can play a key role in supporting sustainable tourism, according to a Nekton briefing: “The condition of the coral reefs is critical to the Maldives' two largest industries, tourism and fisheries. Beyond their economic value, these reefs also serve as the first defense against increasingly frequent and intense storms.”