The Baa Atoll resort was recognised for a dive programme spanning beginner training, advanced courses, house-reef access and marine conservation
Royal Island in Baa Atoll has been named Best Dive Resort at the TTM Awards 2026.
- Royal Island has been named Best Dive Resort at the TTM Awards 2026.
- The resort’s diveOceanus centre offers training from introductory scuba experiences through PADI Divemaster, alongside Nitrox, freediving and private diving options.
- Royal Island is located within the UNESCO-designated Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve and is around 25 minutes by boat from Hanifaru Bay.
- Coral restoration, reef monitoring, clean-ups and guest education form part of the resort’s wider marine conservation programme.
(NEWS) MALÉ, Maldives, 2026-Sep-02 — /Travel PR News/ — Royal Island has added a major industry accolade to its marine credentials after being named Best Dive Resort at the TTM Awards 2026, placing the Baa Atoll property among this year’s recognised leaders in Maldivian resort experiences.
The award was presented as part of the 10th edition of TTM Maldives, which concluded on 27 August at CROSSROADS Maldives. The TTM Awards & Gala 2026 recognised achievements across 32 categories spanning the country’s tourism and hospitality sector.
For Royal Island, the distinction is closely tied to its location in the UNESCO Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve, an area characterised by coral reefs, seagrass beds and other marine habitats that support manta rays, whale sharks, turtles and a wide range of reef species. The resort’s own house reef gives guests direct access to the underwater environment, while boat dives extend the experience to sites across the wider atoll.
A dive programme built for different experience levels
At the centre of the resort’s operation is diveOceanus, the specialist diving brand used across Villa Resorts. According to Royal Island’s current diving programme, beginners can start with Discover Scuba Diving, while certified divers can progress through PADI courses up to Divemaster level.
The programme also includes children’s courses, refresher sessions, advanced diving, Nitrox and freediving. Private instructors and private dive boats are available for guests looking for a more individual schedule, while house-reef dives, training dives, two-tank trips and afternoon boat dives give divers several ways to build underwater time into a stay. Night diving can also be arranged.
Equipment rental includes dive computers and underwater cameras, and certified Nitrox divers can access complimentary Nitrox fills. Freedivers are supported with dedicated instruction, equipment and open-water sessions, broadening the marine programme beyond conventional scuba.
Access to one of the Maldives’ best-known manta destinations
Royal Island also benefits from its proximity to Hanifaru Bay, which the resort places at roughly 25 minutes away by boat. The protected bay is internationally known for seasonal plankton concentrations that can attract large gatherings of reef manta rays and, at times, whale sharks. UNESCO highlights Hanifaru Bay as one of the defining marine features of the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve.
Seasonality shapes how guests experience those encounters. When local conditions shift, diveOceanus also operates manta-snorkelling trips into neighbouring Raa Atoll, extending the potential window for marine wildlife excursions beyond a single location.
Conservation alongside recreation
The award also draws attention to the conservation work running alongside Royal Island’s recreational dive programme. Details published by Visit Maldives note that coral restoration has been established at Royal Island as well as at sister properties Villa Nautica and Villa Park, supported by reef monitoring, clean-ups and guest education.
At Royal Island, the dive team maintains coral nurseries in the lagoon and around the house reef and involves guests in coral planting and restoration activities. The operation has also participated in wider reef-cleaning initiatives with the Baa Atoll Council and the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve.
That combination of easy reef access, structured training, specialist diving services and conservation activity gives Royal Island a broader proposition than a resort centred on individual dive sites alone. The TTM recognition reflects an operation where the underwater environment is not simply an excursion option, but a defining part of the stay.
