Key Takeaways
-
World champion Juani Mieres to lead padel retreat at Le Méridien Maldives.
-
Manta Trust’s MantaBase platform enables divers and snorkellers to contribute to conservation.
-
Over 100,000 manta sightings and 7,000 individuals identified in the Maldives database.
Padel retreat with Juani Mieres
Le Méridien Maldives has announced a special retreat featuring padel world champion Juani Mieres. Guests will have the opportunity to train with the former professional, combining sport and leisure in one of the world’s most stunning island destinations. The retreat highlights the resort’s commitment to offering unique experiences that blend wellness, recreation, and culture.
Citizen science through MantaBase
Alongside the padel retreat, the resort is promoting marine conservation initiatives. The Manta Trust and its Maldives Manta Conservation Programme (MMCP) have launched MantaBase, a global platform that transforms everyday manta ray encounters into scientific data. “Every photograph tells us something new,” said Dr Guy Stevens, CEO and Co-Founder of the Manta Trust. By uploading images of manta rays’ unique belly spot patterns, visitors can help researchers track individual animals and understand their movements.
Building a global database
The MMCP has spent more than twenty years studying manta rays across the Maldives, creating one of the world’s most comprehensive photo-identification databases. With over 100,000 sightings and 7,000 identified individuals, the Maldives dataset is now a cornerstone of global marine research. MantaBase connects this resource with citizen scientists worldwide, making it easier than ever for divers, snorkellers, and resorts to contribute.
Membership and operator engagement
Visitors can create free accounts to upload sightings and build personal digital logbooks, while Premium Membership offers deeper insights and supports conservation work. Resorts and dive centres can join as Operators, showcasing their contributions and engaging guests in meaningful citizen science. Each membership helps fund ongoing research and technology development, ensuring manta and devil rays are protected for future generations.
A shared conservation mission
The launch of MantaBase represents a milestone in global collaboration, linking regional projects to create the largest connected database for manta and devil rays. Whether it’s a first encounter or a seasoned diver’s thousandth sighting, every photograph strengthens understanding of these extraordinary animals. As Dr Stevens noted, “MantaBase is more than a database – it’s a community of ocean enthusiasts whose sightings, memberships and support are helping safeguard manta and devil rays for generations to come.”
