Canareef Resort Maldives has officially emerged as a top contender for the region's ultimate diving honors, securing two prestigious nominations at the World Travel Awards (WTA) 2026. The southern property is currently shortlisted for both Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Resort and Maldives’ Leading Dive Resort.

Widely referred to as the "Oscars of the travel industry," the World Travel Awards recognize stellar achievements across global tourism. These dual nominations place Canareef alongside the world’s elite diving destinations, validating the resort’s continuous push toward exceptional guest experiences and marine conservation.

What Makes Canareef's Waters Unique?

Situated south of the Equator in Addu Atoll, Canareef offering a rare opportunity to dive in the Southern Hemisphere. Unlike the northern and central areas of the Maldives, Addu's reef systems managed to largely evade severe regional coral bleaching, remaining among the healthiest, most intact, and most structurally vibrant coral environments in the Indian Ocean.

The resort grants exclusive, minutes-away access to a trio of world-class underwater phenomena:

• The British Loyalty Wreck: Resting just a short boat ride from the shore lies the British Loyalty, a 140-meter World War II oil tanker. As the largest shipwreck in the Maldives, it has evolved into a massive, thriving artificial reef covered in hard and soft corals, making it a highly sought-after playground for advanced divers.
• Year-Round "Mega-Mantas": While manta ray sightings are strictly seasonal across most of the Maldives, Addu Atoll stands out as the country's only region where full-sized adult Oceanic Manta Rays—boasting wingspans of up to 5 meters—can be encountered all year long, completely unaffected by changing monsoon trends.
• The "Shark Hotel": Photographers and pelagic lovers regularly flock to the resort's famous Shark Point. Affectionately dubbed "The Shark Hotel," this unique dive site features a rare underwater event where more than 20 Grey Reef Sharks can be seen completely at rest together on the sandy seabed.

Driving Tourism to the Deep South

"These nominations reflect what our guests and the diving community have known for years,” the Canareef management team stated in a joint release. “Addu Atoll offers diving experiences that are truly unmatched, and we’re honored to share these underwater treasures with the world."

Industry experts note that Canareef’s strong presence on the WTA shortlists serves a dual purpose: it highlights the spectacular marine biodiversity of the deep south while actively supporting the diversification of Maldivian tourism beyond the heavily populated northern atolls.

To help propel the unique ecosystem of Addu Atoll onto the global winner's stage, Canareef has invited its past guests, international divers, and ocean enthusiasts to cast their official ballots by visiting [canareef.com/vote-world-travel-awards-2026](https://canareef.com/vote-world-travel-awards-2026).