Coral reef environments
Supervised, snorkel-based sessions give students direct access to reef environments. Observation and comparison across sites support discussion of coral reef ecology and environmental change.
Academic field course · Ukulhas, Maldives
Coral reefs and island sustainability
A faculty-led field course on Ukulhas, Maldives, combining supervised reef observation, island study and classroom discussion.
An island setting for applied learning
Study coral reef environments alongside the inhabited island systems connected to them. Ukulhas provides a setting for examining marine ecology, settlement, tourism and local approaches to sustainability within the same field programme.
Designed for universities and academic institutions, the course supports undergraduate and postgraduate field teaching. Faculty and research teams can shape its academic emphasis around marine biology, environmental science, geography, sustainability and related disciplines.
From the reef to the island
Move between direct observation and academic reflection. The learning themes can be adapted to your module, with field visits and discussion supporting the questions your faculty want students to examine.
Island systems
Examine the relationships between marine environments, human settlement and island life. Comparative island study brings sustainability challenges, governance and community perspectives into the programme.
Discussion and synthesis
Use classroom sessions to connect field observations with academic concepts. Field logs, comparative analysis, student presentations and reflective reports are among the approaches faculty can choose.
Choose a format for your cohort
Courses run within an April to November delivery window. Choose a length to suit your academic calendar, then develop the schedule around your teaching priorities.
- Short
- 7 to 8 nights
- Standard
- 10 to 11 nights
- Extended
- 12 to 14 nights
The programme is arranged for small academic cohorts. Sequencing can change with faculty preferences, weather and sea conditions. A sample 14-night itinerary is available in the faculty information pack.
Academic direction stays with your faculty
Your institution sets the learning objectives and assessment. Nala Veli coordinates the stay and field arrangements, with optional teaching resources to support your preparation.
Your academic team
- Academic content and learning objectives
- Assessment design and grading
- Academic supervision and student evaluation
Nala Veli support
- Accommodation, meals and local transport
- Boat coordination and supervised field arrangements
- Scheduling of classroom and field activities
- Optional daily schedules, discussion outlines and assessment suggestions
What the programme includes
Accommodation and three meals daily are included, together with the facilities and local support for the field course.
- Supervised snorkel-based field activities
- Inter-island comparative study components
- Classroom teaching and presentation facilities
- Local supervision, guidance and on-site coordination
- A participation certificate and faculty accommodation support
International flights, travel and medical insurance, any applicable visa fees and personal expenses are not included. The programme proposal sets out the inclusions and fee for your cohort, dates and chosen format.
Questions for faculty
Is the programme credit-bearing?
The programme itself is non-accredited. Academic credit, assessment and evaluation remain with the home institution. Participants receive a participation certificate.
Is scuba diving required?
No scuba diving or certification is required. The academic field component uses supervised, snorkel-based observation. Include any participation needs in your enquiry so they can be discussed during planning.
How are field visits planned?
Field activities are supervised, with scheduling adjusted for weather and sea conditions. Faculty can request safety and risk summaries when reviewing the programme for their institution.
When should we begin planning?
Universities often plan overseas field courses 12 to 18 months ahead. Contact us with your preferred dates and cohort size when you begin considering the programme.
Faculty information pack
The faculty pack includes programme information, a faculty FAQ, a sample itinerary and indicative pricing. A proposal for your group follows discussion of the course length, dates and cohort size.
Tell us about your institution, teaching or research focus, preferred dates and expected numbers of students and accompanying staff. The programme coordinator can discuss the format with you and arrange an exploratory academic call.