Bandos Maldives marks loyal guest’s 50th visit with dedicated coral garden
Bandos Maldives is celebrating the remarkable journey of loyal guests Kate and Andy, whose deep bond with the island and its vibrant underwater world has beautifully evolved over two decades.
Their Bandos story began in 2006, and ever since they have retuned back at least twice a year. In2014, they returned for a truly unforgettable milestone: exchanging their vows underwater at Bandos. Since then, diving has remained at the heart of their visits. Kate marked her 1,000th dive with more than 900 of them alongside the Bandos dive team, and Andy celebrated his 900th dive, all completed with Dive Bandos, in September 2025.
This special journey has now reached another milestone with Mrs. Watkinson’s 50th visit to Bandos and more than 400 dives on the Bandos house reef. To commemorate this extraordinary connection, Bandos has dedicated a special area of the house reef to her, creating a lasting tribute to her many years of memories beneath the waves. The area, named the K & A Coral Garden, forms part of the resort’s coral restoration project. Acropora coral fragments are carefully secured to suspended nylon ropes using a frame-based restoration method. As the coral grows, the garden will develop into a living habitat, providing shelter to marine life and enriching the biodiversity of the house reef.
More than a celebration, the K & A Coral Garden represents a living legacy: honouring 50 visits, hundreds of dives, and a lasting connection with the ocean while contributing to the continued restoration of Bandos’ house reef.
Beyond their love for the vibrant marine life, the couple is dedicated advocates for eco-friendly practices. To create a timeless memory of their incredible 50th visit, they also planted a frangipani tree right outside their favourite villa at the resort to grow alongside the resort for years to come.
General Manager Ismail Rasheed shared, “We are honoured to celebrate such an extraordinary milestone with Kate and Andy. We truly value the profound and lasting bond they have built with the resort. The K & A Coral Garden is a meaningful way for us to celebrate their connection while creating something that will continue to give back to the reef they have enjoyed for so many years.”
From underwater vows and milestone dives to a coral garden that will continue to grow, Kate and Andy’s journey with Bandos Maldives is a beautiful story of loyalty, love and a shared passion for the ocean: one that will continue to live beneath the waves.
