Voices! Ambra Federica Dugaria’s Mission to Protect the Maldives, One Dive at a Time
For more than a decade, Ambra Federica Dugaria has called the Maldives home, transforming a six-month diving instructor contract into a lifelong journey dedicated to the ocean. Today, as Base Leader Diving, Marine and Water Sports at the iconic Baros Maldives, she stands at the intersection of marine conservation, education, and luxury hospitality, helping guests discover one of the world’s most extraordinary underwater ecosystems while inspiring a deeper respect for the natural world.
With more than 7,500 dives behind her, Ambra Federica Dugaria has witnessed the breathtaking diversity of Maldivian reefs, encountered some of the ocean’s rarest creatures, and devoted years to coral restoration and environmental awareness. Yet despite her extensive experience, she remains humbled by the sea’s endless capacity to surprise and teach.
In this exclusive interview, Ambra Dugaria reflects on the moment she fell in love with the Maldives, the challenges facing coral reefs today, the responsibility of sustainable tourism, and the lessons the ocean continues to teach her about patience, respect, and resilience. From unforgettable manta ray encounters to the importance of educating travelers about marine conservation, her story is a powerful reminder that protecting the future of our oceans begins with understanding them.
Ambra, you first arrived in the Maldives as a diving instructor in 2014. What was it about these islands and their underwater world that convinced you to stay and build your life here?
After the first 6 months contract in a remote property, I felt that the time spent in Maldives was not enough to call it off and I was not prepared to go back home. I took another employment to discover different islands, tourist approaches and new underwater world. I used to call it “the washing machine” where you end up in a loop difficult to get out from as the time afterwards was passing by but no chance to decide leave. It was captivating.
Many people dream of living in the Maldives. How is life in the Maldives as a full time resident and what made you call this extraordinary environment home?
It is more about your personality and character. I have seen people enthusiastically taking the job but realizing that the environment was not suiting their lifestyle, besides companions at work and beautiful ocean captivates you. Quietness and slow-paced lifestyle are dominant. I probably got used to the situation, being busy at work makes you forget about what time of the year it is, how the weather in home while you enjoy a perfect temperature and view; Christmas by Christmas, summer by summer, you really lose track of time.
You have successfully combined marine science, conservation, and tourism throughout your career. How do you balance being both an educator and a host for guests seeking an unforgettable holiday experience?
I am an extreme routine person; I have probably done the same morning steps for years. However, I do not enjoy a regular day by day work routine. Combining education, activities, leadership and mentoring is exciting for me besides the daily schedule must be very structured. I do not have a single repeating day, today I am submerged in meetings and emails, tomorrow I do three dives and I spend the day with the guests. That is what I love.
As Resident Marine Biologist at Baros Maldives, what does a typical day look like for you, and what aspects of the role continue to excite you the most?
Currently, my main role is more related to head of department management skills. Within that position, I try to improve the benefit of different unrelated topics: wellbeing of my staff, the corals, the business are involved in and the guest’s satisfaction, which is a target point. All day long we are looking for solutions that not only make the guests safe and happy about their activities, but that also leave in their soul a touch of awareness and nature knowledge that they bring home.
You have guided many dives throughout your career. How has spending so much time underwater changed the way you see the world above the surface?
When I hike throughout the woods with my dog back in home, a very simple thought is recurrent: how easy is to spot animals in the sea, the fishes are everywhere, encounters of turtles and sharks are on a dive basis, and here I can only hear birds but I don’t see them, I can briefly see a fox running and not even being sure that was actually a fox.
Diving and snorkelling are probably the easiest way humans have to be surrounded by a large number of creatures simultaneously. Water is not our element, and being just visitors increases the respect for wild life.
With more than 7,500 dives behind you, are there still moments beneath the surface that surprise or in wildlife?
I enjoy the dives now as much as I did 20 years ago. It is true that some dives are bit more boring than others, especially when you are repeating the same spot repeatedly. But I can guarantee that doing the same dive site two hours later feels already different. There is always something to spot, a small creature that you may have seen once or twice, or you may have seen thousand times, but your guests did not so their excitement becomes yours.
What are some of the most fascinating marine species guests often overlook while searching for larger, more iconic ocean creatures?
Certainly, nudibranchs are hard to find, and they require attention, time and patience to spot them. So, unless you are a diver nudi-lover, you will probably ignore those creatures. In this case is our job as diving guides to introduce you to microlife, whether are nudibranchs, small shrimps or a juvenile fish.
If you could take every visitor on just one underwater experience in the Maldives, what would it be and why?
If a diver had one shot dive, manta ray dive should be the one. Manta rays in Maldives convey the largest community in the world, however, you need to choose wisely season and location as the migrate twice a year.
What marine encounter has left the strongest impression on you personally, and what made it so memorable?
Every encounter that is not common or on a dive basis is exciting. To name one, I felt hard emotions when I saw a blue marlin cruising just few meters away.
Coral reefs are often described as the rainforests of the sea. What are the biggest challenges facing Maldivian reefs today, and what gives you hope for their future?
Ocean awareness is not yet absorbed by tourists; many come thinking corals are just a decoration of the reef. There is nothing that makes me more hopeless than seeing people standing peacefully on them or wearing sunscreen when they are just about to enter the water. There is hope, or to put it in another way, on the spot education is the key.
You have extensive experience in coral restoration. How has this field evolved over the years, and what lessons have you learned from working directly with reef ecosystems?
Since you are just giving it a try in every project that you do, it is normal to fail. I used to feel very bad if a frame didn’t grow or the expectation wasn’t according to the reality. Sometimes it is not your skill, it is the circumstances that may not be in your favor, or better say in the corals favor. I have learned that failure is part of the process, the same way your lily plant did not survive, or your apple tree does not give you apples. Just check what you miss and try not to repeat the same mistake the next time.
Many travelers hear about coral bleaching but may not fully understand its impact. How do you explain this issue to guests in a way that feels both honest and empowering?
Amazing question! Many tourists love to say that corals are bleached because they have seen it on reels or news but do not really know what is about. Or for worse, corals are dead because they do not have the bright colors that cartoons or documentaries show. Aren’t we always trying to post the best picture or promote the best video we have?
Coral bleaching is a temporary situation where corals suffer when they are under stress, usually a heat wave of water. As they are living in symbiosis with microorganisms that provide nourishment from the sunlight (photosynthesis) and the true color of the coral’s tissue, their absence makes the coral appear white. However, corals are still alive as the colony can still self-nourish by filtering food particles from the water. If the stress persists, these microorganisms won’t come back, and the effort that coral polyps must make to survive is higher than the food they can filter, setting a death sentence.
If corals can get their microorganism back, slowly the colony regains color and balance.
What role can luxury resorts like Baros Maldives play in protecting marine ecosystems while still delivering exceptional guest experiences?
Good briefings, clear rules and guidelines with explanations and consequences. Spending time with the marine crew and bombarding us with questions, we are always happy to deliver right information and have myth to dispel.
Inviting experts into certain topics and creating events creates a sort of trust and it entertains the guests. As well as increasing the visibility of contribution to awareness.
One of your passions is helping people develop a more mindful relationship with the environment. What conversations with guests have stayed with you over the years?
At the end of the day, you end up explaining the same topics over and over again. It is probably the appreciation from the guests about the talks that makes me continue.
Have you witnessed a moment when a guest’s perspective on conservation changed after spending time with you underwater?
Guest’s reactions to the reasons things happen are sometimes just enough as result. Skeptical divers and snorkelers are common, convincing them that it will be worth it is not always easy. However, “you were right” makes you feel so good to hear.
Your personal mantra is, “We are all sailing on the same boat.” What does that philosophy mean to you in the context of global environmental challenges?
Is not my contribution that will save the world, is everybody’s behavior. Every single gesture has a consequence; humans should be aware of this.
Do you believe travelers today are becoming more environmentally conscious, and how do you see that shaping the future of tourism?
Being environmentally conscious is in vogue, however, having a lifestyle that comes from a mindset is different. I am myself not environmentally the perfect role, is not in our nature. Offering the possibilities to choose a more conscious property and more focused on ecofriendly solutions, will increase the demand of stay.
If you could correct one common misconception people have about the ocean, what would it be?
Sharks do not attack for no reason; they need to feel provoked or stimulated.
Finally, if you could share one lesson that the ocean has taught you about life, what would it be?
You are never an expert at diving, in water activities or marine life. You may have an extensive knowledge, but ocean and nature know more than you do; taking decisions with no fear, but respect.
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