When we were invited by Travel + Leisure to join a press trip to the Maldives, we knew it was an opportunity we couldn't miss. The Maldives, a stunning tropical paradise located in the Indian Ocean, is made up of 26 atolls and over 1,000 coral islands. The crystal-clear waters that surround the islands boast an incredible variety of marine life, making it a popular destination for snorkeling, diving, and romantic getaways.

As we prepared for the trip and boarded the plane, we couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. For our producer, the journey meant a 20-hour flight from New York. For our director and DP, it meant wrapping a three-day shoot in Scotland before jumping on a flight just four hours later. Our journey took us from London to Doha, Qatar, and then on to Malé, where we boarded a seaplane to transport us to the resort's island.

The challenge, of course, was getting all our equipment to the island. It was so heavy that it had to be split onto separate seaplanes to reach the hotel. Nonetheless, the stunning scenery we encountered on the way made it all worthwhile. As we flew over the atolls and coral islands, we knew that we were embarking on a truly exciting project: capturing the world's first underwater villa, the Muraka, at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.

“As we flew over the atolls and coral islands, we knew that we were embarking on a truly exciting project”

We were welcomed with open arms by the hotel staff upon our arrival, and later that evening treated to a spectacular dinner, prepared by celebrity chef Jereme Leung, on The Muraka's overwater deck. The following morning, we began filming around the island, using both drones and cameras to capture the breathtaking scenery, while also collaborating with the hotel's PR team to make sure we captured the details that were most important to them. We woke up early every morning to capture the stunning sunrises and stayed up late to film the oceanic activity that could be seen through the windows of the Muraka.

The ocean life around the island was unlike anything we’d ever seen. Baby sharks swam in the water everywhere we looked, and the sunsets were painted in hues of purple and pink. Meals were served on the beach, or in a restaurant below the oceans surface.

Despite the logistical challenges of navigating the island without the convenience of cars, we managed to transport our gear between two, and sometimes three, golf carts, each loaded up to the brim with equipment. And when it came to filming the ocean life, we faced an entirely new challenge. We had to choreograph the fish to swim in the right direction, and divers were required to swim down and clean the underwater windows.

But our trip was not solely focused on our film project. We also had the opportunity to learn about the Maldives' rich culture, visit Dhangethi Island, and experience local customs and traditions. The Conrad team introduced us to the resort's partnership with the Whale Shark Association, which is committed to educating visitors and residents about the conservation of endangered whale sharks. We were then led on a scout for whale sharks, and watched as locals swam with these peaceful underwater giants.

One of the highlights of our trip was the chance to contribute to the resort's coral regeneration program, planting coral and learning about the importance of protecting and preserving the fragile ecosystem of the Maldives. After a mass bleaching event on global coral reefs in 2016, the resort launched the program, which included the establishment of a coral nursery.

Throughout our stay, we were impressed by the resort's commitment to sustainability, particularly its hydroponic garden, which provided most of the ingredients and garnishes for the resort's restaurants and bars. We toured the garden and saw how the resort is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and promoting sustainable practices.

As our trip came to a close, we had the opportunity to take over Travel + Leisure's Instagram account and share our experiences with their audience. It was a fitting end to a trip full of unforgettable moments and incredible memories.

Filming the Muraka was an experience we'll never forget. We were blown away by the beauty of Rangali Island and the incredible luxury of the underwater villa. It's a privilege to work on projects like this, and we're grateful for the chance to experience it all firsthand.