The Attitude Foundation has launched Ekol’o, a floating marine education centre in Mauritius, converted from a catamaran and sailing between four hotels in the north of the island.
Ekol’o is staffed by certified marine eco-guides who lead educational workshops on topics including sea turtles and humpback whales, alongside guided snorkelling sessions along a dedicated educational trail, where observations feed directly into research data.
The centre sails between Coin de Mire Attitude, Lagoon Attitude, Zilwa Attitude and Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel, with the snorkelling trail connecting marine zones alongside the four properties to create a conservation corridor between them.
Ekol’o is open to guests at Attitude Hotels, schoolchildren, students and the local community in Mauritius. Guests staying at the four participating hotels can access the centre free of charge by arranging a booking through their hotel’s boathouse.
Created in 2014, the Attitude Foundation is committed to preserving the marine and coastal environment, promoting Mauritian culture, arts and crafts, and supporting the local community through social and solidarity initiatives.
The foundation operates a Marine Discovery Centre at Lagoon Attitude, deploying a hydrophone to record humpback whale songs and running a photo identification programme that allows guests to help identify individual whales and observe their migratory patterns.
Attitude Hotels began its marine conservation work a decade ago through a partnership with a non-governmental organisation to establish the Marine Discovery Centre at its Lagoon property in Anse La Raie, continuing the work after that partnership ended.
The foundation has also expanded its Sandwatch beach-monitoring programme, supported by the Indian Ocean Commission, with six schools monitoring five beaches across Mauritius as of 2024.
“We are excited that guests staying at Coin de Mire Attitude, Lagoon Attitude, Zilwa Attitude and Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel get to experience the floating marine education centre for free,” the foundation said. — TTG Media