STEVE BACKSHALL AND HELEN GLOVER BACK IN LAAMU
At Six Senses Laamu, we recently had the extraordinary pleasure of hosting not just one, but two incredible British icons—Steve Backshall and Helen Glover. Their visit brought an inspiring mix of adventure, education, and personal triumph to our island, leaving a lasting impact on guests and the MUI team.
Steve Backshall Returns to Champion Ocean Conservation
Renowned wildlife presenter, explorer, and Manta Trust patron, Steve Backshall returned to Laamu to support MUI and share his deep passion for the ocean.
He co-hosted a record-breaking guest presentation with legendary underwater photographer Dr. Alex Mustard, titled “Laamu’s Magnificent Marine Life and Deadly Defences.” The talk drew the largest audience ever recorded at Six Senses Laamu. Guests were mesmerised by breathtaking underwater imagery, thrilling exploration stories, and insights into the unique survival strategies of Laamu’s marine species. Steve also praised our marine research and education centre, the SHELL, calling it the “best in the nation—possibly in the entire Indian Ocean.”
Dr. Alex Mustard and Steve Backshall after presenting together
During his stay, Steve joined snorkel excursions with the MUI team, filmed content for ocean conservation, and led a kids-only Deadly 60 screening followed by a Q&A session. His family joined him on a special night snorkel, and his eldest son completed our Junior Marine Biology Program, focusing on coral biology and microfragmentation—key techniques in reef restoration.
Steve Backshall and Helen Glover’s son completes the Junior Marine Biology Course with MUI
Steve closed his visit with a final guest talk, “Sounds of the Sea,” where he introduced guests to the fascinating science of bioacoustics—how ocean life communicates through sound. The talk, inspired by his work filming “Our Changing Planet” with the BBC right here in Laamu, sparked thought-provoking questions about decoding marine life communication.
Steve Backshall presenting at Six Senses Laamu
Olympian Helen Glover Shares Her Inspirational Story
The star-studded line-up continued with Helen Glover, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, three-time world champion, and five-time European rowing champion. Helen captivated an audience at the Arrival Jetty with an intimate and powerful talk on her athletic journey across four Olympic Games.
She shared the emotional arc of winning gold at both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics, and how motherhood shifted her priorities. After having three children, Helen was inspired to return to the sport—not only to compete again, but to become a role model for her children and mothers everywhere. Remarkably, she went on to qualify for two more Olympics.
Her story of resilience, identity, and determination resonated deeply with our guests. Helen’s extraordinary achievements were recently recognised with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to rowing.
A Shared Passion for Purposeful Travel and Positive Impact
The visits of Steve Backshall and Helen Glover—a powerhouse conservationist and a world-class athlete—highlighted the potential of purpose-driven travel. Their stories reinforced our mission at Six Senses Laamu: to foster connection, inspire action, and protect the natural world that surrounds us.
Whether through marine biology education, ocean storytelling, or personal tales of perseverance, their time here reminded us all why it's so important to listen, learn, and lead by example.
The Backshalls with two of the MUI team ready for a night snorkel at Six Senses Laamu