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 The Maldives are located in the Indian Ocean and stretch 900 kilometres from north to south. They are made up of over 1200 tiny, low-lying coral islands surrounded by white sand in 26 atolls. The islands are some distance from land, which means there is an abundance of marine life. Night dives are a must as the reefs become highly active, with predators on the prowl. The Maldives are particularly renowned for the large pelagics that visit the area, particularly sharks and rays. Reefs form channels and lagoons, but don’t expect many wreck dives as these are minimal and not very spectacular. The Maldives is famed for its rare underwater beauty. The Maldives has some of the best dive sites in the world and many visit the Maldives repeatedly for the sole purpose of diving.
The equatorial location makes the Maldives an all year round, warm destination, its beaches make it paradise. The Maldives has a wet season is between May and August, which reduces visibility and may restrict the number of accessible dive sites. The hottest air temperatures are from April to June. December to March has the lowest humidity and the clearest water, so may be a good time of year to visit. However, a plankton bloom in early May causes lower visibility, but attracts whale sharks and manta rays.
Civilization on the Maldives was set up by people from southern Asia and changed greatly when, in the 12th century, Islam came to the islands; before that it is believed that the peoples were Buddhist. But European influence came in as well, mainly from Portugal until the British used the islands for a time as a military base. But it was the ad-Din dynasty that ruled the Maldives from the 14th century with a slew of various Islam leading sultans, until 1965 when it became a republic.
Modern communications are minimal in Maldives. Most people use citizen-band radios on the islands and in boats. Telephone service between Male and the islands is limited. However, most of the resort islands can be contacted directly by telephone, and administrative atoll offices are linked both to Male and each other by radio-telephone. Modernization efforts of the government have resulted in a steady increase in the number of telephones. The 1984 number of 1,060 telephones increased in 1992 to 2,804. There is good international telephone service through a satellite ground station in Male, the capital of Maldives.
The lifestyle on the islands is quiet, slow-pace and simple, and there is not much to do on the surface other than relax on the beach when you are not diving, except for the possibility of indulging in other water sports such as windsurfing or sailing. Accommodation is generally basic and in the form of bungalows located close to the waters edge. A short swim from the beach will get you onto the fringing reefs. However, there are over one hundred resorts to choose from on the islands so you should be able to tailor your holiday to suit your requirements whether you are after something luxurious or something simpler. Food is to western standards as it is mostly imported. Travel times to the Maldives may make a holiday worth a two-week trip. Getting between the islands is possible either by boat or by seaplane. The best currency to take with you is US dollars.
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| One of the prettiest destinations of the world, Maldives - in all its beauty and glory, has a lot to offer you during your tours to Maldives. There is no end to the list if Things to Do in Maldives. Making full use of its coastline, Maldives serves as a perfect destination to try some Watersports. Your Maldives travel will be considered if you remain dry, which is almost impossible with sea all around. From snorkeling to surfing, from submarine dive to excursion, Maldives won't let you feel bore for a single moment. Other things to do in Maldives include going on shopping, excursions and checking out the tourist attractions of Maldives. |
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Maldives has two airports with permanent-surface runways more than 2,440 meters long, one located adjacent to Male on Hulele Island, known as Male International Airport, and the other on Gan Island in the southernmost Addu Atoll, which is scheduled to become an international airport. Since 1981, after the runway was widened and expanded, the airport on Hulele has been able to handle direct charter flights from Europe. The airport on Gan was used only for domestic traffic. Two additional domestic airports cater to foreign tourists. One on Kadu Island in Haddummati Atoll opened in 1986, and the other on Hanimadu Island in South Tiladummati Atoll opened in 1990. A further domestic airport on Kodedu Island was scheduled to open in 1994.
Diving
