The Maldives is made up of 1200 little Islands, but only about 200 of them are inhabited.
The Maldives is famous for its stunning islands, mesmerizing beaches, and turquoise waters and most definitely its exciting water activities and most definitely its marine line. If you are an adventure enthusiast, the variety of water sports will make you want to stay here forever.The Maldives is considered to be one of the best snorkelling and diving locations in the world. Swim freely in the Indian Ocean among the colourful arrays of corals, rays, sea turtles, reef sharks and a multitude of other underwater species!
Did you know that... Sand is made by the gradual erosion of larger materials over millions of years until you’re left with the fine granules which run through your toes when you walk beside the ocean. But you already knew that, right? What you might not know is that most of the world’s sand is made from rocks like quartz, granite or feldspar, but the Maldives is different. The coral that surrounds the atolls - creating the amazing diving sites - is the same material that has been broken down to form the island’s beaches. Only 5% of all beaches in the world are made from coral, but those few are among the most beautiful pure white sands you’ll find.
It might be the shoals of tiny colourful fish that fill the brochure pages or the graceful rays and adorable sea turtles, but the Maldives have another star when it comes to size. Growing over 20 feet long, whale sharks are the biggest fish in any ocean, and they spend all year swimming in the equatorial waters around the South Ari Atoll, Rangali Island and Hanifaru Bay.
No landscape in the world is closer to the waves than the Maldives. Averaging just five feet above sea level, the Indian Ocean’s favourite private atolls make up what is officially the lowest nation on Earth. To put that into context, the UK is more than 100 times higher, and the global average is 2,756 feet above the ocean. It’s only thanks to natural coral reef barriers that the Maldives are protected from seasonal swells. Sadly, these reefs won’t be able to resist the rising sea levels caused by climate change. If changes are not made, scientists are currently predicting almost 80% of the region could be uninhabitable by 2050.
At an event designed to raise global awareness and support for the threat faced by the Maldives from climate change, President Nasheed and 10 of his ministers held a full cabinet meeting beneath the waves at which they signed a document calling for worldwide efforts to lower carbon emissions. Their wetsuits were then autographed and sold to raise funds for protecting the reefs, which are essential to the islands’ survival.
If you’re planning a trip to the islands, you’ll be pleased to hear the weekend starts a whole 24 hours earlier and includes Friday. Sadly, it also finishes a day earlier, and Sunday is an ordinary working day for Maldivian locals. Not that any of this is likely to affect your holiday. When you choose to stay at an all-inclusive paradise resort in the Indian Ocean, every day feels like a weekend, no matter how long you stay.