The Maldives

One of the most beautiful places on the planet is The Maldives.The Maldives or officially known as the Republic of Maldives, is a collection of 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 coral atolls lying 483km (300 miles) south-southwest of India. Of these,198 islands are inhabited, and by the time you read this,100 islands will have been developed as resorts.Stranded, as they are, out in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the Maldives are not easy to get to, but travelers make the extra effort; it’s estimated that some 600,000 people visit annually, and tourism has supplanted fish and coconuts as the nation’s top industry.

The Maldives straddle the equator—with hot, humid, subtropical weather to prove it—and are incredibly beautiful—so beautiful, in fact, that the entire nation is one of the final nominees to make the “Seven New Wonders of the World” list. Visitors are allowed on only 11 of the 26 atolls, which are: North Malé, South Malé, Ari, Felidhu, Baa, Lhaviyani, Addu Atoll, Meemu, Faafu, Dhaalu, and Raa. In trying to keep its citizenry separate from the impact of tourism, the government has placed restrictions on unauthorized visits to uninhabited and fishing islands—which makes independent island hopping here tough unless you’re traveling in an officially sanctioned live-aboard boat (see below) or on a guided island-hopping tour aboard a local dhoni (handmade motorized sailboat) from your resort base.

Malé is the nation’s capital, the point of entry, and the point from which flights go out to the other islands—no island is more than a 45-minute flight away. Malé (pronounced Mah-lee) is also the world’s smallest capital city, a tidy 2.6 sq. km (1 sq. mile) where 100,000 people jostle for space. If you’re looking for a place in Malé to drink to your good fortune, forget about it: This Muslim nation bans the consumption of alcohol except in the resorts, on live-aboards, or at the airport (of course, expats have a monthly alcohol allowance, and the black market for booze is thriving). Once you arrive in Malé, you will be transferred by seaplane or speedboat to your island resort or hop aboard a live-aboard boat. These floating “safari yachts” are popular and comfortable ways to see the Maldives and experience the island’s world-class diving opportunities.
The safari boats also offer dolphin- and whale-watching expeditions, where you’re likely to see spinner dolphins and blue whales, maybe even a pod of orcas.

The video above will show you the beauty of The Maldives and highlights the Maldives has some of the best Scuba Diving in the world.

Malidives Dive Travel offers some of the best Liveaboard Diving Holidays in the Maldives. Below courtesy of Maldives Dive Travel are some more facts you should know about the Maldives.

The Maldives are a fascinating place; an island state marked by a mysterious past and incomparable natural beauty. Everything here revolves around one thing: the ocean.

Underneath the water’s surface lie the amazing treasures of the coral reefs and the deep blue. Marine life is abundant and there are plenty of fascinating coral formations and wrecks to discover.

On land, life proceeds at a calm pace and there is a casual, relaxed atmosphere. Most of the almost 1,200 coral islands are tiny; you can walk around them in less than twenty minutes. Only 202 of them are inhabited. Setting foot on a lonely island is an experience not to be missed, a true Robinson-Crusoe moment.

As you cruise through the atolls on one of our ships, you will feel like a modern-day explorer, off to discover new worlds above and below the water’s surface.

Key facts:

Capital city: Male
Islands: 1190, of which 202 are inhabited (87 are tourist resorts).
Population: 270,000 according to 1998 census.
State religion: Islam
Location: South-West of Sri Lanka, on the equator.
Average temperature: 29–32 ˚C
Local time: GMT +5 hours
Currency: Rufiyaa (1 Rufiyaa = 100 Larees)
Electricity: 230-240 Volts –AC
International dialling code: +96

Best time to visit:

Essentially, every season has its advantages. While the weather is most reliable and the visibility the clearest in February, March and April, the higher levels of plankton during other periods attract a large number of pelagics such as mantas and whale sharks.

In general, the weather is tropically warm and humid all year round, with only minor changes of temperature in different seasons. In recent years it has become harder to predict the timings of the wet and dry seasons, as the equatorial climate is changing.

Even in the so-called wet season, prolonged periods of rain are rare and precipitation is usually limited to short but strong downpours, swiftly followed by more sunshine.

Local culture and laws:

The Maldives are 100% Muslim and guests should respect local customs, laws and cultural sensibilities. Topless sunbathing is prohibited and, when visiting islands, revealing clothing is frowned upon. The import of alcohol, pork products and pornographic material is strictly forbidden. Drug offenses carry heavy prison sentences. We strongly advise our guests to respect local legislation at all times.

The environment:

The Maldives could be hit especially early and especially hard by climate change, as its coral reefs are among the most complex and fragile eco-systems in the world. The smallest change in water levels or temperatures could lead to dire consequences. Together with our guests, we would like to do our bit to protect the environment. All our ships are obliged to use resources responsibly and dispose of grey water and rubbish in a conscientious way. We kindly ask our guests to preserve water and electricity, not throw rubbish over board and refrain from destroying animals and plants during dives.

Visas:

You will automatically be issued with a 30-day tourist visa upon arrival. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after the last day of your holiday.

History:

The Maldivian islands have been inhabited for over 3,000 years, but not much is known about the origins of the Maldivian people. Much of their long history is shrouded in mystery.

For centuries, the Maldives have been a thoroughfare for trade ships, many of which were shipwrecked in the intricate network of reefs. The castaways and traders brought different cultural influences to the country, creating a veritable ethnic, cultural and linguistic melting pot.

As a result the cultural heritage of the Maldives is complicated and enigmatic, with influences stemming from the Asian Sub-Continent, West Africa, China and Arabia. Though not much remains of earlier cultures, it is easy to imagine that those who landed in the Maldives, whether by accident or design, were pleased with what they found.

Trade with cowry shells was the mainstay of the Maldives for many centuries. These precious shells were used as an international currency in Africa, China, Arabia and India – and Maldivian cowries have been found as far away as Norway.

Language:

Dhivehi, the Maldivian language, translates literally as “island” and has its roots in Sanskrit and other South Asian languages. Since the introduction of Islam in 1153, many Arabic influences have shaped the language. Many words are also derived from English, which is spoken widely.

Dhivehi is a fascinating language and it is always met with much enthusiasm when a guest learns a few words of Dhivehi. So if you want to chat with the locals – and perhaps impress your friends – here are some useful Dhivehi phrases:

Hello (formal) Assalaamu – Alaikum
Hello (among friends) – Kihineh?
How are you? – Haalu kihineh?
Yes – Aan
No – Noon
Where? – Kobaa?
Why? – Keevve?
Who? – Kaaku?
There – Ethaa
Here – Mithaa
What? – Koacheh?
This – Mi
That – E
What is (your)name? – Kon nameh kiyanee?
My name is – Aharenge namakee
Good – Ran’galhu
Goodbye (informal) – Dhanee
Where are you from? – Kon rasheh?
Thank you – Shukuriyaa
I am sorry  – Ma-aafu kurey
How old are you? – Umurun kihaa vareh?
My age is  – Aharenge umurakee
Where are (you) going? Or What place are we going? – Kon thanakah dhanee?
What time are (we) going? – Kon irakun dhanee?
What is the price? – Agu kihaavareh?
How long will it take? – Kihaa ireh nagaanee?
What time is it? – Gadin kihaa ireh?
What island is that? – E-ee kon rasheh?