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THE MALDIVES: Paradise islands which are perfect for diving holidays
THE MALDIVES
The Maldives are scattered like a beautiful string of pearls through the warm, turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. The 1190 coral islands form an archipelago of 26 major atolls, and stretch 820 kilometres from North to South. The beautiful islands have picture-perfect beaches, with white sands fringed with palms, pretty lagoons and crystal clear water. The Maldives are without a doubt the best place for all round diving in the Indian Ocean. The amazing underwater world, combined with stunning hotels and top class restaurants have all contributed to making this one of the top diving holiday destinations in the world. The rainbow coloured coral reefs and overgrown shipwrecks are home to over 300 species of fish, including pufferfish, lionfish, groupers, triggerfish and barracudas. Divers can also expect to see whale sharks, reef sharks and manta rays. The water is usually between 27˚C and 30˚C all year round, and the visibility is superb, making this an excellent dive destination for all abilities of diver.
The Maldives Highlights
Most visitors to the Maldives will stay on a resort on its own private island. The resorts are all well equipped for luxury tourism, and normally offer a range of excellent restaurants serving beautifully fresh fish and seafood. The resorts will be able to arrange all of your dive excursions, and many of them have dive schools so that you can take dive qualifications whilst on your holiday. Some of the best island resorts include Cocoa Island, Baros Maldives and Naladhu Resort. You will feel like you are on your own slice of paradise during your diving holiday to the Maldives.
The Maldives are a great place to enjoy a range of water sports. In addition to being one of the best places to dive in the world, visitors can also enjoy snorkeling, kite surfing, kayaking, sailing, water skiing, para sailing, jet skiing and more. The islands also have some great surf conditions, with the South West monsoon bringing large swells.
Fishing is an important pastime in the Maldives, and no trip to the islands would be complete without heading out to catch your own dinner. Most resorts offer night fishing trips, which take in the beautiful sunset, before heading out onto the reef to catch a fish, which will then be barbecued for you to enjoy.
The capital city of Malé is the most populated and built up town of all the islands. It doesn’t have the secluded beauty of the private islands, but it does have various things of interest to do. The whale submarine trips are a great way for children, or for those not wishing to dive to see the underwater sites. It doesn’t quite compare to the excellent diving in the Maldives, but it does provide an opportunity to see the fish and the other underwater delights that the islands offer. Hukuru Miskiiy is the oldest mosque in the country, and dates back to 1656. The interior boasts some fine lacquer work and elaborate woodcarvings. The National Museum and National Art gallery have an interesting collection of exhibits for visitors to enjoy.
The Maldives are scattered like a beautiful string of pearls through the warm, turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. The 1190 coral islands form an archipelago of 26 major atolls, and stretch 820 kilometres from North to South. The beautiful islands have picture-perfect beaches, with white sands fringed with palms, pretty lagoons and crystal clear water. The Maldives are without a doubt the best place for all round diving in the Indian Ocean. The amazing underwater world, combined with stunning hotels and top class restaurants have all contributed to making this one of the top diving holiday destinations in the world. The rainbow coloured coral reefs and overgrown shipwrecks are home to over 300 species of fish, including pufferfish, lionfish, groupers, triggerfish and barracudas. Divers can also expect to see whale sharks, reef sharks and manta rays. The water is usually between 27˚C and 30˚C all year round, and the visibility is superb, making this an excellent dive destination for all abilities of diver.
The Maldives Highlights
Most visitors to the Maldives will stay on a resort on its own private island. The resorts are all well equipped for luxury tourism, and normally offer a range of excellent restaurants serving beautifully fresh fish and seafood. The resorts will be able to arrange all of your dive excursions, and many of them have dive schools so that you can take dive qualifications whilst on your holiday. Some of the best island resorts include Cocoa Island, Baros Maldives and Naladhu Resort. You will feel like you are on your own slice of paradise during your diving holiday to the Maldives.
The Maldives are a great place to enjoy a range of water sports. In addition to being one of the best places to dive in the world, visitors can also enjoy snorkeling, kite surfing, kayaking, sailing, water skiing, para sailing, jet skiing and more. The islands also have some great surf conditions, with the South West monsoon bringing large swells.
Fishing is an important pastime in the Maldives, and no trip to the islands would be complete without heading out to catch your own dinner. Most resorts offer night fishing trips, which take in the beautiful sunset, before heading out onto the reef to catch a fish, which will then be barbecued for you to enjoy.
The capital city of Malé is the most populated and built up town of all the islands. It doesn’t have the secluded beauty of the private islands, but it does have various things of interest to do. The whale submarine trips are a great way for children, or for those not wishing to dive to see the underwater sites. It doesn’t quite compare to the excellent diving in the Maldives, but it does provide an opportunity to see the fish and the other underwater delights that the islands offer. Hukuru Miskiiy is the oldest mosque in the country, and dates back to 1656. The interior boasts some fine lacquer work and elaborate woodcarvings. The National Museum and National Art gallery have an interesting collection of exhibits for visitors to enjoy.
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