Maldives  Rising from the deep blue of the Indian Ocean are more than a thousand islands and thousands more reefs that form the Maldives. 

Specks of emerald green enveloped by dazzling turquoise waters like scattered beads in the ocean; white powdery beaches, tall palms lean on towards the sea, crystalline white sands giving way to crystal clear waters, shades of turquoise blend flawlessly withdeeper hues of blue; pristine coral reefs and some of the most incredible underwater life on our planet.

Southwest of Sri Lanka, on the equator.  The 1,190 islands comprising the Maldives rise from the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean, and straddle the equator.  The islands are grouped into 26 natural atolls, scattered over an area of 90,000 square kilometers. 

The Maldives has a tropical climate with warm temperatures year round and a great deal of sunshine.  This coral archipelago is home to some of the most diverse marine fauna and flora in the world.Tens of thousands of reefs, a thousand recorded species of fish,over two hundred species of coral and hundreds more species of other marine life; no wonder many see this as one of the greatest dive destinations on earth.

With a population of nearly 270,000 the country remains one of the smallest independent nations in Asia.  Male, the capital, would certainly count as one of the smallest capitals in the world.  About a third of the country's population lives in Male.

Maldives Attractions

Whale & Dolphin Watching
Maldives ranks among the top five places on Earth for watching whales and dolphins. Over 20 different species (a quarter of the world's total) call the Maldives home. These range from the mighty Blue Whale (the largest animal alive) to the diminutive but highly acrobatic Spinner Dolphin.

Spinner Dolphins are the commonest species. They feed offshore at night, coming into the atolls in the early morning, and leaving again for the open ocean in the late afternoon. This dependable schedule means that it is very easy to find Spinner Dolphins at certain times every day. And as a result, many Maldivian resorts offer morning or afternoon dolphin excursions to see Spinners. While nothing with wildlife can be absolutely guaranteed, you will never have a better chance to watch wild dolphins playing in their natural environment than right here in the Maldives.

If you would like to see more dolphins, and whales too, try a cruise on a comfortable safari boat. The Blue Whale, Sperm Whale and Pilot Whale as well as seven different types of dolphin (Spinner, Bottlenose, Risso's, Spotted, Striped, Fraser's and Rough-toothed) are regularly seen on special whale watching safaris. Indigenous species  include the Dwarf Sperm Whale, Melon-headed Whale and Tropical Bottlenose Whale (long considered the rarest whale in the World, but now known to be a Maldives resident). You may also be lucky enough to spot a pod of magnificent Killer Whales (Orcas) which, contrary to popular belief, do not live only in cold waters.

Submarine Tours
A visit to the Maldives is said to be incomplete without experiencing its magical underwater world.  Now, non-divers can also experience the enchanting coral reefs and magnificent tropical fish from the comfort of an air-conditioned submarine.  The German-built Whale submarine is the world's largest deep diving  passenger submarine. Descend to 100 feet below the ocean's surface and witness the spectacular marine life - sights once only seen by scuba divers. With a 100% safety record worldwide, this is an unforgettable experience for every visitor.

The Islamic Centre
The Islamic Centre is the most vivid architectural landmark of Male. You will see the spectacular golden dome in all its majesty dominating the skyline, as you approach Male, from any direction. The building symbolizes the importance of the Islamic religion, which had ruled all aspects of life in the country for centuries. Completed in 1984, the Centre consists of a mosque big enough for 5000 people, an Islamic library, conference hall, classrooms and offices.

Huskuru Miskiiy
Built in the 17th century the Huskuru Miskiiy or Friday Mosque served the population of Male as their main mosque for almost four centuries, until the Islamic Centre and Grand Friday Mosque took over the function in 1984. Built by Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar in 1656 the mosque is a masterpiece of coral curving and traditional workmanship - probably the best display of coral curving anywhere in the world. The walls of the mosque are hewn together with blocks of filigree-curved coral blocks. Heavy wooden doors slide open to the inner sanctums with lamp hangings of wood and panels intricately curved with Arabic writings. The area surrounding  the mosque is a cemetery with a legion of intricately curved coral headstones. The Munnaaru or minaret in front of the mosque, used to call the faithful to prayer was built in 1675 by the same Sultan.

The National Museum
The National Museum is housed in the only remaining building of the former Sultan's Palace, which is now the Sultan's Park. It is an Edwardian colonial-style building of three storey, fairly low key from the outside compared to the amazing collection inside. The articles on display range from thrones and palanquins used by former sultans to the first printing press used in the country, the rifle used by Mohamed Thakurufaanu in his fight against the Portuguese in the 16th century, ceremonial robes, headgear and umbrellas used by Sultans to statues and other figures dating from 11th century, excavated from former temples. The varied artifacts give visitors a glimpse of the unique and rich culture and history of this island nation.  The museum is open daily except Friday and public holidays from 9.00 to 11.40 and 3.00 to 5.40. A small fee is charges for admission.

Copyright Maldives Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB)

Maldives Activities

Just a short swim from the beach, snorkelers can also experience the same pleasures from the surface.

Scuba Diving
The Maldives is famous for its rare underwater beauty. The profusion of psychedelic colors and the abundance and variety of life underwater have fascinated divers and snorkelers since Maldives was discovered as a diving destination. The highest level of visibility that one could expect- sometimes exceeding 50 metres - and warm temperatures throughout the year makes diving in the Maldives a delight you would want to experience over and over again. The Maldives has some of the best dive sites in the world and many visit the Maldives repeatedly for the sole purpose of diving.

Every resort in the Maldives caters for scuba divers and international certificates of all types are accepted. The dive schools are well equipped, and regulators, BCDs, computers, masks, snorkels and fins are available for hire. For those learning to dive resorts offer a variety of dive courses, which are conducted in several languages including English, German, Italian, French and Japanese. For those learning to dive all resorts conduct open water and advanced courses such as night diving, rescue diving, underwater photography. Courses such as naturalist and shark specialist courses have proved most popular. Most resorts have access to a protected reef on the leeward side of the island that enables them to dive even during times of rough seas and strong winds.

Snorkeling
Snorkeling over the shallow reefs of the islands is an ideal way to explore the underwater world. The house reefs of most of the islands are just a few strokes away from the beach. Snorkeling equipment is available at all the resorts. Some resorts organize regular snorkeling excursions to give visitors a chance to experience the diversity of marine life and reef structures in the Maldives.

Surfing
Maldives is fast establishing itself as a destination for surfers. While most of the recognized surf breaks are in Male Atoll, there is certainly more to be discovered. For resort-based surfing it is advisable to choose one of the resorts on the eastern side of North Male Atoll where surfers get access to a number of excellent breaks. The weather in Maldives is influenced by two monsoons; the northeast monsoon and the southwest monsoon from November to April brings fine weather and coincides with the high tourist season. The southwest monsoon from May to October is often wet and rainy. However, this period provides the best surf.

CLOTHING

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa  Overview  The Taj Exotica Resort and Spa brings to you a luxury rarely found in today’s world: being one with nature. Situated in one of the largest lagoons of the Maldives, the resort’s palm thatched villas are built entirely over water- with private sundecks that open out on to the Indian Ocean. The beach villas have private plunge pools and secluded courtyards with open air showers. At the far end of the island, lies the spa - private villas, overlooking the crystal blue waters that offer a wide range of treatments including Yoga and Tai Chi.  The Deluxe Lagoon villas with the pools continue to be the favorite with our guests hence we have decided to add plunge pools to the balance 21 deluxe lagoon villas thus offering fresh water pools and added privacy to all villas. Work on these villas will be completed by 30th September 2008. A detailed plan has been put in place to ensure guests in other areas of the resort are not disturbed and all facilities of the Resort will be functional as usual.  Dining In  The overall food and beverage experience has been conceptualized keeping in mind that all guests will expect a varied and eclectic dining experience. A team of international chefs have taken care to plan for menus offering simplicity, creative infusions and universal flavors. The Deep End - a fine dining Mediterranean restaurant built over water is open for lunch and dinner. 24 Degrees, open from 7:00 am. to 11:00 pm. serves an assortment of a-la-carte delicacies that highlight the Pan-Asian, Japanese and Continental palate. The Equator Bar provides an easy relaxed ambience to enjoy spirits, fine wines and a selection of Cuban cigars.