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Country Description

The Maldives lie off the southern tip of India, made up of a slender chain of coral islands which are strewn like a magical necklace across the shimmering azure waters of the Indian Ocean. Thousands of islands are scattered through massive lagoons with endless shades of blue and turquoise, and incredible underwater coral gardens, providing a perfect natural combination for the ideal tropical holiday destination. Here you will enter a world of pure escapism, a world where time stands still in a land of powdery white sands and aquamarine lagoons, providing an ideal location to refresh and unwind.

The Maldives are made up of 1190 coral islands scattered in the Indian Ocean. The water is crystal clear, the sands gleaming white and the waters filled with wildlife making it a perfect place for diving and snorkelling. There are many professional PADI diving schools with courses and excursions for both beginners and advanced. The Maldives is one of the world's top sites for whale and dolphin watching, with a quarter of the world's species to be found here - this is the place for incredible experiences!

The Maldives attract honeymooners as this is a destination made for romance. Indulge yourself in paradise - If your idea of paradise is a pristine, tranquil tropical island with swaying palm trees, pure white beaches and brilliant turquoise lagoons, then the Maldives won't disappoint!

The Maldives are located about four hundred miles south west of Sri Lanka, the total population is under a quarter of a million, of which about 25,000 live in the capital, Male. On average, the islands are six feet above sea level and a hold the record for being the flattest country in the world. Over the last century, sea levels have risen about twenty centimetres (8 in), and the ocean is likely to continue rising and this threatens the existence of Maldives.

Malé is Maldives’ largest city and capital of the islands, it is also one of the smallest capitals in the world in terms of its physical size. Malé contributes to a third of the country’s population approx 75,000 people. Malé is very different from any other island in the country, it is a city of high-rise buildings and paved roads. The main streets are lined with shops and offices and in the old bazaar area it houses the country’s hub of wholesale and retail trade. There are no beaches on Malé, only seawalls surround all its sides. However, a newly landscaped artificial beach area and adjoining breakwater stretching all the way round to the harbour in the southwest of the island provide a pleasant jogging route, especially popular in the evenings when it is cooler. Malé is still relatively green and pleasant offering interesting sites and photo opportunities - the fish market and the local market at the northern waterfront, the new harbour in the south-west corner and the 400-year old Friday Mosque, to name a few. Cuisine in Maldives is varied due to imported foods and tourisum, suited to western tastes. Fresh fish feature strongly in the Maldivian cuisine, with the local delicacy being a delicious fish curry.

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Climate

The Maldives has a tropical climate with warm temperatures year round and a great deal of sunshine. The warm tropical climate provides only minor variations in daily temperature throughout the year. The hottest month on average is April and the coolest, December and between these months you will gain an extra few hours of sunshine every day and experience the dry season (however, this is peak season for travellers). May and October records the highest average monthly rainfall; the southwest monsoon or hulhangu from May to September is the wet season. Rough seas and strong winds are common during this period, its still walm but the skies can be cloud and humidity is higher.

The northeast monsoon iruvai falls between December to April. This is a period of clear skies, lower humidity and very little rain. The Maldives is in the equatorial belt and therefore severe storms and cyclones are extremely rare events. However the country is affected whenever cyclones form in the Bay of Bengal or the Arabian Sea. The spiraling clouds of the weather systems appear over the Maldives causing spells of rain. The transition months of November and April are said to be associated with increased water clarity and better visibility for divers.