Maldives
is home to some of the most diverse marine fauna and
flora in the world. Tens of thousands of reefs, a thousand
recorded specis 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 greates dive destinations
on earth. more...
Water Sports
All
resorts without exception have water sports centers
that provie a range of water sports and fun activities.
The most popular among these are snorkeling, windsurfind
and catamaran sailing. The water sports centers are
equipped with boards and sails of different sizes and
some offers courses for beginners and advanced windsurfers
and sailors.
Among other popular
water sports activities are parasailing, kayaking, kite-surfing,
water-skiing and jet skiing. Some resorts even offer
you the opportunity to try out yout sailing skills on
a local dhoni. more...
Excursions
Almost
all resorts offer an excursion program. Some of these
programs are scheduled while others are tailor-made
to suit individual needs. The scheduled programs often
include island-hopping and night-fishing; unique terms
for a unique destination. more...
Spas
The
Maldives' spas are in a world of their own. It is the
perfect blend of luxurious therapies, health and beauty
experiences and sensory stimulation complemented by
the tranquil surrounding and blissful tropical beauty.
Spas offer a large
number of therapies and facilities ranging from aromatherapy,
massage to Jacuzzis and saunas. Many of the treatments
combine traditional Asian therapies with classic European
spa techniques.
While some resorts
own and operate their own spas many of the resort spas
are operated by spa chains.
Sports in resorts
Resorts
offer a variety of sports for the enjoyment of their
quests; beach volleyball is the most obvious, however
many resorts have tennis courts of exceptional quality
and fully equipped gymnasiums complete with instructors.
Badminton and squash courts are quite commo in the resorts
as well. Billiards, pool and a variety of board games
are offered on most resorts.
Resort entertainment
Entertainment
in the evenings differs widely from resort to resort.
Some resorts provide a more club-like atmosphere. They
may have a weekly program of animation with professional
entertainers. Almost all resorts offer disco and live
music either with their in-house DJs and bands or visiting
bands from Malé. Some resorts include traditional
dance and music in their entertainment programs.
Travel to Maldives
Although
geographically isolated the Maldives is easily accessible
by air from anywhere in Southeast Asia, Middle East
and Europe. Colombo is an hour's journey away by air,
from Singapore and Dubai it takes about four hours and
from Europe it takes nine to eleven hours to reach Malé. more...
Dos and Don'ts
Cover yourself properly when visiting inhabited
islands and Malé. For men shorts and a shirt
are acceptable. Women are expected to cover their
bodies and thighs.
While swimming trunks, bikinis and other beachwear
is the norm on the resort, they are not acceptable
on inhabited islands.
Remember that nudism in public places is prohibited.
Traditionally Maldivians eat with their fingers.
If you wish to follow the local tradition keep in
mind that it is considered unhypienic to touch food
with the left hand. If in doublt use a spoon.
Be conscious of the delicate local environment.
Do not touch or pick corals when diving or snorkeling.
The Maldivians use Islamic greeting "Assalaam
Alaikum" to greet friends and strangers
alike. "Shukuriyya" means thank
you.
Time: +5 hrs GMT
Capital: Malé
No. of Islands: 1190
Inhabited Islands: 200
Resorts: 87
Population (2003): 285,066
Major Industries: Tourism &
Fisheries
Currency: Rufiyya
Electricity: 240 AC
Working Hours:
Government: 7.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.
Sun to Thu
Private Sector: 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
(Varies) Sat to Thu
Banks: 8.00 a.m to 1.30 p.m.
Sun to Thu
The Country
Specks
of emerald green enveloped by dazzling turquise waters
like scattered beads in the ocean; white powdery beaches,
tall plams lean on towards the sea, crystalline white
sands giving way to crystal clear waters, shades of
turquoise blend flawlessly with deeper hues of blues;
pristine coral refs and some fo the most incredible
underwater life on our planet.
Rising from the deep blue
of the vast expase of the Indian Ocean are more than
a thousand islands and thousand more reefs that form
the Maldives.
History
The
early history of the Maldives is enshrined in myth and
legend. Archeological records indicates that the first
visitors to the Maldives stepped ashore over 5000 years
ago. According to folklore the Maldives was first colonized
by an Indo-Aryan race between the fourth and fifth centuries
B.C.
Geography
The
atolls of the Maldives are formed from coral structures.
The atolls are part of a greater structure known as
the Laccadives-Chagos Ridge, which stretches over 2000
kilometers. The islands are low lying with the highest
point at approximately eight feet above sea level. Ring-shaped
reef structures form the atolls and these reefs provide
the natural defense against wind and wave action on
these delicate islands.
Weather and Climate
The
Maldives has a tropical climate with warm temperatures
year round and a great deal of sunshines. The warm tropical
climate results in relatively minor variations in daily
temperature throughout the year. The weather is determined
largely by the monsoons; the southwest monsoon from
May to November and the northest monsoon from December
to April.
The hottest month
on average is April and the coolest, December. February
is the driest with December to April being relatively
dry. The Maldives is in the equatorial belt and therefore
severe storms are rare.
Culture
Located
at the crossways of Indian Oceans shipping lanes on
the main seaway around the Indian subcontinent, the
Maldives has long been a meeting point for African,
Arab, Malay and Indonesians mariners. Throughout the
centuries these influences have shaped the Maldivian
way of life. This can be seen from the many facets of
Maldivian lifestyle such as dining, music, art and craft. more...
Malé - the island capital
Malé
with a population of about 80,000 is the commercial
and political hub of the Maldives. It is home to all
government ministries and departments, all of the larger
companies, banks, communications and key institutions
that control the nation's economic and social life.
Malé consists
of five districts or wards; four on the island of Malé,
a fifth on Vilingili, the island to the west of Malé,
just 10 minutes away by boat. The Malé International
Airport is on Hulhule Island, a couple of miles to the
north east of Malé. more...
Maldives
is home to some of the most diverse marine fauna and
flora in the world. Tens of thousands of reefs, a thousand
recorded specis 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 greates dive destinations
on earth. 
All
resorts without exception have water sports centers
that provie a range of water sports and fun activities.
The most popular among these are snorkeling, windsurfind
and catamaran sailing. The water sports centers are
equipped with boards and sails of different sizes and
some offers courses for beginners and advanced windsurfers
and sailors.
Almost
all resorts offer an excursion program. Some of these
programs are scheduled while others are tailor-made
to suit individual needs. The scheduled programs often
include island-hopping and night-fishing; unique terms
for a unique destination. 
The
Maldives' spas are in a world of their own. It is the
perfect blend of luxurious therapies, health and beauty
experiences and sensory stimulation complemented by
the tranquil surrounding and blissful tropical beauty.
Resorts
offer a variety of sports for the enjoyment of their
quests; beach volleyball is the most obvious, however
many resorts have tennis courts of exceptional quality
and fully equipped gymnasiums complete with instructors.
Badminton and squash courts are quite commo in the resorts
as well. Billiards, pool and a variety of board games
are offered on most resorts. 
Entertainment
in the evenings differs widely from resort to resort.
Some resorts provide a more club-like atmosphere. They
may have a weekly program of animation with professional
entertainers. Almost all resorts offer disco and live
music either with their in-house DJs and bands or visiting
bands from Malé. Some resorts include traditional
dance and music in their entertainment programs. 
Although
geographically isolated the Maldives is easily accessible
by air from anywhere in Southeast Asia, Middle East
and Europe. Colombo is an hour's journey away by air,
from Singapore and Dubai it takes about four hours and
from Europe it takes nine to eleven hours to reach Malé. 
Specks
of emerald green enveloped by dazzling turquise waters
like scattered beads in the ocean; white powdery beaches,
tall plams lean on towards the sea, crystalline white
sands giving way to crystal clear waters, shades of
turquoise blend flawlessly with deeper hues of blues;
pristine coral refs and some fo the most incredible
underwater life on our planet.
The
early history of the Maldives is enshrined in myth and
legend. Archeological records indicates that the first
visitors to the Maldives stepped ashore over 5000 years
ago. According to folklore the Maldives was first colonized
by an Indo-Aryan race between the fourth and fifth centuries
B.C. 
The
atolls of the Maldives are formed from coral structures.
The atolls are part of a greater structure known as
the Laccadives-Chagos Ridge, which stretches over 2000
kilometers. The islands are low lying with the highest
point at approximately eight feet above sea level. Ring-shaped
reef structures form the atolls and these reefs provide
the natural defense against wind and wave action on
these delicate islands.
The
Maldives has a tropical climate with warm temperatures
year round and a great deal of sunshines. The warm tropical
climate results in relatively minor variations in daily
temperature throughout the year. The weather is determined
largely by the monsoons; the southwest monsoon from
May to November and the northest monsoon from December
to April.
Located
at the crossways of Indian Oceans shipping lanes on
the main seaway around the Indian subcontinent, the
Maldives has long been a meeting point for African,
Arab, Malay and Indonesians mariners. Throughout the
centuries these influences have shaped the Maldivian
way of life. This can be seen from the many facets of
Maldivian lifestyle such as dining, music, art and craft. 
Malé
with a population of about 80,000 is the commercial
and political hub of the Maldives. It is home to all
government ministries and departments, all of the larger
companies, banks, communications and key institutions
that control the nation's economic and social life.