.
More than
a 1000 beautiful islands in the Indian Ocean across the Equator ...probably
the most beautiful anywhere!
Perhaps the
best way to see these tiny coral islands and reefs is by cruising through
them.Whilst some people prefer
to a sail
on a live-aboard safari yacht, others love to be lazy and lie on
the white sandy beaches enjoying
the sea and
the sun. With us you can do all of that and much more...
Maldive
is
an independent Republic. An international airport provides access, with
regular flights from Singapore and Sri Lanka,
as well
as a growing number of other countries. Modern telecommunications facilities
keep the Maldives in contact with the rest of the world.
Population
: 238,000, growing at 3% per annum.
Language
: Divehi, an indigenous language spoken only in the Maldives. Most people
in Male and tourist resorts speak English.
Religion
:
Islam. Maldives is perhaps the only country with a 100% Muslim population.
Islam was introduced
around A.D.800,
and the moderate form practised in Maldives has remained virtually unchanged.
Principal
industries : Fishing & tourism.
No
larger on the map than a few ink splashes by a busy cartographer, the Maldive
Islands stretch
from the
south western tip of India all the way to the Equator. One of the most
attenuated countries in
the world,
the 1,196 islands, in 26 distinct coral atolls, are spread over a total
area of 90,000 square kilometres
(about 36,000
square miles) of the Indian Ocean, yet less than 0.5 percent of this is
land. Some 200 of
the islands
are inhabited. Until the arrival of tourism, fishing was the main occupation
in this nation of seafarers,
and the
relaxed pace of life seems to have carried over into the twentieth century.
The graceful sailing dhonis
of old may
have given way to motorised versions, but fishing with pole and line is
still a common site
throughout
the islands. Maldives has the most beautiful
tropical scenery, graceful coconut palms leaning
over crystal-clear
lagoons, coral reefs promising great snorkelling and scuba diving, and
lots of sunshine.
In fact,
all the ingredients that make up the classic desert island. With the increasing
pace of life in the
modern world,
it has become the ultimate getaway for those who like sun, sand, sea and
doing nothing ...
"IT IS THE
LAST PARADISE"
The Maldives
has gained a reputation as one of the best diving destinations in the world.
And deservedly
so with
hundreds of breathtaking dive sites, a colourful and fascinating underwater
world, perfect conditions
throughout
the year and a visibility every photographer dreams of "An Oasis
in the Ocean" . Few places on earth quite rival the Maldives'
coral reefs
in terms of beauty and variety. As one flies over the reefs, the aerial
view presents one huge abstract painting of bold green strokes
against
an infinite blue canvas. But seen from beneath the surface, it is a living
kaleidoscope of everchanging colours, patterns, shapes and
textures
that never fails to fascinate. Indeed, the coral reefs of the Maldives
have been rated some of the most impressive, with an endless
variety
of marine life beyond our total imagination. The word "atoll", which describes
the fringing
reef around
a coral island, is Maldives' contribution to the English language.
As varied
as the corals that grow on the reef are the thousands of marine creatures
that live in and among them.
Like the
corals, these highly diversified inhabitants have evolved to live in the
oasis of this ocean, finding in it food and shelter. For the wide spectrum
of animals,
life on the reef is a precarious affair. The rule of the game is survival
and nothing goes to waste. No feeding opportunity is ever over-looked.
From the minute zooplankton to the largest of fish, every species is part
of an intricate food chain that makes up the reef eco-system.
The Call
of the Sea
Through
the years, the dhoni has evolved to tackle treacherous coral reefs and
the narrow channels
between
the atolls with ease. Despite the onset of modernization, there have been
few changes to her form,
a testament
to the skill of the ancient shipwrights. Faithfully serving the sea-bound
fishermen and travellers
through
the generations, the dhoni has established herself as an inextricable part
of Maldivian culture.
Like
their forefathers, the Maldivians still look to the sea for many of their
needs, the most important being food.
Fishing
remians the main occupation of the Maldives, and fish the main source of
protein.. Traditional fishing practice makes
use of a
pole-and-line fishing method on a "masdhoni." Schools of fish are located
in the open sea with the help of sea-birds.
Using tiny
bait-fish, the bigger fish are lured to the hooks after being driven into
a feeding frenzy by the beating of the water.
Fishing
for a livelihood is very much a team event and, on a good day,
adept fishermen
can fill a dhoni in less than two hours.
MALE
- City of Contrast
A few minutes
by boat from Hulule International Airport brings one to the capital
city of Male (pronounced "Maa-Lay").
Approaching
Male, the most eye-catching feature is the golden dome of the Islamic Centre,
a reflection
of the prominence of Islam in the lives of the Maldivians. The city of
Male is the centre of all trade,
commerce,
administrative and governmental affairs in the Maldives. It is also a meeting
place for
boats and
people from all over the atolls and from the growing nuumber of tourist
resorts.
By
any physical measure, Male is small, especially for a capital city, but
with an area of approximately
1.8 square
km and 60,000 people, the population density is amongst the highest in
the world.
Add to this
the thousands of islanders and tourists who come here daily, and the situation
can get pretty tight.
A walk from
one end of the island to the other takes about 20 minutes, which gives
wonder to the hundreds of motor cars,
pick-ups,
lorries and motor-bikes that blast their way through the narrow streets
at about 25km per hour.
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