The Maldives is a chain of 26 coral atolls south-west of Sri Lanka, extending across the equator
in a north-south strip 754km (468mi) long and 118km (73mi) wide. The 1192 low-lying coral
islands are so small that dry land makes up less than 4% of the country's total territory. Some
islands are uninhabited sandbars while others are several km across and well vegetated. Most of
the time the lagoons are a brilliant blue, with amazing coral reefs and abundant marine life. strict
local regulation of fishing and commercial exploitation has kept the marine environment in a
near-pristine state The reefs are a scuba diving and snorkelling wonder world.
Anyone with a mask and snorkel will see butterfly fish, angel fish, parrot fish, rock cod, unicorn
fish, trumpet fish, bluestripe snapper, Moorish idols, oriental sweetlips and more. Larger life forms,
eagerly sought by scuba divers, include sharks, stingrays, manta rays, turtles and dolphins.
Many of the bigger islands look like the picture-perfect, palm-fringed tropical fantasy. The
larger, wetter islands have small areas of rainforest. The main crops are limited to sweet potatoes,
yams, taro, millet and watermelon, though a few more fertile islands have citrus fruits and
pineapples. Daytime temperatures are about 28°C (82°F) all year. The humidity is slightly lower in
the dry season but most days there's a cooling sea breeze.
