If you are looking for extreme luxury with tropical surroundings, you don't have to look any further - the Maldives is a perfect destination for a once in a lifetime vacation.
Once a completely remote and isolated tropical paradise, the Maldives has now become a very popular holiday destination for Europeans and Americans. The Maldives is made up of a group of atolls with luxury resorts scattered around its coastline.
The Republic of Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean. Situated south of India and south west of Sri Lanka, the Maldives total twenty-six atolls with over 1000 small islands, most of which are inhabitable.
Most of the resorts have their own entities with some resorts taking up whole islands - these resorts offer great privacy and ensure a relaxing vacation. Nearly all of the holiday resorts are located on the five main atolls, which are Kaafu, Vaavu, Baa, Alifu and Lhaviyani. Alifu is the main tourist zone where new hotels and resorts are in the process of being built.
The Maldives is one of the world's best scuba diving destinations. Thousands of scuba divers come to the Maldives each year for a taste of this amazing underwater experience, and many of them return year after year to continue exploring the many Maldives dive sites. The best way to experience scuba diving in the Maldives is from a liveaboard safari. This way, you spend a week or two weeks cruising around all the islands on a cool safari boat with all the amenities you need. Every day, you wake up close to a new dive site, and you just get in the water and dive. It makes diving so much more simple and relaxing since you are eliminating all the boat travel from resort to dive site.
Maldives offers much to be seen and enjoyed. For those who would like to stay at the resorts, you are guaranteed an excellent time and many facilities like water sports etc. for the whole family to enjoy. The Maldives people will make you feel cared for and welcome because they are warm and caring. The Artificial Beach, Mulee Aage Palace, Esjehi Art Gallery, the beaches of Maldives, Hukuru Misliiy, the National Museum, the Grand Friday Mosque and the Male Fish Markets are some of the places that should be at the top of your sightseeing list.
There are over 3,000 coral formations around the many islands, and the sharks as well as manta rays are a common sight. Those with a PADI license will be able to enjoy countless number of dives, but those without one also have the opportunity of getting some basic training before the initial dive. There are plenty of diving schools around and operators who rent equipment. Going out to the further reaches of the ocean is also not necessary, by swimming a few minutes away from the shore; one could see plenty of life in the surrounding coral. Wreck diving is also a popular tourist activity on the islands.
