Masters - Maldives Travel Guide 8th

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Unrivalled luxury, stunning white-sand beaches and an amazing underwater world make the Maldives an obvious choice for a true holiday of a lifetime.

The Maldives is synonymous with tropical luxury ()
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The Maldives is home to perhaps the best beaches in the world; theyre on almost every one of the countrys nearly 1200 islands and are so consistently perfect that its hard not to become blas about them. While some beaches may boast softer granules than others, the basic fact remains: youll find this whiter-than-white powder sand and luminous cyan-blue water almost nowhere else on earth. This fact alone is enough to bring nearly a million people a year to this tiny and otherwise little-known Indian Ocean paradise.

Every resort in the Maldives is its own private island, and with over 100 to choose from the only problem is selecting where to stay. At the top end, the worlds most exclusive hotel brands compete with each other to attain ever-greater heights of luxury, from personal butlers and private lap pools to in-room massages and pillow menus. Its not surprising that honeymooners and those seeking a glamorous tropical getaway have long had the country at the top of their wish lists. But theres choice beyond the five- and six-star resorts. Other islands cater for families, for divers, for those on a (relative) budget, and anyone wanting a tranquil back-to-nature experience.

With some of the best diving and snorkelling in the world, the clear waters of the Maldives are a magnet for anyone with an interest in marine life. The richness and variety is astonishing baby sharks can be spotted in any lagoon in the country, while dazzling spectacles such as huge coral walls, magnificent caves and schools of brightly coloured tropical fish await you when you get down to the reef. Manta rays, turtles, friendly sharks and even the worlds largest fish, the whale shark, can be seen all over the country and amazingly none of the life on the reef is dangerous. The best bit? The water is so warm many people dont even wear a wetsuit.

Whats more, these incredible islands are finally open to independent travellers, meaning you no longer have to stay in resorts and be kept separate from the local population, something that kept backpackers away for decades. Intrepid individuals can now choose their own itineraries and travel from island to island, living among the devout but extremely friendly local population. With a national ferry network now in place and a growing number of privately run guesthouses on inhabited islands , the Maldives and its people are now more accessible than ever.

Remarkable creatures like this crown jellyfish abound in the Maldives
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The Maldivian capital () is definitely the best place to get to know locals and see what makes them tick. The brightly painted houses, crowded markets and convivial teashops where you can chat to locals and share plates of delicious short eats are just some of the highlights of this fascinating capital city and perfectly complement the resort experience. Male fishermen unloading at the docks

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Hammerhead sharks, definitely one of the weirdest-looking creatures in the sea (and thats saying something), can be seen in abundance in Maldivian waters if you know where to look for them. There are few more thrilling experiences than a dawn dive, descending free fall into the deep blue to 30m, before suddenly coming upon a huge school of hungry hammerhead sharks waiting to be fed. The best place to do this is at the world-famous Hammerhead Point (aka Rasdhoo Madivaru; ) in Rasdhoo Atoll.

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Whether youre in a resort or staying on an inhabited island, the cultural highlight of almost any trip to the Maldives is seeing an incredible dance and drum performance known as bodu beru (), which means big drum in Dhivehi. These traditional all-male performances are a thrilling experience, even if they can feel rather contrived in your resorts restaurant. The drum ceremony starts off slowly and builds gradually to an incredible climax, during which some dancers even enter a trance-like state.

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Few destinations can claim that the mode of transport in which travellers arrive is one of the highlights of their trip, but thats because there are few places in the world where you need seaplanes to reach your hotel. These zippy Twin Otters function like taxis in a country with no roads, and taking off from the water is an unforgettable experience, as is observing the spectacular coral atolls, blue lagoons and tiny desert islands from above.

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When El Nio devastated the marine life of the Maldives and bleached the corals in 1998, the only area of the country to escape was the most southern atoll, Addu (). While the coral all over the country is recovering impressively, here the corals are absolutely spectacular, including huge staghorn corals that didnt survive elsewhere in the Maldives. Anyone who snorkels or dives here will be in awe of the strength and variety of colour, particularly off the island of Gan.

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You simply have to get beneath the waters surface in the Maldives; the corals, tropical fish, sharks, turtles and rays all make up an unforgettably alien world, which is best experienced by diving (). All resorts have a dive school, and you will not regret deciding to learn here. The Maldives boasts excellent safety standards, modern equipment, passionate and experienced dive schools and best of all the water is so warm many people dont even bother diving in a wetsuit.