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Diving the Maldives
I was just recently talking with a diving friend about the places I'd most like to dive,
and both of us mentioned the Maldives. The Maldives are a cluster of small islands in the Indian Ocean whose elevation
is just a meter or two above sea level.
Some scientists have speculated
that if the global ice caps melt, the Maldives will disappear beneath the ebb and froth of the sea. But maybe you
already knew that?
One thing I'll bet you didn't know: the Maldives are actually their own country, and for a long time in years past, they were famous for their cowrie shells, which were used as currency. Sadly, no longer. You will likely get strange looks when you tip your dive guide with shells. Anyway, the writer of this piece goes on a live aboard in the islands and confirms what many dive magazines say: that the Maldives are the locale of some of the finest diving in the world. One of the more common sights are whale sharks, which are the size of greyhound buses, but amazingly docile.
Filed under: History, Scuba Diving, Photos
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Laura Owens Dec 18th 2005 5:08PM
Enjoyed your article on diving in the Maldives. My husband and I spent a week in the Maldives and enjoyed some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world! I would classify the diving as perfect fishbowl. We saw some of the damages from coral bleaching, however, the bleaching seemed to be spotty and the rest of the atolls and reefs seemed to be recovering. The fish life was outstanding and the most plentiful I've seen anywhere. Water is gin clear 125 feet plus. Did a night dive on an 80 ft. wall - outstanding!!! Town of Male is small but friendly. Maldives is far superior to Great Barrier Reef as far as fish life and abundancy. Atoll resorts are quiet, serene, and peaceful. Absolutely divine experience!