MALDIVES ONLiNE

MALDİVES VİDEO 3

2008-01-15T00:09:00.000+05:00

Beautiful Maldives

Above view on Maldives

Maldives - Ari Atoll

Ellaidhoo Resort

2007-11-17T11:58:00.000+05:00

North Ari Atoll

Hotel Description:

Ellaidhoo Maldives is a magnificent coral island with sugary white beaches, lush green vegetation, warm seas and hospitable ambience. The island along with resort promises efficient services, friendly crews and perfect serenity.

Ellaidhoo is very popular amongst divers and large number of guests who visit every year. Around this tiny paradise is a beautiful coral reef, and the wreck just below the edge of the house reef is hallmark amongst the divers who have visited Maldives.

Ellaidhoo provides excellent diving facilities with highly qualified professional instructors and is well known for diving. One could call it "The Divers' Paradise" being located amidst of famous dive sites. In addition to the comfortable beachfront rooms with all the modern facilities, it also provides a wide range of water sports and other activities.

How to get to the hotel? TOP

Ellaidhoo Maldives is located on the eastern fringes of North Ari Atoll, which is about 40-42 km from Male International Airport.

You can travel to Ellaidhoo from airport by a seaplane, which takes 20 minutes and speedboat, which takes 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach the island. Day and night transfers to the island are available.

Food and Beverages
The Food and Beverage outlets on Ellaidhoo offer a variety of local and international dishes.

Main Restaurant
The Food and Beverage outlets on Ellaidhoo offer a variety of local and international dishes.

Coffee Shop
The coffee shop with Internet is open from 9am in the morning until midnight and serves different hot and cold beverages, snacks, and various local and international dishes. Internet service is also available here at set times during the day.

Business Facilities
The business facilities in Ellaidhoo Resort are excellent. Thre facilities available allow one to work in a hassle free manner. There is a business center in this resort where one can avail of photocopying services, facsimile services and other services that are necessary to conduct office work and other business related work. There is a photocopying machine, which can be used to get photocopies of important documents.

Excursions
wind surfing, catamaran sailing, water skiing, jet skiing, knee boarding, wake boarding, banana riding and fun tube riding.

Main Bar
The main bar is open throughout the day from seven in the morning until the last guest leaves at night. A variety of exotic cocktails and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available.

Sports Center
.Gym Work out
.Aerobics
.Spinning Sauna & Jacuzzi
.Billiards
.Squash
.Tennis
.Table Soccer

Water Sports
Ellaidhoo Water Sports Centre is located in Maagaa island and offers:
.Wind surfing
.Catamaran sailing
.Water skiing
.Jet skiing
.Knee boarding
.Wake boarding
.Banana riding
.Fun tube riding.

Hotel Rooms:

Ellaidhoo Resort offers 78 modern luxury rooms in the island are all built along the beach facing the magnificent house reef. The rooms have been categorized in to Standard, Superior and Deluxe rooms suiting the needs and requirements of the guests.

In-Room Amenities
.Air-conditioning
.En-suite toilet
.Shower with hot and cold water
.Mini-bar
.Hairdryer
.IDD telephone.

Hotel Terms and conditions: TOP

Currency
All rates shown are in US $.

Package Includes
-All rates shown are per room/suite and include all taxes.

Mandatory Handling Fee
A mandatory handling fee of USD 10.00 per person and to be added on top of the quoted price.

Payment Requirements
For your convenience, Internet Travel Group offers secure online payments with the following credit cards: Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Please note that, should you prefer, you are able to supply your credit card information by fax. We are unable to accept your reservation request without credit card details, though you will only be billed once your booking has been confirmed, the credit card information verified and our confirmation voucher sent to you by email.

For all reservations
-The full amount will be charged at the moment of confirmation.

Cancellation Policy
.If cancellation is received 16 days or more prior to arrival, then 20% of the full amount will b e lost.
.If cancellation is received 15 days prior to client’s arrival, then 50% of the total cost for the stay will be charged.
.No show will result on the full amount being charged as a cancellation fee.

Children Policy
.Children over the age of 12 are considered as adult.
.Children requiring their own room are charged as adult.
.Children's rate are available upon request.

Transfer
-Return seaplane transfer will come at a rate of USD250.00 per adult and children will get a 50% of the rate.

Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa Rangali Island

2007-10-01T16:54:00.000+05:00

Discover barefoot luxury at the award-winning Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa, set on 2 private islands among miles of idyllic white-sand beach and unspoilt coral reef. Arrive in style in a seaplane over the lagoon, eat at the world's only all-glass undersea restaurant and indulge in luxurious spa therapies.

Choose a Superior Water Villa with a Jacuzzi® and deck or a Beach Villa with private patio and sea views. Stroll the picture-perfect beaches and swim in the warm tropical waters of the Indian Ocean. Picnic with a hamper on your own desert island, unwind at the Spa Retreat or snorkel and dive dramatic coral reefs at the PADI dive center. Work up an appetite with Thai kickboxing or yoga before an evening in one of the hotel's 10 restaurants and bars.

The award-winning Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa becomes Conrad Maldives Rangali Island on 18 December 2007. This is in line with Conrad's positioning as the contemporary luxury brand within the Hilton Family, with services and facilities at this wonderful resort being even further enhanced.

Hotel Accommodations

BEACH VILLA

Experience a taste of the tropics in one of our light and spacious Beach Villas, with up to 300m²/3,229sq.ft of luxurious living space. Rejuvenate in the garden bathroom or step out onto the terrace to take in the magnificent sea view.

Deluxe Beach Villas benefit from a private landscaped garden and personal plunge pool with jets. Villas are decorated in an attractive local style, complemented by sumptuous Frette pillows and Molton Brown toiletries.

SPA VILLA

Part of the stunning Spa Retreat, each spacious Spa Villa, built on stilts over the ocean, boasts ocean views from all windows, a private treatment room, a magnificent over-sized outdoor bath tub and sun deck. Dine on a full-board basis in the Mandhoo Spa restaurant, enjoy daily treatments in the Spa Retreat, fresh juices and fruit, lifestyle consultations and use of the gym.

WATER VILLA

These elegant, self-contained Water Villas each offer a private teak sun deck with sweeping sea views and access to the lagoon and beach. Ranging up to 150m²/1,615sq.ft in size, the villas are built on stilts over pristine waters and boast ocean-view bathtubs and magnificent living areas with local-style wooden interiors and oak floors.

Hotel Services & Amenities

For your family's comfort and convenience
Children's Menu
Cribs
High chairs
For your comfort and convenience
Baggage Storage
Barber Shop
Clothing Store
Concierge Desk
Foreign Currency Exchange
Gift Shop
Guest Activity/Recreation Desk
Laundry/Valet Service
Luggage Hold
Room Service
Safety Deposit Box
For your fitness and recreation convenience
2 storey gym pavilion
Beach
guests sport tournaments
island boot camp
Jet Skiing
Jogging Track
meditation
Paddle Tennis Table
personal training
pilates
Pool
Pool Table
Sailing
Scuba Diving
Sight Seeing Tours
Snorkeling
tai chi
Tennis Court
Water Skiing
Windsurfing
yoga
Information for your convenienceCheck-in/Check-out

Check-in: 2:00 PM
Check-out: 12:00 PM Pets: No Pets Allowed

Superior and Deluxe Water Villas also have a Jacuzzi on the sun deck.

Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort

2007-05-06T01:36:00.000+05:00

Hotel Description:

It is love at first sight when you approach Vilu Reef in your transfer sea plane. The thrilling bird's eye view, an instant revelation of beauty - is a splendid, perfect and lush tropical garden of your imagination. Come and refresh with the juice from a coconut upon arrival, stay for a while and relax in the cozy shade of a palm tree, live by the day and enjoy the wonders of creation.

Dining
Dine from the Dhoni boat buffet, rich with exotic and Western dishes, while you sit close to the beach, and welcome the soft breeze. Tease your taste buds with mouth-watering delicacies, gained from the sea surrounding Vilu Reef. If you feel like a change from the buffet, choose a snack or meal from the cozy A la carte restaurant, open for you around the clock. Ask for a candle lit tête-à-tête, just for you and your loved one, or any other fancy set-up, for that matter. The island's legendary service is designed to fulfill your every wish.

Entertainment
Happy hour day and night is the motto at Vilu Reef. After an exciting surf, take a fresh juice of tropical fruit at the beach bar. From the cellar's selected collection, enjoy a fine wine with your meal. Try one of the original drinks on the deck or at the Nautilus bar, while planning tomorrow's excursion with your newfound friends. Don't miss the Maldivian night with its gay drums and folklore, and dance away the night with your bare feet at the disco. Each occasion, be it a birthday, an anniversary or just a surprise, is transformed into a unique ceremony with traditional touch.

Activities
Put your sail in the wind and rush through Vilu Reef's lagoon, on a surfboard or elegant catamaran. No time for idle boredom, if you are up to action! In your snorkeling gear, gaze down at the edge of the reef and play with the flashing fish. Feel the wind in your hair and the power of waves. How about a fun ride on banana boat? Or a healthy canoe trip to neighboring islets. The wide, shallow lagoon is an ideal grounds for learning a new sport, and the open sea with its brisk breezes a good challenge for the experienced water rat.

Spa
Encompassing the Five Element Theory; Wood, Fire, Metal, Earth & Water and the healing practices of traditional Ayurveda, each spa experience takes you on a journey through the cycle of nature, A holistic approach to health and wellness derived from time tested and traditional treatments. The Spa Complex is built around a unique concept, emanating a feeling of peace and harmony from the moment you enter.

Wedding
Be Adam and Eve in this Garden of Eden for one special day, and celebrate your wedding, honeymoon or anniversary the Maldivian way.

Excursion
Exlpore the sea around you and navigate your boat through tricky reefs. Visit the friendly islanders and let yourself inspire by their simple lifestyle. Catch a fish at night and grill it at a barbecue with friends on a deserted beach. If you are out for real adventure, take the big game yacht for a day and compete with the tuna and barracuda. The land offers as many diversions as the sea at Vilu Reef. A floodlit tennis court, badminton and volley courts, a gym and a range of entertaining sports like table tennis, darts or pool billiard are challenging you.

Hotel Rooms:

Sleep in a shell home and wake up to the sound of waves, gently slapping the white sandy shore, just steps from your luxurious beach villas, Jaccuzi water villas, Honeymoon water villas and the Presidential water suite. Take a refreshing morning swim in the crystal clear lagoon of Vilu Reef, or enjoy a relaxing hot dip in your private open air bathtub. Your cooled and spacious villas, tastefully furnished and designed to blend with the shades of nature, provides all the moden amenities that make you feel at home away from home.

Beach Villa
Beach villas are individually appointed and circular in shape, the roof depicting the shape of the reowned Nautilus shell compliment the beauty of the natural surrounding. All rooms are equipped with ceiling fan, air-conditioning, room safe, mini bar, IDD telephone, satellite television, a four-poster king sized bed, a comfortable divan which can accomodate an additional third person, sitting area,writing desk, a seperate dressing area with full length mirror. The en-suite bathroom is large with an enclosed courtyard for maximum privacy. Bathroom amenities include an open air bathtub, hot/cold water, hairdryer and toiletries. Double glass paneled doors lead out to a large timber deck, which overlooks the beautiful beach and lagoon. The rooms are luxuriously furnished with custom made teak furniture and lightings.

Jacuzzi Water Villa
Amidst the beautiful furnishing, gueats will find an array of luxury amenities including air-conditioning,ceiling fan, room safe, mini bar, tea/coffee making facilities,spacious sitting area with custom teak furniture, four-poster king sized bed, IDD telephone, writing desk, satellite television, CD player. The luxury en-suite bathroom offers all amenities including toiletries, bathtub and bidet,hot/cold water and hairdryer. The villa come with an extendid deck overlooking the lagoon with chaise lounges for private sunbathing. a private jacuzzi and a swim-up platform, which provides direct access to the lagoon through private stairs.

honeymoon Water Villa
Discover island life at its fullest in these luxurious villa each of which offers the same amenities as that in the Jacuzzi water villa. In addition these villas come with a seperate living room with glass peneting on three sides offering a panoramic view.

Presidential Water Suite
This suite offer the height of luxury of those seeking paradise. Situated at the far end, where the two footbridges meet the suite will offer complete privacy and an un-paralleled view. The spectacular glass walled living room provides stunning views of the surroundings. The suite will be fitted with the finest furnishing and amenities, combining modern design classics and traditional Maldivian architecture. The suite will comprise 2 king-size bedrooms with four-poster beds, a luxury en-suite bathroom with designer amenities and a kitchenette. Outside on the double leveled timber deck is a private plunge pool,open air jacuzzi chaise lounges.

Soneva Fushi Resort and Spa

2007-04-08T01:44:00.000+05:00

LOCATION

Soneva Fushi, in the North Baa Atoll region of the Maldives, is the ultimate island experience. A little off the beaten track, the adventure begins with a thirty-minute seaplane journey from Male'.

Just sixty-five residences on an island surrounded by a coral lagoon. A community offering ‘Intelligent Luxury’ in which guests can do a host of activities, or nothing at all. Furnishings that reflect the rustic theme of a designer tropical escape. Dining diversities that range from simple barbecues to gourmet feasts - and an amazing wine cellar.

Ramble through nature with discovery excursions on the resort island and neighboring island villages. And all the while, soft white sand underfoot. Then there is the wonderful Six Senses Spa, offering a menu of rejuvenating, pampering and holistic wellness treatments to calm mind and body.

Excellent diving opportunities are supported by a professional dive school. A superb eco-journey for families and couples, who often return each year to share memories with people who enjoy the same values. Stay for a week or stay for two, and prepare to be spoiled.

ACCOMMODATION

Soneva Fushi Resort, the first "Robinson Crusoe" style hideaway in the Maldives, is set on the privately owned, uninhibited, tropical paradise island of Kunfunadhoo.

Each villa has the luxuries found in the best hotels. However, whilst offering all these modern day facilities, the utmost care has been given to make the resort environment-friendly, and to reflect the dream of a Robinson Crusoe experience. Thus, the hairdryer is hidden in the drawer of a coconut wood desk; the minibar, safe, and quadraphonic hi-fi are concealed behind rattan; the TV and DVD are delivered in a water hyacinth basket.

The Villas are placed so that your very own stretch of white sand beach is just a few steps away. There is dense vegetation in between each villa creating patios and gardens for secluded enjoyment. A favourite pastime is to lie looking out to sea contemplating the beauty of nature. Each bathroom opens onto a private garden. In the Deluxe Crusoe Villas, an open staircase leads to the upstairs bedroom. Various room categories are available with and without private pools.

DINING AND BARS

Welcome to the Soneva Fushi Dining experience, it is our aim to give you the opportunity to experience the very best in Food and Beverage available in the Maldives. Together with our Executive Chef, the entire Food and Beverage team have the same objective and that is to meet and exceed your expectations.

Dining options at Soneva Fushi are designed to make your stay on Kunfunadhoo diverse, exciting and slightly adventurous. Our Chef and his multi-national brigade of chef's work to produce a combination of dishes that allow the East to meet the West in culinary terms.

Every effort is made to find ingredients of the highest quality and have them delivered to the island and send as pure and fresh as they might have been served at their origin. With this philosophy in mind our menus benefit from the abundance of fresh fish at the Maldives.

To compliment the dining options, we offer a wine list with an international content that covers many recognised and some unrecognised, wine producing countries in both hemispheres. This mixture of new world wines and good French classics offers you the opportunity to fulfill the dining experience despite both cultural and climate challenges.

RESORT FACILITIES

In our pursuit of detail, even the fax messages are placed in natural bamboo canisters. Soneva Fushi carefully blends the modern creature comforts we have difficulty living without and the simple original "Robinson Crusoe" environment that fairy tales are made of.

Nestled among the treetops, this circular meeting room with a meeting table seating 12 persons is the ideal venue for that small executive meeting or discussion group. This room is available upon request basis to residents of Soneva Fushi Resort and Spa.

For those who need to surf (the worldwide web), we have two computer terminals available in our library for collection of e-mail and internet surfing. A guide to logging on is available beside each computer. So event a beginner can connect without any difficulty.

Providing a selection of easy reading and reference books, the library is open from 10h00 hours to 24h00 hours daily. Books are provided on a borrow and return basis for the enjoyment of all our guests. The library also has a large screen TV with satellite connection to provide a venue for watching those international sporting events.

The Barefoot shop in Colombo has developed over a period of time, a reputation for high quality hand woven textiles, household linen, clothing, toys and nomad baggage. Barefoot has now joined us at Soneva Fushi and provides a split-level display of items where you can be sure to find that special something.

Royal Island Resort

2007-04-08T01:35:00.000+05:00

WELCOME TO ROYAL ISLAND RESORT & SPA

Close your eyes and dream of paradise…find it in the heart of the Indian Ocean. An island in the Maldives with beautiful Banyan trees and lush green shrubs. An island surrounded by a crystal clear blue lagoon encompassing spectacular tropical marine life. Wake up to the sound of birds chirping, be lulled by the gentle waves washing onto white sandy beaches and make your dreams come true at the Royal Island Resort & Spa.

LOCATION
Royal Island is located in Baa atoll, 75km North West of Malé, the capital city of the Maldives. Of a total of 50 islands in the Baa atoll, only one fifth of them make up the population of this atoll. The remaining islands are deserted with unspoiled wildlife and barely trodden-on beaches. Some of these neighboring uninhabited islands are ideal picnic spots for guests of the Royal Island and Spa.

Due to the location of Baa atoll it is influenced by the southwest monsoon, especially from May to July, bringing in large quantities of nutrients from the surrounding ocean which attract whale sharks and manta rays.

The main occupation of the people of this atoll is tuna fishery. Some of the islanders are well known for their skilled craftsmanship. Lacquer ware is a particularly unique creation of the people of Thulhaadhoo and is sold in many souvenir shops and resort boutiques. Eydhafushi, the capital island of Baa atoll is famous for ‘feyli’ weaving – a traditional-style wraparound skirt for women.

VILLAS

BEACH VILLA

Sanctuaries amidst the vast Indian Ocean, the Han'dhu and Iru Suites of Royal Island are indeed magical in their tropical splendor. Built and furnished elegantly in wood and other natural materials, both suites are spacious and boast all modern comforts presented harmoniously with the natural charm of the adjoining talc white beach and crystal clear lagoon. Enjoy the seclusion of a romantic island getaway, as you step out of the suite and onto your own private beach.

PRESIDENTIAL SUITES

Sanctuaries amidst the vast Indian Ocean, the Han'dhu and Iru Suites of Royal Island are indeed magical in their tropical splendor. Built, decked and furnished elegantly in wood and other natural materials, both suites are spacious and boast all modern comforts presented harmoniously with the natural charm of the adjoining talc white beach and crystal clear lagoon.

For the true romance of a real island get away, both suites offer the privacy and comfort of a loved home with features of highest-class suites

RESTAURANTS AND BARS

Maakanaa Restaurant

A wide range of delicious dishes are available to tempt your taste buds throughout the day. With its breathtaking view of the Indian Ocean, The Maakana restaurant offers an unforgettable feast for the senses. Unparalleled pleasures for the palate await, and eating at The Maakanaa is more than just a meal, it’s an occasion.

Located conveniently by the beachside, this casual open-air bistro provides the perfect blend of exceptional delicacies, a casual relaxed atmosphere and breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean. Daily buffet breakfast features a variety of options from near and far, with a wide selection of fresh fruits, cereals, pastries and hot daily specials.

BOLI BAR

All day long, whether you’ve just had a swim and need to get out of the sun or it’s late at night and you need a warm drink, get it at the Boli Bar. Relax in the plush lounge or challenge friends to a game of pool to wind down.

RESORT FACILITIES

The main restaurant is the makana restaurant. All the types of meals will be taken from this restaurant and it is buffet type. There is another five star asian restaurant which serves all mainly asian spice. There is a separate coffee shop to have coffee any time you wish to cool your self down.Theme buffets in the main restaurant: Coffee shop and "Sunset bar" for snacks in-between and a drink during sunset. Free Tea or Coffee within Demand to cool your self down. "Abandoned Ship Deck" - the popular meeting place in the evening. Pool bar counter - refresh yourself both inside and outside. Barbecue on the beach under the stars.

GYMNASIUM: The Gymnasium is well equipped with modern exercise machines. Qualified & experience instructors to guide and assist you. Start with suitable program that is suitable to satisfy your need. AEROBICS: Shake your body with the channel music and bring your muscle to shape with the help of a professional aerobic instructor. Make your reservation in advance. TENNIS: Show us your talent in how much power you’ve got within you. Floodlit hard tennis court (2 nos) with standard facilities. Floodlit tennis will be charged at US$5.00 per hour. Choose your time and make your reservation in advanc
QUASH: Floodlit indoor court with the standard facilities, choose your time and make reservation. BADMINTON: Enjoy this enthusiastic sports at every time when you feel lonely, no need for an advance reservation. As soon as the courts are free, Hop in and Enjoy!! FUN PUB: Enjoy the nightlife of entertainment here at Fun Pub; BILLIARD and SNOOKER are free of charge. Groom with the musicand take it to maximum. Our “Boli” bar will offer you variety of cocktails of your choices.

HERBAL & NATURAL SPA: Herbal and Natural Spa; The spa offers traditional Indian Ayurvedic therapy techniques for healthier longer life, using rare herbs and herbal oils, besides that we provide in saloon herbal beauty treatment and henna art. Extra facilities in the SPA are Jacuzzi, Sauna and Steam bath. Visit our Spa and soak your souls and mind in the ecstasy of celestial blessings of nature. Rejuvenate your body and mind in this wonderful Herbal and Natural Spa and keep the memories of your visit to Maldives.

LEISURE AND ACTIVITIES
EXCURSIONS
The Royal Island and Spa offers its guests a variety of activities on and off the island. Take a trip out into the blue yonder and experience the underwater wonderland that is Maldives. Fishing is an especially exciting experience and need not be a threat to endangered marine life.

WATER SPORTS

The pleasant climate and excellent facilities combine to make Maldives one of Asia's top holiday destinations for adventure and extreme sports. Whether you decide to take off behind a fast boat for some wild water-skiing or wakeboarding, surf the waves, kite board or windsurf in the warm waters, The Royal Island and Spa’s water sports centre has everything you need for a fun-filled holiday.

DELPHIS DIVING CENTER

While Maldives offers some of the best resort facilities and hospitality, the mysteries of this island paradise are beneath the surface. The diving centre at Royal Island offers numerous opportunities for experienced divers and beginners alike to explore the depths of the ocean. Depending on the season, there are instructors who are conversant in Dutch, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Japanese. Delphis - Royal Island offers PADI diving courses from beginners to instructor level, at attractive prices.

ARAAMU SPA

SPA EXCLUSIVES

A local full body massage using traditional techniques of short firm strokes with the thumbs and pressure point strokes using the heel of the hand along the meridians of the body.

AYURVEDA

A whole body massage with specific “ayurvedic oil”

A whole body massage with ayurvedic oils to nourish the body tissue and expel toxins from the cells, this special massage has a much deeper and far-reaching effect than ordinary massages. It includes an herbal steam bath and is a treat for anyone who just needs to feel good – a heavenly experience.

WELLNESS CENTRE

Gymnasium & Aerobics
Our wellness center is fully equipped with latest modern Cybex -brand equipments, guaranteed to suite your fitness requirements which includes two treadmills, a computerized stationary bike, lat and leg extension machines and free weights. Aerobics and personal trainers assure total fitness while at Royal.

Tennis & Squash
The two tennis court and the squash court are of professional standard with trainers and playing partners can also be arranged. For Tennis court and Squash can be reserved in advance upon arrival.

Jacuzzi, Sauna & Steam
The Jacuzzi, Sauna and Steam baths are also available and can be reserved in advance.

Coco Palm Resort and Spa

2007-04-08T01:17:00.000+05:00

Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu occupies a private island in the Baa Atoll of the Maldives . Nestled on the Equator, this unique island nation enjoys warm tropical weather throughout the year. On Dhuni Kolhu Island the ivory white beaches encircle a lush tropical paradise overlooking a breathtaking lagoon of unparalleled beauty. This gem of an island is widely acclaimed as one of the most beautiful islands in the region. Your 30 minute seaplane transfer to Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu is an experience in itself as after takeoff from Male you will be regaled with a breathtaking view of the Maldives from the air, where its true colors and beauty are revealed.

ACCOMMODATION

Lagoon Palace Suite
Above the lagoon at the extreme point of the island you find two superbly decorated suites of 154sqm looking directly out over the ocean. Crossing the threshold starts your voyage of discovery. Wander through your spacious bedroom with its tropical style four poster bed, enjoy the tranquility of your comfortable lounge room or refresh yourself in a light filled ocean view bathroom offering a stunning outdoor atmosphere overlooking the ocean and nearby islands. The Jacuzzi bath and separate shower ensure that you will be able to reenergize after your journey. After settling in, relax on the sundeck to enjoy the warmth of the tropical sun from the comfort of your glass bottomed Jacuzzi on the deck. When you feel like exercise, climb down your ladder to swim in the magical fish filled waters of the lagoon.

Lagoon Villa
These twelve beautifully decorated villas capture the romance and beauty of the Maldives blending a tropical style four poster bed with mosquito netting together with wooden artifacts and the warm wood tones of the walls, floors and ceilings. Built above the lagoon you are able to sit on your deck and look down into the fish filled crystal waters below. At 87sqm these villas provide ample room for you to feel comfortable and at home providing a spacious bedroom, your own private sundeck with splash pool and direct lagoon access, a unique ocean view bathroom with Jacuzzi and separate shower overlooking the lagoon and nearby islands.

Deluxe Villa
Set slightly back from the beach for privacy, the Deluxe Villa is a spacious 87sqm offering unique features and is designed to satisfy the most discerning guest. With a view of the house reef and a chain of local islands, there are no distractions from total relaxation. The entrance has a terrace containing comfortable wooden reclining chairs and a fresh water splash pool to rinse off the salt water between swims. The villas are built to enable you to even enjoy the view of the sea from your four poster bed with its tropical mosquito nets. These villas offer a Maldivian style outdoor bathroom with a sunken bath and a separate shower.

DINING

Dining in the restaurants of Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu is an international journey. At the Cornus Restaurant you may savor the taste of fresh seafood cooked to your preference, enjoy traditional grill items or select from the many flavors of Asia, with dishes from Thailand , Sri Lanka or the Maldives . For international Cuisine, the Cowrie Restaurant offers a diverse and exciting buffet bringing European and Asian cuisine together in a selection sure to satisfy all appetites. As the sun goes down find yourself a seat at the Lagoon Bar and watch the sun set gently on the horizon, or after dinner, continue your evening in the Conch Bar and enjoy the evening breeze with other guests.

DIVING

Known in many parts of the world as a diver's paradise, the Maldives with its warm tropical weather all year round and a large variety of colorful fauna and flora is a divers dream comes true. The Dive Center on Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu caters for beginners and experienced divers alike, and provides various levels of PADI Certification. In addition, our instructors speak a range of languages including English, Japanese, French and German. With access to numerous dive sites a diversity of diving experiences in guaranteed. Sightings of Sharks and Manta Rays are not unusual during the season and a lucky diver may even have the privilege to come face to face with a Whale Shark. For those guests wishing to learn to dive a medical certificate may be required. Please see the link below to review medical form and conditions which require medical approval to dive.

ACTIVITIES

A wide variety of activities and sports await those guests who year for exercise while on vacation. Lovers of the sea can enjoy snorkeling, sailing and windsurfing (Private lessons and courses are also available for those who wish to take a new interest). For land sport enthusiasts we offer tennis, badminton, volleyball and aerobics (upon request). Fitness needs are met by a workout in the Gymnasium located in the Recreation Center . Less strenuous options include table tennis, snooker or the library where a selection of books, satellite television and an internet connection are available.

Excursions

For those who enjoy viewing new places in peace and in harmony with nature, we offer a large array of excursions for all or for two. Visit a local fishermen island, spot the dolphins, discover the underwater beauty of a nearby coral reef, spend a day on a desert island, try your hand at fishing, picnic on a desert island, sip Champagne watching sun rise or set from a sand bank, BBQ on a beach or spend the night on a hut built in a desert island…the ultimate experience. There is always action or pure relaxation for those who want.

MALDİVES VİDEO 2

2007-03-31T01:55:00.000+05:00

Living in the maldives...

Maldives Lily Beach

Kuredu Maldives by Andy & Jo Pt1

Kuredu Maldives by Andy & Jo Pt2

Seenu Atoll

2007-03-29T00:50:00.000+05:00

Addu Atoll (local administrative name Seenu Atoll) is the southernmost atoll of the Republic of Maldives. Only six of the islands in the Atoll are inhabited and they are Meedhoo, Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, Feydhoo, Gan, and Hulhudhoo with the total population just over 28,000.

The dialect of the Dhivehi language spoken in this atoll is very different from the rest of the country. Most of the employees who had experience working for westerners and who spoke good English had turned to the tourism industry for employment. As a result, there was an influx of Addu people to Malé seeking employment in the nearby resorts and also looking for education to their children

British naval base
The Royal Navy established a base ("Port T") - later RAF Gan from 1957 - on the island of Gan (pronounced “Yahn”) in 1941, during World War II. During the Cold War it was used as an outpost.

The original naval base was established as a fall-back for the British Eastern Fleet. Despite public pronouncements to the contrary, the official view was that the main base at Singapore would be untenable if the Japanese made serious headway in Malaya and Java - which, in the event, is what happened in 1942. The intention had been to operate from Trincomalee, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Upon inspection, however, the naval commander-in-chief, Admiral James Somerville found the port inadequate, vulnerable to a determined attack and open to spying. An isolated island base with a safe, deep anchorage in a suitably strategic position was required, and Addu met the requirements. Once available, its facilities were used extensively by the Fleet.

Royal Navy engineers landed in August 1941 from HMS Guardian to clear and construct airstrips on Gan for the Fleet Air Arm. In the interim, Catalina and Sunderland flying boats operated from jetties on the northern, sheltered side of Gan. Large oil tanks were built on Gan, and on Hitaddu Island on the western edge of the atoll; vital elements for a naval base. These were visible from a long distances at sea, but this was unavoidable, given the atoll's low profile.

Ship's supplies for the fleet were provided from a pair of Australian refrigerated ships, Changte and Taiping that included Attu in a number of bases that they serviced regularly. Three times these ships replenished forty or more ships of the Eastern Fleet. Several large Australian Imperial Force troop convoys also refueled at Addu on their way from Aden to Fremantle, Western Australia.

The six major islands were garrisoned by the 1st Royal Marine Coast Defence Regiment, manning shore batteries and anti-aircraft guns. To facilitate the defence, causeways were built connecting the western islands of Gan, Eyehook, Maradhoo and Hithadhoo and, much later in the war, they were linked by a light railway. Attu was an unpopular posting due to the hot, humid climate, lack of recreational facilities and lack of socialising with the local population.

The Japanese remained unaware of the base’s existence until their plans for expansion in south-east Asia had come to nothing, even during their carrier raids in the Indian Ocean in April 1942. Later in the war, submarine reconnaissance established the base’s existence. Despite openings into the lagoon being permanently closed by anti-submarine nets, the German U-boat U-183 torpedoed the tanker British Loyalty in March 1944 (she had been previously torpedoed and sunk at Diego Suarez); it was an impressive long-range shot from outside the atoll through a gap in the anti-torpedo nets. Although seriously damaged, the tanker did not sink. She was not fully repaired but kept as a Ministry of War Transport Oil Fuel Storage Vessel. There was significant oil pollution after this incident and British personnel were used to clean the lagoon.

On 5th January 1946, British Loyalty was scuttled southeast of Hithadhoo Island in the Addu Atoll lagoon. After some years of leaking oil, she has become a popular dive location.

In 1957, the naval base was transferred to the Royal Air Force. As RAF Gan, it remained in intermittent service until 1971, when British Forces withdrew.

Addu Kandu
This is the local name for the broad channel between Huvadu Atoll and Addu Atoll. The old French maps called it 'Courant d'Addoue' and it is known in the British Admiralty Charts as 'Equatorial Channel' for the Equator lies roughly in the middle of the Addu Kandu.

Atoll Summary
Administrative name Seenu Atoll
Atoll name Addu Atoll
Location 0° 36' S and 0° 44' S
Letter S
Abbreviation S (ސ)
Capital Hithadhoo
Population 28707
No. of Islands 23
Inhabited Islands 6
Atoll Chief Hussain Saeed [1]
Inhabited Islands
Feydhoo Hithadhoo Hulhudhoo Maradhoo Maradhoo-Feydhoo Meedhoo
Uninhabited Islands
Aboohéra Bodu Hajara Boduhéragandu Dhigihéra Fahikédéhérangada Gan Gaukendi Geskalhuhéra Hankedé Hankedé Hajara Heréthéré Hikihéra Kafathalhaa Héra Kandu Huraa Kédévaahéra Koahera Kuda Kandihéréganda Maahera Maamendhoo Madihéra Mulikédé Savaaheli Vashahéra Villingili

Gnaviyani Atoll

2007-03-29T00:46:00.000+05:00

Gnaviyani Atoll is one of the the administrative divisions of the Maldives. It corresponds to the island known as Fuvammulah in the local language and Fua Mulaku in the International Navigational Charts and by H.C.P. Bell, the first person who made serious reasearch on the Maldives.

NOTE: Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Shaviyani, Noonu, Raa, Baa, etc. are code letters assigned to the present administrative divisions of the Maldives. They are not the proper names of these divisions or atolls. The order followed by the code letters is from North to South, beginning with the first letters of the Dhivehi alphabet. These code letters are not accurate from the geographical and cultural point of view. However, they have become popular among tourists and foreigners in the Maldives who find them easier to pronounce than the true atoll names in Dhivehi, (save a few exceptions, like Ari Atoll).

Surfacewise this is the smallest administrative unit in the Maldives, situated in the Equatorial Channel channel (Addu Kandu) between Huvadhu and Addu. Fua Mulaku is not a true (or natural) Atoll, for it consists of only one island, which is, however, one of the largest islands in the Maldives, with an area of about 7 km. sq. Fua Mulaku was traditionally divided into nine villages (clockwise from the Northern end): Dhadimago, Hōdhado, Mālegan, Dūndigan, Funādo, Miskimmago, Dhashokubai, Mādhado and Diguvāndo. Nowadays the number of villages has been reduced to eight, since the village of Dashokubai was merged with Miskimmago.

This island was depopulated and resettled twice in the last thousand years owing to lethal epidemics.

This island is known by geographers as Fua Mulaku. This name is more widely known. The origin of this name is in the ancient local poem 'Rashoveshi' where the name of the island in the first line is in the vocative: "Fua Mulaku nan ivē medu adi fen heu rashē..."

Atoll Summary
Administrative name Gnaviyani Atoll
Atoll name Fuvammulah
Location 0° 15' S and 0° 20' S
Letter R
Abbreviation Gn (ޏ)
Capital Fuvammulah
Population 10,270
No. of Islands 1
Inhabited Islands 1
Atoll Chief Ahmed Moosa [1]
Inhabited Islands
Fuvammulah

Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll

2007-03-29T00:41:00.000+05:00

Atoll Summary
Administrative name Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll
Atoll name Huvadhu Atoll
Location 0° 28' N and 0° 10' N
Letter Q
Abbreviation GDh (ގދ)
Capital Thinadhoo
Population 18485
No. of Islands 153
Inhabited Islands 10
Atoll Chief Ali Shareef [1]
Inhabited Islands
Fares Fiyoaree Gaddhoo Hoandeddhoo Maathodaa Madaveli Nadellaa Rathafandhoo Thinadhoo Vaadhoo
Uninhabited Islands
Aakiraahuttaa, Athihuttaa, Badéfodiyaa, Barahuttaa, Baulhagallaa, Bodehuttaa, Bodérehaa, Bolimathaidhoo, Dhékanbaa, Dhérékudhéhaa, Dhigérehaa, Dhigulaabadhoo, Dhinmanaa, Dhiyanigilllaa, Dhonigallaa, Dhoonirehaa, Ehéhuttaa, Ekélondaa, Faahuttaa, Faanahuttaa, Faathiyéhuttaa, Faréhulhudhoo, Farukoduhuttaa, Fatéfandhoo, Femunaidhoo, Fenevenehuttaa, Féreythavilingillaa, Fonahigillaa, Gaazeeraa, Gan, Gehémaagalaa, Gehévalégalaa, Golhaallaa, Haadhoo, Hadahaahuttaa, Hakandhoo, Handaidhoo, Havoddaa, Havodigalaa, Hevaahulhudhoo, Hiyanigilihuttaa, Hoothodéyaa, Hulheddhoo, Hunigondiréhaa, Isdhoo, Kaadeddhoo Island, Kaafaraataa, Kaafénaa, Kaalhéhutta, Kaalhéhuttaa, Kaashidhoo, Kadahalagalaa, Kadévaaréhaa, Kalhaidhoo, Kalhéfalaa, Kalhehigillaa, Kalhéhuttaa, Kalhéréhaa, Kanandhoo, Kandeddhoo, Kannigilla, Kautihulhudhoo, Kélaihuttaa, Keraminthaa, Kereddhoo, Kéyhuvadhoo, Kodaanahuttaa, Kodédhoo, Kodégalaa, Koduhutigallaa, Kodurataa, Konontaa, Kudhé-ehivakaa, Kudhéhulheddhoo, Kudhélifadhoo, Kudhérataa, Kudhukélaihuttaa, Kurikeymaahuttaa, Laihaa, Lifadhoo, Lonudhoo, Lonudhoohuttaa, Maadhoo, Maaéhivakaa, Maagodiréhaa, Maahéraa, Maahutigallaa, Maarehaa, Maavaarulaa, Maaveddhoo, Maguddhoo, Mainaadhoo, Mallaaréhaa, Mariyankoyya Rataa, Mathaidhoo, Mathihuttaa, Mathikera-nanahuththaa, Meehunthibenehuttaa, Menthandhoo, Meragihuttaa, Meyragilla, Mudhimaahuttaa, Odavarréhaa, Oinigillaa, Olhimuntaa, Olhurataa, Raabadaaféhéreehataa, Rahadhoo, Ralhéodagallaa, Reddhahuttaa, Rodhevarrehaa, Thelehuttaa, Thinéhuttaa, Ukurihuttaa, Ulégalaa, Vairéyaadhoo, Vatavarréhaa, Véraavillingillaa, Villigalaa

Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll (Gaaf Dhaal, South Huvadhoo) is an administrative district of the Republic of Maldives, its capital is Thinadhoo . Gaafu Dhaalu is a grouping of 153 islands, 10 of which are inhabited. Located 340 kilometres south of the capital of Malé. Geographically it comprises the south-western part of Huvadhu Atoll.

Independent travellers to Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll require special permission to leave the tourist zone and visit inhabited islands.

Gaafu Alif Atoll

2007-03-29T00:39:00.000+05:00

Atoll Summary
Administrative name Gaafu Alifu Atoll
Atoll name Huvadhu Atoll
Location 0° 55' N and 0° 28' N
Letter P
Abbreviation GA (ގއ)
Capital Vilingili
Population 12116
No. of Islands 82
Inhabited Islands 10
Atoll Chief Abulla Saeed [1]
Inhabited Islands
Dhaandhoo Dhevvadhoo Dhiyadhoo Gemanafushi Kanduhulhudhoo Kolamaafushi Kondey Maamendhoo Nilandhoo Vilingili
Uninhabited Islands
Araigaiththaa Baavandhoo Baberaahuttaa Bakeiththaa Beyruhuttaa Beyrumaddoo Bihuréhaa Boaddoo Bodéhuttaa Budhiyahuttaa Dhevvalaabadhoo Dhevvamaagalaa Dhigémaahuttaa Dhigudhoo Dhigurah Dhonhuseenahuttaa Falhumaafushi Falhuverrehaa Farudhulhudhoo Fénéhuttaa Fenrahaa Fenrahaahuttaa Funadhoovillingili Funamaddoo Galamadhoo Haagevillaa Hadahaa Hagedhoo Heenamaagalaa Hirihuttaa Hithaadhoo Hithaadhoogalaa Hulhimendhoo Hunadhoo Hurendhoo Idimaa Innaréhaa Kalhehuttaa Kalhudhiréhaa Kanduvillingili Keesseyréhaa Kendheraa Koduhuttaa Kondeymatheelaabadhoo Kondeyvillingili Kudalafari Kuddoo Kudhébondeyyo Kudhéfehélaa Kudhéhuttaa Kureddhoo Lhossaa Maadhiguvaru Maaféhélaa Maagehuttaa Maakanaarataa Maamutaa Maarandhoo Maaréhaa Mahaddhoo Maththidhoo Maththuréhaa Médhuburiyaa Médhuhuttaa Medhuréhaa Melaimu Meradhoo Minimensaa Munaagala Munandhoo Odagallaa Raaverrehaa Rinbidhoo Thinrukéréhaa Uhéréhaa Viligillaa Vodamulaa

Laamu Atoll

2007-03-29T00:27:00.000+05:00

Atoll Summary
Administrative name Laamu Atoll
Atoll name Haddhunmathi
Location 2° 08' N and 1° 47' N
Letter O
Abbreviation L (ލ)
Capital Fonadhoo
Population 14313
No. of Islands 82
Inhabited Islands 12
Atoll Chief Mohamed Naeem [1]
Inhabited Islands
Dhanbidhoo Fonadhoo Gaadhoo Gan Hithadhoo Isdhoo Kalaidhoo Kunahandhoo Maabaidhoo Maamendhoo Maavah Mundoo
Uninhabited Islands
Athahédha, Berasdhoo, Bileitheyrahaa, Bodufenrahaa, Bodufinolhu, Boduhuraa, Bodumaabulhali, Bokaiffushi, Dhekunu Vinagandu, Faés, Fonagaadhoo, Fushi, Gasfinolhu, Guraidhoo, Hanhushi, Hedha, Holhurahaa, Hulhimendhoo, Hulhisdhoo, Hulhiyandhoo, Kaddhoo, Kalhuhuraa, Kandaru, Kudafares, Kudafushi, Kudahuraa, Kudakalhaidhoo, Kukurahaa, Maakaulhuveli, Maandhoo, Maaveshi, Mahakanfushi, Medhafushi, Medhoo, Medhufinolhu, Medhuvinagandu, Munyafushi, Olhutholhu, Olhuveli, Thunburi, Thundudhoshufushi Nolhoo, Uthuruvinagandu, Uvadhevifushi, Vadinolhu, Veligandufinolhu, Ziyaaraiffushi

Haddhunmathi Atoll or Laamu is an administrative division of the Maldives. It corresponds to the natural atoll of the same name.

NOTE: Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Shaviyani, Noonu, Raa, Baa, etc. (including 'Laamu' as well) are code letters assigned to the present administrative divisions of the Maldives. They are not the proper names of these divisions or atolls. The order followed by the code letters is from North to South, beginning with the first letters of the Dhivehi alphabet. These code letters are not accurate from the geographical and cultural point of view. However, they have become popular among tourists and foreigners in the Maldives who find them easier to pronounce than the true atoll names in Dhivehi, (save a few exceptions, like Ari Atoll).

Four Season Resort Hotel

2007-03-28T01:13:00.000+05:00

LOCATION

The Resort is a 25-minute speedboat ride from the Malé International Airport on the island of Huhule. Huhule is approximately 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Kuda Huraa.

Malé International Airport is served by a number of international and charter airlines, including Aeroflot, Air Europe, Air Holland, Air Madeira, Sri Lankan Airlines, Airtours International, Air 2000, Austrian Airlines, Balair, Balkan Airlines, Britannia, Cathay Pacific, Condor, Cross Air, Emirates, Eurofly, Indian Airlines, Monarch Airways, Pakistan International Airlines, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines.

Visitors must possess a passport valid through their stay on the island. Most visitors are given a 30-day visitor's permit on arrival. Citizens of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh or Nepal receive a 90-day permit. Visitors should consult their local consulate for visa requirements.

ACCOMMODATION
Bungalows
Cosy, comfortably appointed Beach Bungalows feature a private deck with views of the surrounding vegetation, and offer one king bed or two single beds. Beach Bungalows with Pool offer more expansive outdoor living spaces, with the luxury of a private plunge pool and an outdoor shower. Water Bungalows include a spacious bedroom and sitting area, a secluded verandah for sunbathing and steps down to the clear water of the lagoon.
Villas
Navaranna Water Villas offer a separate living room, bedroom and two full bathrooms. These villas feature a furnished verandah with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean, steps down into the water and a private outdoor shower. The exceptionally large Kuda Huraa Beach Villa includes a luxuriously appointed living room, two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom and dressing area, and a spacious wooden deck with a private plunge pool.

Four Seasons Explorer Cabins
Cabins on the Four Seasons Explorer catamaran are bright and airy. All cabins are air-conditioned and include a full ensuite bathroom. State Rooms feature twin beds which can be converted into a king bed, while the elegant Explorer Suite offers a king bed, a living area with day bed and couch and an indoor dining area.

Families and Special Needs
Families can be accommodated in a two-bedroom villa or in adjoining bungalows with a common deck. Rollaway beds and cribs are available in some accommodations upon request. We recommend contacting the Resort directly to make the best arrangements. Accommodations for non-smokers are available on request, as are wheelchair-accessible accommodations.

Services and Amenities in your Room
» 100% cotton oversized bath towels
» CD/VCD player available
» Down pillows
» Hair dryer
» In-room safe
» Non-allergenic pillows available
» Refrigerated private bar
» Satellite TV
» Tea/coffee maker
» Twice-daily housekeeping service

DINING
BARAABARU
An elegant dinner at Baraabaru is a memorable affair. Guests may choose to dine in the warmly lit main pavilion or at the lagoon's edge on the deck, under the shimmering stars. The open kitchen features a tandoori oven, where guests can watch as the chefs prepare exotic regional cuisine. The food is complemented by a wine list chosen to suit the tropics, with an emphasis on good light wines and champagne. Service is by dedicated staff who care about making every nuance of the evening just right. Baraabaru seats 78.
Specialties
The menu, which changes frequently, delivers a diverse selection of fresh, locally-caught fish, rice biriyanis (a flavourful Indian specialty: an infusion served in a clay pot) and vegetarian and non-vegetarian specialties prepared by traditional methods.

A children's menu is available throughout the Resort, and our chefs are delighted to prepare children's portions of any dish requested.

REEF CLUB
The Reef Club is the perfect spot to savour a relaxed meal, featuring delicious Italian cuisine. Guests can enjoy a selection of fresh seafood, piping-hot Italian pizzas and grilled meats. The restaurant features a free-standing bar, ideal for a sunset toast, and dining areas outside on the wooden deck beside the ocean or inside under the thatched roof pavilion. Water bungalow guests are welcome to enjoy a breakfast of fresh tropical fruits, juices, cooked-to-order eggs and other specialties of the Reef Club. The Reef Club seats 60.

Specialties
Features antipasti buffet daily. A children's menu is available throughout the Resort.

CAFE HURAA
Café Huraa is the Resort's main restaurant, an open-sided thatched roof pavilion facing the free-form swimming pool and lagoon.

Breakfast has something for everyone. Café Huraa's sumptuous breakfast buffet includes fresh tropical fruits and juices, cereals, homemade breads, grilled meats and vegetables and a made-to-order omelette station.

The lunch menu offers a generous mix of popular dishes from East and West, featuring crisp salads, tasty sandwiches and a variety of innovative and creative meat and seafood choices.

Dinner at Café Huraa is a fun experience. Every evening, guests can enjoy family-style Asian fare featuring a taste of traditional curries, wok-prepared noodles and fresh vegetables, as well as a selection of mouth-watering seafood.

Specialties
Adjacent to the restaurant is the Barbecue Hut. This courtyard setting is the ideal location to savor grilled seafood and succulent meat. Sit outdoors under the shadow of tall hurandi trees and choose a freshly caught fish or lobster from the island dhoni, then watch Four Seasons chefs grill it to perfection. All dinners are accompanied by an extensive selection of homemade sauces and tasty side dishes.

Theme dinner celebrations are presented three nights a week. Indulge in Fisherman's Catch, lobster and crab, or experience steamboat, family-style Chinese table-top cooking.

NAUTILUS LOUNGE
The evening begins here for many guests, with a glorious sunset and cocktails in the Nautilus Lounge. This open-sided pavilion adjoins the reception area and overlooks the jetty and Spa Island. Music complements the relaxed mood, while a tantalising selection of Maldivian cocktails is available into the wee hours.

Afternoon tea is also served in the lounge. Choose from a traditional afternoon tea with finger sandwiches, pastries, scones and Devonshire cream, or a Maldivian afternoon tea with tuna chapatis, coconut scones, and foli and bokiba pastries.

POOLSIDE BAR
The Poolside Bar, built into the main swimming pool, is a popular place to celebrate an invigorating dive or simply relax in the warmth of the midday sun. Tropical drinks and a light snack menu are available throughout the day.

SPA SERVICES
Set in thatched spa pavilions, open to the ocean breezes, tropical gardens and vistas of endless blue sky and sea, The Spa reflects the rejuvenating spa traditions of the East and exotic native rituals from India, Thailand and Indonesia. It includes couples' treatment rooms, steam showers, outdoor garden showers and large soaking tubs.

Most island resorts have their own spa. Our resort's spa has its own island. Sail by the wooden dhoni (a local Maldivian boat) across the lagoon to The Island Spa. Warm tropical breezes gently flow through the open-air facility featuring a reception area, retail space, beauty salon and spacious spa pavilions. Design influences from India and Morocco prevail adding an authentic Arabic flavour. Five (5) thatched-roof treatment pavilions were designed with couples in mind. Each private treatment pavilion has a rectangular viewing port built into the floor decking so you can gaze into the crystal ocean through the face cradle of the massage bed. The Island Spa features innovative ayurvedic, Thai, Indonesian and Maldivian treatments.

POOL
Surrounded by a large sunning deck and with an infinity-edge overlooking the blue horizon, our freshwater swimming pool is one of the largest in the Maldives. A swim-up bar provides refreshments.

HEALTH AND FITNESS
Club Kuda Huraa is a state-of-the-art fitness facility featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, full-length mirrors, surround-sound music system, fitness equipment and the latest cardiovascular machines with individual flatscreen televisions.

RECREATION
DIVING
Open Water Course
We offer PADI courses in Japanese, German, Russian, French and English. The Open Water Certification course consists of four days of training in both theory and practical sessions. Upon successful completion, the certification is recognised worldwide and will open the door to endless adventures in diving.

Advanced Course
For those interested in expanding their dive horizons, sign-up for the Advanced Course; more time is spent on dives and less time in the classroom. A two-day course with five dives.

Bubblemaker Experience
Join us at the swimming pool as our team of experienced instructors guide you through the steps to exploring the underwater world. It is a pre-requisite that all participants are physically fit and able to swim. For children between 8 to 12 years of age.

Specialty Courses
Enhance your diving skills and knowledge with our Specialty Courses offered: Boat Diver, Underwater Naturalist, Multi-level Diver, Drift Diver, Night Diver, Deep Diver, Search & Recovery and many others.

PADI Discover Scuba Diving Course (2 hours)
Everyone can learn how to dive! Experience the thrill of diving under the close supervision of our PADI instructor. Your course consists of a theory briefing and one controlled ocean dive up to 12 metres. Participants of the Discover Scuba Diving Course must be over 10 years old.

Morning Dives (2-Tank Dives)
Every morning at 8:30 am our dive boats explore two sites. Refreshment of fruits and water is served during surface intervals. Our dive boats will be back at Kuda Huraa at approximately 12:45 pm.

Afternoon Dive (2-Tank Dives)
Every afternoon at 2:30 pm our dive boats explore two sites and will be back at approximately 6:00 pm.

Night Dive
For Advanced Diver, Night Specialty Diver or proofs of previous night dive experience. On request only.

Orientation Dive
If you have not been diving within the last three months and/or have less than 30 logged dives, or have recently completed an Openwater Course from another resort, and/or have less than 30 logged dives from another resort, you are required to do a check-out dive before engaging in boat diving activities. Check-out dives are conducted daily at 3:00 pm in the lagoon. Please present your certification card and log book (if any) when you register for diving.

All divers are advised to refrain from diving 12 hours after flying or 24 hours before flying. A medical clearance must be completed prior to your first dive at Kuda Huraa. Depending on your responses to a questionnaire, you may be required to pass a complimentary medical examination with our doctor.Housereef Dive

Our housereef is located approximately 500 metres from our dive centre. This dive is on request only and unlike the other dives, this dive will not be guided and requires a buddy system. A smaller, outboard engine boat will be used for this dive.

Full Day Safari
This full day excursion gives you the chance to see some of our distant dive sites in the South Malé Atoll. A choice of a 3-tank dive and also a picnic lunch onboard with either dhoni or speed boat. This is a private excursion and available upon request only.

Enriched Air Diver (EANx) Course
Don’t miss this opportunity to get a Nitrox certification in only two days. To enrol, you will have to be at least 15 years of age with an Advanced Diver certification or an Openwater Diver with at least 10 logged dives beyond Openwater training dives.

SURFING
Surfing Excursions
From April to October, the Maldives is blessed with some of the best surfing conditions on earth. Four Seasons Resort Maldives is located only a few minutes' boat ride from some of the best surf breaks to be found.

Our top surf sites are:
Sultans (Thamburudhoo Right), located on an uninhabited island on the eastern reef of North Malé Atoll. This is one of the most consistent waves of Malé Atoll, which never closes out, even on the biggest swells. The takeoff is a steep outside peak called "Phantoms," which slingshots into a very long, walled, super-fast section called the "Pinnacles," over 1 metre (4 feet) high. All three sections can be thrilling, almost insane tubes. Rides are 91–137 metres (100–150 yards).

Honky’s (Thamburudhoo Left), adjacent to "Sultans" on the eastern reef of the North Malé Atoll. Starts small and increases in size and intensity as it wraps 90 degrees around the island. A 1.8-metre (6-foot) wave on the takeoff ends up at least 2.4 metres (8 feet) on the end section, called "Fred’s Ledge." There are long rides and tubes through all sections, best on low tides unless the swell is huge. Best months for this wave are February, March and April – affected by strong currents in the southwest monsoon from May to October.

Named after of a poultry farm on the island, Chickens is located at Villingilimathi Huraa (Kuda Villingili), another uninhabited island on the eastern reef of North Malé Atoll. A pleasant thin, peeling, racing lip, when conditions are perfect.

Daily boat rides to surf breaks are available for the competent surfer. Your experience can also be recorded on video for posterity.

Surfing Instruction
An accredited Tropicsurf instructor is available to assist with all your surfing needs.

Surfing for Beginners
Learn how to surf in informative and fun introductory lagoon sessions, or take a level 1-certificate course that enables you to get out amongst the breaks and ride your first wave.

Surfer Improvement Clinic
Whether you're a beginner or a professional, we have a progressive certificate and instructional programme to help you attain your surfing goals. The combination of near-perfect waves with video analysis will assist you with anything from your "jump-up" to your tube-riding skills.

Water Sports Centre
Complimentary snorkels, masks, fins and non-motorized water sports such as sailboats, catamarans and state-of-the-art windsurfing equipment are available at the water sports centre daily. Motorized water sports equipment is available for a rental charge.

FOUR SEASON EXPLORER
A unique way to experience the Maldives while the Resort prepares for reopening, Four Seasons Explorer allows avid divers, water enthusiasts, nature lovers and 21st-century explorers to discover remote shores and rarely visited dive/snorkelling sites among the untouched reaches of the exotic atolls.
Also a wonderful complement to Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, this 11-cabin, three-deck catamaran takes you island-hopping in inimitable Four Seasons style. Limited to 22 passengers, this private cruise experience goes far beyond the normal beach escape. With ample on-board activities and a choice of three-, four- or seven-night cruises, Four Seasons Explorer offers an unforgettable vacation for divers and non-divers alike. Children over the age of 10 years are welcome.

Hulhule Island Hotel

2007-03-28T01:01:00.000+05:00

LOCATION
Hulhule Island Hotel is located on the airport island of Hulhule in the beautiful Maldives. Nestled in tropical landscape, with the sea right at your doorstep. Male, the capital of Maldives is just a 10-minute boat ride from the Hulhule Island Hotel.

ACCOMMODATION

88 luxurious rooms and suites set in exotic tropical décor, with an undisturbed view of the Indian Ocean.

Inside every room you will find everything you need for a perfect stay:

Satellite Television
In-room Safe
International Direct Dialing
Mini Bar
Coffee / Tea making facilities
24-hours Room Service

DINING

Faru Coffee House : Serving European, Japanese, International and local cuisine. Seats 140 people. Open 24 hours. Located at the first level.

Gadhoo Seafood & Grill Restaurant : Perfect Steaks and exciting seafood, complete with a dash of fusion - a perfect combination of Eastern and Western cuisine. Topped with a very respectable wine selection. All set in rustic wood and brick. Seats 40 people. Open for lunch from ll:30 AM - 02:30 PM and for dinner from 06:00 PM - 11:00 PM. Located at the first level.

Captain's Fun Pub: Unwind, relax & dance. The choice is yours with a fine selection of international beers and amazing cocktails in this delightful pub. Seats 80 people. Open from 11:00 AM - 01:00 AM. Located at the first level.

Poolside Bar: Open from 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM

HOTEL FACILITIES AND SERVICES

Hotel Services
Concierge
Currency exchange
Facilitis for the physically challenged
Laundry
Luggage storage
Medical facilities
Parking
Safety deposit box
Business Facilities
Ballroom
Business centre
Conference room(s)
Mail/ courier service
Meeting facilities
Secretarial services
Recreational Facilities
Beach activities
Beauty salon
Canoeing
Diving
Fishing
Jacuzzi
Safari
Sailing
Sauna
Snorkelling
Swimming pool
Wading pool

Kurumba Village Resort

2007-03-28T00:39:00.000+05:00

LOCATION
The resort's name 'Kurumba' is derived from the coconut trees that grow here in glorious abundance. A house reef teeming with exotic marine life makes Kurumba a snorkelling dreamworld . Its turquoise lagoon is perfect to laze in. Or there is a wide range of watersports to exhilarate. A PADI certified dive centre supports serious divers as well as beginners.

The extensive Kurumba spa merges east with west using the life-giving properties of sea plants and minerals as well as indigenous herbs and flowers bringing about lasting rejuvenation.

The resort 's lovingly nurtured tropical gardens include an orchid nursery . Shaded paths lead from one side of this 30-acre circular island to the other. Intimate white beaches are protected by eco-breakwaters of weathered coral.

Seven restaurants including an oceanside bar and a grill serve French , Italian , Japanese , Indian ,Lebanese and Chinese cusines. Live entertainment and a sing along lounge stimulate the evenings.

Kurumba Maldives, pioneered tourism in the Maldives in 1972 . Following complete reconstruction in 2003 it has emerged as a grand resort of distinctive style and panache . Kurumba is a mere 15 minutes by speedboat from touchdown .

ACCOMMODATION
With 180 bungalows and villas dotted throughout the island within verdant foliage only a pace or two from the beach, Kurumba Maldives offers a wide range of luxurious accommodation. The villas and rooms have wooden floors and are elegantly furnished with solid timbre furniture.

ROYAL KURUMBA RESIDENCE- 768 sq. metres
Luxurious two bedroom suite with two swimming pools and a spacious sundeck over the beach ideal for an intimate reception. Entrance is through a courtyard with steps over an ornamental pool with a thatched pavilion and daybeds on either side. A patio gives access to a foyer and drawing room, complete with butler’s pantry and guest washroom.

Doors on either side of the foyer open into the two wings of the Royal Residence; each wing has a walk-in dressing room, opulent bedroom with king-size four-poster bed, veranda onto the beach, and a large, luxurious bathroom leading to a private courtyard with swimming pool and a Jacuzzi, outside shower, and shaded king-size daybed.

4 PRESIDENTIAL VILLAS– from 255 sq metres
The ground floor of each Presidential Villa has a large drawing room off the beachfront veranda and a private swimming pool in a interior courtyard. The large bedroom with king-size four-poster bed offers complete privacy. A balcony overlooks the beach and ocean. a walk-in dressing room and a bathroom with separate glass-walled shower and central marble-sided bathtub, plus an outside patio with Jacuzzi.

8 POOL VILLAS– from 200 sq metres
Each Pool Villa has the luxury of a private swimming pool and a jacuzzi in a garden of flowers and therapeutic stones. There is a graceful waterfall, a lush open-air shower and a daybed for two shaded by a thatched roof pavilion. The private courtyard has an exclusive entrance from the beach or through the villa's enormous bathroom.

16 PRIVATE VILLAS– From 103 Sq metres
The private villa features a separate sitting area with television and adjoining the bedroom with king-size four-poster bed . Large open air bathroom with outdoor shower jacuzzi.

74 DELUXE BUNGALOWS– 74 Sq metres.
A dedicated entrance lobby leads to a teak floor bedroom furnished with a king-size four-poster bed, a day bed, and a window wall opening onto the veranda and beach. There is a dressing room with access to a spacious bathroom complete with two washbasins, a glass-walled shower, a free-standing bathtub, and an open-air sand and stone floored shower garden.

39 DELUXE ROOMS- 50 sq. metres
Cosy, intimate rooms situated on the edge of the sea.

38 SUPERIOR ROOM– 72 Sq metres.
Spacious double storey houses built in graceful colonial style with , each house comprising four rooms . Every room has teak floor and private beach view terrace or lover’s balcony. The bedroom leads to a bright, spacious bathroom partly open to the sky.

ACCOMMODATION
With 180 bungalows and villas dotted throughout the island within verdant foliage only a pace or two from the beach, Kurumba Maldives offers a wide range of luxurious accommodation. The villas and rooms have wooden floors and are elegantly furnished with solid timbre furniture.

ROYAL KURUMBA RESIDENCE- 768 sq. metres
Luxurious two bedroom suite with two swimming pools and a spacious sundeck over the beach ideal for an intimate reception. Entrance is through a courtyard with steps over an ornamental pool with a thatched pavilion and daybeds on either side. A patio gives access to a foyer and drawing room, complete with butler’s pantry and guest washroom.

Doors on either side of the foyer open into the two wings of the Royal Residence; each wing has a walk-in dressing room, opulent bedroom with king-size four-poster bed, veranda onto the beach, and a large, luxurious bathroom leading to a private courtyard with swimming pool and a Jacuzzi, outside shower, and shaded king-size daybed.

4 PRESIDENTIAL VILLAS– from 255 sq metres
The ground floor of each Presidential Villa has a large drawing room off the beachfront veranda and a private swimming pool in a interior courtyard. The large bedroom with king-size four-poster bed offers complete privacy. A balcony overlooks the beach and ocean. a walk-in dressing room and a bathroom with separate glass-walled shower and central marble-sided bathtub, plus an outside patio with Jacuzzi.

8 POOL VILLAS– from 200 sq metres
Each Pool Villa has the luxury of a private swimming pool and a jacuzzi in a garden of flowers and therapeutic stones. There is a graceful waterfall, a lush open-air shower and a daybed for two shaded by a thatched roof pavilion. The private courtyard has an exclusive entrance from the beach or through the villa's enormous bathroom.

16 PRIVATE VILLAS– From 103 Sq metres
The private villa features a separate sitting area with television and adjoining the bedroom with king-size four-poster bed . Large open air bathroom with outdoor shower jacuzzi.

74 DELUXE BUNGALOWS– 74 Sq metres.
A dedicated entrance lobby leads to a teak floor bedroom furnished with a king-size four-poster bed, a day bed, and a window wall opening onto the veranda and beach. There is a dressing room with access to a spacious bathroom complete with two washbasins, a glass-walled shower, a free-standing bathtub, and an open-air sand and stone floored shower garden.

39 DELUXE ROOMS- 50 sq. metres
Cosy, intimate rooms situated on the edge of the sea.

38 SUPERIOR ROOM– 72 Sq metres.
Spacious double storey houses built in graceful colonial style with , each house comprising four rooms . Every room has teak floor and private beach view terrace or lover’s balcony. The bedroom leads to a bright, spacious bathroom partly open to the sky.

SPA
The architecture of our spa draws on the inspiration of ancient Maldives .You are guided across a stone walkway embedded in water, to your single or double treatment rooms. The design is drawn from an ancestry of care and wisdom, of balance and serenity.

The Kurumba Spa offers spirited experiences with water to bring about lasting rejuvenation. The menu of the Spa merges east with west using the universal and life-giving properties of fresh seawater, nutritious sea plants and minerals as well as indigenous plants, herbs and flowers from Nature. The environment is natural and understated to make you feel at home. Each guest is offered a complimentary health consultation. Whilst one can book into the day long pre-packaged wellness programmes , we custom-design treatments to suit individuals lifestyle.

MALDİVES VİDEO

2007-03-26T00:22:00.000+05:00

Maldives 2005

Maldives Underwater Video

Manta ray in Maldives

Paradise Island Resort

2007-03-25T04:00:00.000+05:00

LOCATION

Paradise Island is a 5 star resort island with absolutely everything for the sun worshippers. The island is close to the nations' capital island of Male'. The island measures nearly 1 km in length and about 500 metres in width. Transfer: Speedboat transfer takes approximately 20 minutes to reach this sprawling resort. Due to the close proximity to the Airport, night time transfers are also conveniently arranged.

ACCOMMODATION

There are 40 Water Bungalows and 260 Beach Bungalows, in all - the third largest resort in the country. There is little difference between the bungalows, except for the views of, and steps down into, the lagoon. Each room has everything you could ask for and probably more: from a bidet and hairdryer to a large ten channel satellite TV. and fully stocked minibar. What the room doesn't have is any character or personal touch, but the bed is comfortable and everything else is clean, tidy and bright.All the rooms are well situated, with excellent infrastructure. On the whole the beaches are remarkably good for being reclaimed, and the head gardener has done a marvelous job. Thus today the island is fully developed, and the greenly environment will give you an excellent holiday. The lagoon is huge, shallow, leaving a lot of space for a good swim. Snorkeling trips are organized, for the close by reefs and the island reefs.

DINING

Main Restaurant serves buffets and Ristorante al Tramonto for genuine Italian dishes. Fukuya Teppanyaki featuring traditional Japanese dishes, Dhavani Restaurant for a light lunch or an afternoon snack and Sunrise Restaurant provides special candlelit dinners for honeymooners and specializes in Seafood. Other specialties include Oriental, Maldives and European dishes.

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES

Land Sports: Gymnasium, basketball, volleyball, badminton, tennis and table tennis, stream, bath sauna, and board games including billiard and dart. Water Sports: Catamaran, parasailing, banana boat riding, canoeing, ring o' riding, knee board, windsurfing, snorkelling, water scooter, water skiing, water bikes, paddleboats and snorkelling, safaris. Excursions: Island hopping / half day & full day, morning / night fishing and big game fishing.

HOTEL SERVICES AND AMENITIES

Main Bar Steam Bath, Beauty Saloon Japanese Shiatsu Massage, Sauna Laundry service, Business Center Jacuzzi, Conference facilities Pizza Express, E-mail & Internet facilities at back office Porters, First Aid Club Green (Putting Green, Flood-lit), Electronic Game Center Safe Deposit at reception, Guest relation Officer Swimming pool, In-house Doctor Children pool, Chilled Pond Video Screens, Souvenir Shop Jewelry shop and Electronic Shop Photo Shop.

Meeru Island Resort

2007-03-25T03:38:00.000+05:00

LOCATION

Meeru Island Resort, fondly known as Meeru by friends, offers a relaxing casual atmosphere. A large island by local standards, much of the island remains untouched, with its natural vegetation intact. It is certainly the resort for you if you would prefer to kick off your shoes and enjoy a casual atmosphere in which to relax.

The island is covered in soft white sand. The floors of the reception and other public areas too are layered with soft sand.

As you approach the island you will be surprised at the lack of any man-made structures visible through the thick vegetation of the shoreline, fringed with tall coconut palms.

Winding walkways lined with palm trees lead you to the reception with its thatched roofing that blends in perfectly with the natural surroundings. We offer you the Maldives, simply at its best.

However there is nothing simple about the services we provide or the facilities available at the resort. All this is provided without pomp and formality.

Meeru has one of the biggest dive schools in the country, and its remote location in Male' Atoll gives it access to many excellent dive sites that are hardly ever visited by any others.

However you do not have to be a diver to enjoy Meeru. There are a variety of other water sports and land sports that you will certainly enjoy.

None of this is important if you wish to take part in the most popular holiday activity here - relaxation. The island is large enough for you to find your own private little hideaway on the beach for the day. Or simply find a perch at the popular poolside and spare yourself the effort.

ACCOMMODATION

We offer a choice in the type of accommodation for your stay on Meeru. All are comfortable and provides all the basic amenities. However some provide more comforts than the others with more space and privacy.

All the rooms are air-conditioned and equipped with ceiling fan. All provide the convenience of en suite bathroom, IDD telephone and mini fridge.

276 Rooms including 76 Standard, 77 Land Villas, 61 Jacuzzi Villas, 29 Water Villas, 30 Jacuzzi Water Villas, 2 Honeymoon Suites, the Coral Suite and the Dolphin Suite. All rooms features tropical décor, two twins, one queen or one king size bed, tile or wood floors, private patio with furniture, air-conditioning, overhead ceiling fan, sitting area, stocked Mini Bar with refrigerator, tea/coffee machine, IDD telephone, personal safe, bathroom with hot water, shower, bath accessories, hair dryer, and nightly turndown service. Electricity is 220VAC, 50HZ. Also provided is complimentary use of chaise lounges at the pool and beach and beach towel Tariffs are quoted in US$ per Room, per Night, Full Board, and include Bed Tax

DINING AND BARS

No fuss dining, just good food is the order of the day at Meeru. No dressing up to impress. Just stroll in from the beach or from your room and sit down and enjoy. The only house rule is, no wet suits or wet clothes are allowed in the dining area.

There is one restaurant, two coffee shops and three bars where you will find everything you want, and at all hours of the day. So just continue to have fun and there'll be plenty of food on offer just when you want it.

The Farivalhu Restaurant, the main dining room, with traditional sand floor, serves “all you can eat” buffet style meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, for Meal Plan guests; and as well, three “optional” a la carte restaurants - The Hungaanu Coffee Shop, serving an all day dining menu; The Asian Wok, specializing in Thai, Indian, Chinese and Maldivian cuisine; the Hagern, serving a grilled seafood menu aboard a “restaurant” yacht anchored in the lagoon; and two other “optional” choices, Room Service, and a selection of very special dinners served on the Beach!

The Dhoni Bar, located on the beach, beside the pool; the Kakuni Bar, featuring sports bar facilities such as table games and all day, color satellite TV coverage of international sporting events; the Club 1919 Bar, aboard a yacht anchored in the lagoon; the Beach Bar at the southern end of the island; and a “bar cart” on wheels, providing a convenient service to guests lounging along the beach.

SPORTS SERVICES

Although Meeru is perfect for a relaxing holiday just lazing on the beach we also have a wide selection of activities for those people who want to enjoy some exciting land or water sports. You can have loads of fun, both in, out of and on the water, so you won't be able to complain of having nothing to do.

ACTIVITIES

Much as you'd expect from a resort that prides itself on being a place for those who have energy and want to have some fun, we offer an action packed itinerary for you to choose from. You can pick any number of activities that will give you an experience to remember.

DIVING

Many visitors come to the Maldives to enjoy the unique, beautiful under water scenery. With excellent dive sites in the area Meeru is the ideal choice for a diving holiday.

More than 50 dive spots offer something for everyone. Leisurely dives on reefs protected from strong currents exciting drift dives in channels and wreck dives.

The marine life includes a fantastic variety of hard and soft corals, dense schools of reef fish and regular encounters with dolphins, sea turtles and pelagic fish like Manta Rays, Eagle Rays, Sharks, Barracudas and Tunas.

Ocean-Pro also offers snorkelling excursions and courses. On these popular trips 2 reefs are visited and dolphins, turtles and rays can be seen.

SPA

There are many paths to wellness. Duniye Spa offers an exquisite range of treatments to start you on your journey. Our menu is flavoured by the world's time-honoured beauty, healing and rejuvenation traditions. These ancient traditions are reflected in the way the treatments are delivered-with mindfulness, grace and a spirit of generosity.

At Duniye Spa our philosophy follows a natural approach to body and skin care which infuses ancient beauty therapies. Our Thai, Indian and Balinese Staff are trained professionally in the health and beauty industry and deliver treatments from the heart and give for the sheer joy of giving.

For the ultimate Spa experience, enjoy a package to discover total wellness or simply enjoy one of the various treatments offered from our diverse Spa Menu. An unforgettable experience awaits you.

Earthquake characteristics

2007-03-25T03:35:00.000+05:00

The earthquake was initially reported as moment magnitude, Mw 9.0 (note that this is not the so-called Richter scale or local magnitude scale, Ml, which is known to saturate at higher magnitudes.) In February 2005 scientists revised the estimate of the magnitude to Mw9.3.[6] Although the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has accepted these new numbers, the United States Geological Survey has so far not changed its estimate of 9.1. The most recent studies in 2006 have obtained a magnitude of Mw 9.1 to 9.3. Dr. Hiroo Kanamori of the California Institute of Technology believes that Mw = 9.2 is a good representative value for the size of this great earthquake. Reference: EERI Publication 2006-06, page 14 [www.eeri.org]

The hypocentre of the main earthquake was at 3.316°N, 95.854°E (3°19′N 95°51.24′E), approximately 160 km (100 mi) west of Sumatra, at a depth of 30 km (19 mi) below mean sea level (initially reported as 10 km). The earthquake itself (apart from the tsunami) was felt as far away as Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore and the Maldives.

Indonesia lies between the Pacific Ring of Fire along the north-eastern islands adjacent to and including New Guinea and the Alpide belt along the south and west from Sumatra, Java, Bali, Flores, and Timor. The December 2004 earthquake actually occurred within the Alpide belt.[citation needed]

Great earthquakes such as the Sumatra-Andaman event, which are invariably associated with megathrust events in subduction zones, have seismic moments that can account for a significant fraction of the global earthquake moment across century-scale time periods. The Sumatra-Andaman earthquake was the largest earthquake since 1964, and the second largest since the Kamchatka earthquake of October 16, 1737.

Of all the seismic moment released by earthquakes in the 100 years from 1906 through 2005, roughly one-eighth was due to the Sumatra-Andaman event. This quake, together with the Good Friday Earthquake (Alaska, 1964) and the Great Chilean Earthquake (1960), account for almost half of the total moment. The much smaller but still catastrophic 1906 San Francisco earthquake is included in the diagram at right for perspective. Mw denotes the magnitude of an earthquake on the moment magnitude scale.

Since 1900 the only earthquakes recorded with a greater magnitude were the 1960 Great Chilean Earthquake (magnitude 9.5) and the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake in Prince William Sound (9.2). The only other recorded earthquake of magnitude 9.0 or greater was off Kamchatka, Russia, on November 4, 1952 (magnitude 9.0).[7] Each of these megathrust earthquakes also spawned tsunamis in the Pacific Ocean, but the death toll from these was significantly lower. The worst of these caused only a few thousand deaths, primarily because of the lower population density along the coasts near affected areas and the much greater distances to more populated coasts.

Other very large megathrust earthquakes occurred in 1868 (Peru, Nazca Plate and South American Plate); 1827 (Colombia, Nazca Plate and South American Plate); 1812 (Venezuela, Caribbean Plate and South American Plate) and 1700 (Cascadia Earthquake, western U.S. and Canada, Juan de Fuca Plate and North American Plate). These are all believed to have been of greater than magnitude 9, but no accurate measurements were available at the time.

2004 Indian Ocean earthquake

2007-03-25T03:26:00.000+05:00

The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake,[1] was a great undersea earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC (07:58:53 local time) December 26, 2004 with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The earthquake triggered a series of devastating tsunamis along the coasts of most landmasses bordering the Indian Ocean, killing large numbers of people and inundating coastal communities across South and Southeast Asia, including parts of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand. Although initial estimates had put the worldwide death toll at over 275,000 with thousands of others missing, more recent analysis compiled by the United Nations lists a total of 229,866 people lost, including 186,983 dead and 42,883 missing.[2] The figure excludes 400 to 600 people who are believed to have perished in Myanmar which is more than that government's official figure of only 61 dead.[3] The catastrophe is one of the deadliest disasters in modern history. The disaster is known in Asia and in the international media as the Asian Tsunami, and also called the Boxing Day Tsunami in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom as it took place on Boxing Day. Coincidentally, the tsunami occurred exactly one year after the 2003 earthquake that devastated the southern Iranian city of Bam and exactly two years before the 2006 Hengchun earthquake.

The magnitude of the earthquake was originally recorded as 9.0 on the Richter scale, but has been upgraded to between 9.1 and 9.3. At this magnitude, it is the second largest earthquake ever recorded on a seismograph. This earthquake was also reported to be the longest duration of faulting ever observed, lasting between 500(8.3 minutes) and 600(10 minutes)seconds, and it was large enough that it caused the entire planet to vibrate as much as half an inch, or over a centimetre.[4] It also triggered earthquakes in other locations as far away as Alaska.[5]

The earthquake originated in the Indian Ocean just north of Simeulue island, off the western coast of northern Sumatra. The resulting tsunami devastated the shores of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and other countries with waves up to 30 m (100 ft). It caused serious damage and deaths as far as the east coast of Africa, with the farthest recorded death due to the tsunami occurring at Rooi Els in South Africa, 8,000 km (5,000 mi) away from the epicentre. In total, eight people in South Africa died due to abnormally high sea levels and waves.

Thaa Atoll

2007-03-25T03:21:00.000+05:00

Atoll Summary
Administrative name Thaa Atoll
Atoll name Kolhumadulu Atoll
Location 2° 34' N and 2° 10' N
Letter N
Abbreviation Th (ތ)
Capital Veymandoo
Population 13846
No. of Islands 66
Inhabited Islands 13
Atoll Chief -
Inhabited Islands
Burunee Dhiyamingili Gaadhiffushi Guraidhoo Hirilandhoo Kandoodhoo Kinbidhoo Madifushi Omadhoo Thimarafushi Vandhoo Veymandoo Vilufushi

Dhaalu Atoll

2007-03-25T03:11:00.000+05:00

Atoll Summary
Administrative name Dhaalu Atoll
Atoll name Nilandhé Atoll
Location 3° 20' N and 3° 03' N
Letter M
Abbreviation Dh (ދ)
Capital Kudahuvadhoo
Population 6694
No. of Islands 56
Inhabited Islands 8
Atoll Chief Mohamed Shafeeu [1]
Inhabited Islands
Bandidhoo Gemendhoo Hulhudheli Kudahuvadhoo Maaenboodhoo Meedhoo Rinbudhoo Vaanee
Uninhabited Islands
Aluvifushi Bodufushi Bulhalafushi Dhebaidhoo Dhoores Enboodhoofushi Faandhoo Gaadhiffushi Hiriyanfushi Hudhufusheefinolhu Hulhuvehi Issari Kandinma Kanneiyfaru Kedhigandu Kiraidhoo Lhohi Maadheli Maafushi Maagau Maléfaru Meedhuffushi Minimasgali Naibukaloabodufushi Olhuveli Thilabolhufushi Thinhuraa Uddhoo Valla Vallalhohi Velavaroo Vonmuli

Dhaalu Atoll is one of 26 atolls that are located in the Maldives. Its 56 islands stretch 23km from east to west, and 38km north to south. Eight of the islands are inhabited, with a total population of around 6694. Opened to tourism in 1998, the atoll has become a popular location for SCUBA diving. The capital island is Kudahuvadhoo, located at the atoll's southern tip.

Faafu Atoll

2007-03-23T02:27:00.000+05:00

Faafu Atoll (F.) is located between latitude 3° 20' N and 3° 03' N. Situated to the south of Alif Dhaalu Atoll, Faafu Atoll has 5 inhabited islands , 1 resort and a few uninhabited islands. Eventhough the atoll is relatively small, most of the inhabited islands are large with relatively small populations. Nilandhoo, the capital has a population of about 1500 while Dharaboodhoo has less than 500 person

Meemu Atoll

2007-03-23T02:11:00.000+05:00

Atoll Summary
Administrative name
Meemu Atoll
Atoll name
Mulaku Atoll
Location
3° 11' N and 2° 45' N
Letter
K
Abbreviation
M (މ)
Capital
Muli
Population
6459
No. of Islands
33
Inhabited Islands
9
Atoll Chief
Ahmed Saavi
Inhabited Islands
Dhiggaru Kolhufushi Madifushi Maduvvaree Mulah Muli Naalaafushi Raimmandhoo Veyvah

Meemu Atoll (M.) is located between latitude 3° 11' N and 2° 45' N. Situated to the south of Vaavu Atoll, Meemu Atoll has 9 inhabited islands with populations ranging from 1500 in Mulah to 850 in Muli, the atoll capital. There are two tourist resorts and a number of small uninhabited islands. Meemu Atoll is famous for fishing notaby Dhiggaru and Maduvvari has a combined population of about 1800.

Malé

2007-03-23T02:03:00.000+05:00

Island summary
Belongs to Kaafu Atoll
Location 4°10′N 73°30′E
Population 81,647 (2004)
Length 1.7 km / 1.05 miles
Width 1.0 km / 0.62 miles

Malé (Dhivehi: މާލެ), (pronounced: "Maa-lay") population 81,647 (2004), is the capital of the Republic of Maldives. The city is located on Malé Island in the Kaafu Atoll. Although Malé is geographically located in Kaafu Atoll, administratively it is not considered part of it. A commercial harbour is located in the Island. It is the heart of all commercial activities in the country. Many government buildings and agencies are located on the waterfront. Malé International Airport is on adjacent Hulhule Island which includes a seaplane base for internal transportation. Several land reclamation projects have expanded the harbour. Malé is located at 4°10' North, 73°30' East (4.1667, 73.5).

The town of Malé was founded by Portuguese traders in the 16th century.

The island is heavily urbanised, the city taking up essentially its entire landmass. It is the world's most densely populated city (see list of selected cities by population density). Slightly less than one third of the nation's population lives in the capital city. Many, if not most, Maldivians and foreign workers in Maldives find themselves in occasional short term residence on the island due to it being the only entry point to the nation and the centre of all administration and bureaucracy.

The town is divided into four divisions; Henveiru, Galolhu, Maafannu and Machangolhi. Male'viligili (a near by island) is the fifth division considered by the government.

Malé was struck by the tsunami that swept across the western coast of Sumatra on December 26, 2004. It was affected by the Indian Ocean earthquake which followed with the waves flooding two-thirds of the city. The earthquake and subsequent tsunamis reportedly killed over 220,000 people around the rim of the Indian Ocean.

The name
The name Malé is taken from the word "Mahaalay" which has come from the Sanskrit language. The name is derived from maha, meaning "big" or "great" and aalay meaning house. Generally the word Mahaalay is used for the palace of a king or capital (king's island) in Sanskrit, e.g. Mahaalay of King Asok

Banyan Tree

2007-03-23T01:30:00.000+05:00

LOCATION

The Maldives is the best-kept secret of the Indian Ocean, 'paradise lost' waiting to be rediscovered. The 26 atolls and 1,190 beautiful sun-kissed islands south of Sri Lanka are nothing short of a natural wonder with their untouched Eco-systems and unparalleled bio-diversity. With over 900 species of fish, the Maldives boasts some of the most breathtaking dive sites in the world.Occupying the entire island of Vabbinfaru, the jewel of the North Malé Atoll, Banyan Tree Maldives Vabbinfaru lies in secluded luxury, yet merely 20 minutes by speedboat from the airport and Malé, the capital of the Maldives. Surrounded by dazzling white talc sand and the bluest of waters teeming with an astonishing abundance of soft corals and fish sparkling in brilliant colors, the exquisite beauty of this tropical haven is all yours. The beaches and surrounding waters remain accessible only to our guests.

ACCOMMODATION

Vabbinfaru Villa
Stay at the lavish Vabbinfaru Villa for an extravagant beach hideaway with a personal touch, including a chilled bottle of champagne upon arrival. Enjoy the luxury of a large landscaped garden with ocean views, al fresco living pavilion, beach ‘sala’ pavilion, sundeck, Jacuzzi and outdoor shower. Families can opt for two or three inter-connecting Deluxe Beachfront Villas. Ample space makes the Vabbinfaru Villa ideal for small wedding parties; yet, priceless privacy can be found within each villa. Sit back and let the shooting stars fall into your lap.

Deluxe Beachfront Villa
The natural beauty of Vabbinfaru Island can now be experienced in the plush comfort of the new Deluxe Beachfront Villa. The stylish interior has been designed to be bright and breezy – it opens on to a large sundeck at the front that leads to the powder-soft beach and into a glitzy bathroom at the back with an outdoor Jacuzzi and garden shower. Here you can take part in the play of nature and count the hues of the changing sky, as the stunning sunrise, sunset and star-filled night sky leave their shimmering reflections on the lagoon.

Deluxe Oceanview Villa
The new Deluxe Oceanview Villa invites you to relish the heavenly tranquility of an enchanting garden from your own pavilion. While featuring the same facilities and comfort as a Deluxe Beachfront Villa, the secluded garden setting of the new Deluxe Oceanview Villa is much treasured for its generous space, privacy and shady greenery. The beach peeps through the leaves and entices you to soak up a golden tan, laze around and see your footsteps disappear in the sand as the winds blow from the sea. A heavenly place to pamper yourself with an in-villa BBQ or soothing massage.

Beachfront Villa
With its private outdoor Jacuzzi and sundeck by the beach, the Beachfront Villa is ideally suited for a romantic getaway. Watch the spectacular ocean vista unfold from the terrace, while the balmy sea breeze cools the room. Or step onto the silky sand of the beach and swim above the virtually untouched house reef with its glorious display of color and the occasional trumpet fish, harmless baby shark and turtle.

Oceanview Villa
The Oceanview Villa delivers unparalleled privacy with its very own open-air Jacuzzi on a wooden patio and a sala (pavilion) in the walled garden. Relax under the shade of the pavilion while sipping your cocktail. Immerse yourself in the bubbling waters of the Jacuzzi and feel the tension seep away from your body as you drift off to the sound of waves lapping on the picture-perfect shores.

DINING AND BARS

Day or night, wining and dining in the breathtaking natural beauty of the Maldives is simply unforgettable. A romantic experience you will cherish forever. Banyan Tree Maldives Vabbinfaru offers excellent dining choices ranging from eclectic Maldivian and International cuisine at Ilaafathi restaurant to candlelit dinners under the stars. You can be sure that the cuisine is delectable, the setting exquisite and the atmosphere awe-inspiring. Bon Appetit or Ufaaveri Keumeh, as they say in Dhivehi.

Ilaafathi Restaurant
Tuck into scrumptious Maldivian and International treats in the casual setting of Ilaafathi restaurant. Set right on the beach with a natural Alang-Alang roof, this beachfront eatery serves extravagant buffet breakfasts and superb set dinners that will make you come back for more.

Naiboli Bar
Appetizing snacks are served all day long at our open-air Naiboli Bar, along with your favorite cocktails. You can while away many happy hours here chatting with friends, having a game of snooker, or simply unwinding in the warm and friendly atmosphere. Perfect for a light appetite in the middle of the day.

Private Dining
Fancy having a wildly romantic candlelit barbecue dinner in the intimacy of your villa or by the beach? We'll arrange that for you and even provide you with your very own private chef and waiter. Spoilt by our attentive service and fine cuisine, you will feel pampered like royalty.

Sandbank Dining
Have you ever dreamt of sweeping your loved one off the feet with a romantic dinner that is out of this world? Let your imagination run wild and we'll make your dreams come true by taking you to a stunning sandbank by speedboat. The breathtaking view of the sun setting over the Indian Ocean will whet your appetite, revealing the magical night sky of a billion stars and the hypnotic melody of the ocean. Once ushered to a table of gourmet victuals and champagne, with only the moon and torches lighting your feast, the universe is reduced to just the two of you. What a wonderful way to start the evening. Simply perfect.

RECREATION

If you venture beyond the pampered realm of your villa and the wonderfully slow Maldivian pace of life, you'll find a wealth of recreational diversions. For a start, you can dive or snorkel in the transparent brilliance of the ocean, explore its riches, and go deep-sea or night fishing. After all, this is a paradise renowned for superlative fishing, sailing, diving and snorkeling. If you prefer, sit in the shallow waters and watch the myriad of exotic schools of fish dart in and out of the light, or go kite flying with the clear blue sky as the backdrop.

Then, there are ball and racket games you can play with your partner. For more vigorous workouts, head for the resort's health club. And for the less actively inclined, a ramble around Malé exploring its sights and shopping, or a promenade along the beach are just as rousing. If the sun gets to you, simply retire to the resort's TV room for board games or some quiet reading.

- Water sports facilities: snorkeling, PADI dive center, deep-sea fishing, night fishing, water-skiing, windsurfing,
catamaran sailing, canoeing and fun tubes
- Ball and racket games: beach volleyball, table tennis, snooker and badminton
- TV room with reading area and board games
- Underwater camera rental
- Health club
- Excursions: Malé sightseeing, island hopping, snorkeling safari, private yacht charter and sea plane trips.

Bandos Island Resort

2007-03-23T01:15:00.000+05:00

Bandos, a beautiful coral island located in North Malé’ Atoll, about 7 kilometres from Malé International Airport and the capital Malé, is covered with lush tropical vegetation, numerous palm trees, surrounded by a wide sandy beach and the crystal clear waters of an azure lagoon. The island owns one of the best house reefs, just 40 - 60 metres away from the beach. The natural splendor is complemented by the modern amenities of the resort, which ensure that your stay is both comfortable and memorable.

A major reconstruction project successfully completed in 2005 has brought a trendy new look to Bandos. Front desk, lobby areas, shops, all the restaurants, bars, and a new swimming pool have been rebuilt with the state of the art architectural designs blending perfectly with the tropical surrounding and maintaining the “local feel”. Rooms on the northern side of the island have been replaced by elegantly designed individual loft type Beach Villas with the most modern facilities and amenities.

Bandos has perfected its role of the “welcoming host” and can cater to every mood. The natural splendor is complemented by the modern amenities of the resort, which ensure that your stay is both comfortable and memorable.

ACCOMMODATION

Nature has created a perfect home away from home on Bandos. We offer you the comfort of modern living without diminishing the beauty of the natural surroundings. Bandos Island Resort has a total of 225 guestrooms discreetly tucked away in the lush tropical vegetation, spacious and airy. After a long day in the sun the cool comfort of your room is the ideal place to relax. The types of accommodation offered.

Standard Rooms
A total 103 Standard Rooms, conveniently located on the southern side of the island are all beach-fronted and in blocks of four rooms adjacent to each other. Facilities include: double/twin bed, tiled floor, mini bar, International Direct Dial telephone, air-conditioning, beach beds with beach chairs, bathroom with shower, hot & cold water, hair dryer, satellite television, tea/coffee making facilities and electronic safety deposit box.

Deluxe Rooms
48 Junior Suites are all beach-fronted and in blocks of two rooms each with inter-connecting doors and are more spacious with sitting/living area. Junior Suites are also ideal for families with small children as well as for the wheelchair-bound guests. Facilities include: double/twin bed (some rooms have four-poster beds), tiled floor, mini bar, International Direct Dial telephone, air-conditioning, beach beds with beach chairs, bathroom with shower, bath tub, hot & cold water, hair dryer, satellite television, tea/coffee making facilities and electronic safety deposit box.

DINING

Bandos Island Resort offers you six different culinary experiences, ranging from A La carte to set menus.

The Harbour
Dine with style in the newly built and elegantly designed fine dining restaurant - The Harbour. Here you will have options of dining either in air-conditioned comfort or while enjoying the cool breeze and the breathtaking scenery on the open air over water deck. The Harbour specialises in presenting you with the best of Maldivian fish, a large variety of seafood, home-made pasta and a selection of tender steaks char grilled to your taste. The silver light of the moon, the most delicious food and our warm and friendly staff make it one of the most memorable moments of your holiday.

Gallery Restaurant
The main restaurant of Bandos Island Resort is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and specialises in catering for guests whose holiday package includes meals - yet is open to all the guests. Package holidaymakers, however, are not restricted to one restaurant, but are welcome to eat either at the Coffee shop or the Harbour Grill with a discount. • Breakfast: 0700 - 0945hrs. • Lunch: 1230 - 1400hrs. • Dinner: 1915 - 2130 hrs. On Fridays Lunch is served between 1300 - 1430hrs

HOTEL SERVICES

Within a few minutes you feel at home on this welcoming island and wonder what took you so long to discover this haven in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

Angsana Resort and Spa

2007-03-23T00:58:00.000+05:00

Perfectly nestled in Tanjung Said Bay in Indonesia, overlooking the alluring South China Sea, Angsana Resort & Spa Bintan is a cozy enclave featuring touches of contemporary Asian design.

Enjoy a revitalizing twin massage with your partner at the romantic outdoor pavilions. Feel the gentle sea breeze ravish your body while casting an idle glimpse at dreamy silhouettes of swaying palm trees. The spacious sleeping and day activity areas in all Angsana rooms feature dulcet earth tones, which effortlessly offset the resort's verdant tropical environs.

Angsana Resort & Spa Bintan is a mere 45-minute trip away from Singapore by catamaran and ten minutes away from Bandar Benten Telani ferry terminal.

Room and Suites Accommodation:

Angsana Suite
Ideal for families and corporate retreat groups, the spacious Angsana Suite offers large dining and living areas, a kitchenette and two separate bedrooms furnished with one queen-sized and two single beds. You have direct access to your own sundeck, with outdoor shower and spa bath, as well as a large private landscaped garden great for entertaining and working on that tan.

Each suite is equipped with:

Television
Minibar
Personal safe
Coffee and tea making facilities
Hairdryer
Microwave
Fully equipped kitchenette
Private jet pool in landscaped garden
Two Bedroom Suite
The Two Bedroom Suite with its elegant interior creates a cozy ambience for small families and fellow vacationers. It enthralls with expansive living and dining areas, a fully equipped kitchenette and two bedrooms. One bedroom features a queen-sized bed, the other two single beds; both have private balconies. You will appreciate its privacy and spacious comfort.

Each suite is equipped with

Television
Minibar
Personal safe
Coffee and tea making facilities
Hairdryer
Microwave
Fully equipped kitchenette
Deluxe Room

The Deluxe Room will pleasantly surprise even the most seasoned holidaymaker with the splendor of the South China Sea. Celebrate life and savor the special moments of dusk and dawn on your balcony over a cup of coffee with your loved one.

Each room is equipped with:

Television
Minibar
Personal safe
Coffee and tea making facilities
Hairdryer

Other Facilities:

Angsana Resort & Spa Bintan offers a myriad of outdoor activities and excursions. Work up a sweat on the tennis courts, enjoy the beauty of the marine life and try your hand at catamaran sailing. Or simply sip a cocktail
by the pool, read a good book and bask in the warmth of the glorious sun.

Our recreational facilities and excursions include:

-Swimming pool
Windsurfing
Pro-kite
Canoeing
Body boarding
Snorkeling
All-terrain vehicle for jungle treks
Hobie cat catamaran sailing
(with and without instructor)
Zuma sailing

Banana boat rides
Bintan island snorkel safari
Water-skiing/ wakeboarding
Fishing trips
Speedboat rental (with crew)
Bicycle rental
Mountain bike
Laguna Bintan Golf Course
Two tennis courts (at Laguna Bintan Golf Club)

Please note that during the monsoon season (from November to April) the sea may be too rough for some water sport activities and excursions.

The Kid's Club is for children who are 3 to 10 years old. It is located at Room 123, opposite the Angsana Spa entrance.

Meetings Facilities:

Set amidst a lush tropical setting overlooking the South China Sea, Angsana Resort & Spa Bintan motivates with its natural environs of tropical forest, hillside terrain and secluded golden beach… the perfect retreat for private management meetings and seminars. Here, you'll discover the peace and tranquility that are so beneficial to brainstorming, discussions and fruitful meetings.

Be it a board meeting for ten, a cocktail party for 100 or a theatre-style seminar for 150, our two meeting rooms can be arranged to suit your specific needs. You can choose from our meeting packages or simply rent the meeting rooms for your functions.

Whichever you choose, you can be assured of dedicated service from our team of hotel professionals. Leave the planning of your corporate retreat to us. Take the stress out of organizing your important meetings.

Internal Transport

2007-03-20T03:39:00.000+05:00

Transport from the Airport

Ferry Service to the Capital

A ferry service is available from the airport island to the capital around the clock. A special dhoni ferry leaves from the airport jetty to the capital every 15 minutes which changes to one every 30 minutes after midnight.
Set charge per person for the ferry service is USD 1/- during normal operating hours and a charge of USD 2/- per person at midnight.
Since the airport island is geographically separate from the capital the only means of transport to the capital is by sea.
If required a dhoni can be chartered by for transfer to the capital at set rates. Further details cab be attained from the ferry terminal at the jetty of the airport.

Air Transport

Maldivian Air Taxi and Trans Maldivian Airways operate special air transfer trips to most of the resorts. This mode of transport is best arranged by your agents or the resort operative. Normally resort operators have arrangements for chartered flights to their resort with either of these parties.

Please consult your Travel Agent or the resort operative regarding transfer arrangements.

Air Transport

TRANS MALDIVIAN AIRWAYS
Male' International Airport P. O Bag 6
Tel: (960) 325708
Fax: (960) 323161
Email: humbird@dhivehinet.net.mv
or mail@tma.com.mv

MALDIVIAN AIR TAXI (PTE) LTD
Male' International Airport
P.O. Box 2023, Male'
Tel: (960) 315201
Fax: (960) 315203
Email: sales@mat.com.mv

Airport Information

2007-03-20T03:33:00.000+05:00

Maldives Tourism Promotion Board has an information counter setup for ease of the tourists visiting the Maldives. Especially those who are Free Independent Travelers or FITs. Any information including Maldives, hotels and rates will be provided by the MTPB staff at the counter.

Customs

The import of firearms, liquor, drugs and pornography are prohibited. An official license is required for import of alcohol. Alcohol is available in all the resorts and not sold / available in Male’. Dogs, Pigs, and pork products are prohibited. Special permission should be sought to bring the personal pets (dogs not allowed).

Immigration

Arrival

Free 30 days Visa upon arrival for all visitors

Visitors entering the Republic of Maldives should fulfill the following requirement for the grant of an entry permit into the country.

Possession of a valid international travel document issued by the Government of a Sovereign State.

Possession of a valid return air ticket to a destination where the passenger has permission to enter, together with necessary visas for the onward journey to the next destination.

Possession of minimum of US$30.00 per person per day or confirmed hotel reservation for the intended period of stay in the Maldives. Following are exempted from this requirement.

Diplomats

UN Personnel
Approved persons for employment
Technical and other experts attached to the Government
Those who have confirm bookings in registered tourist resort/hotels etc.
Those sponsored by Maldivians
No prior visa is required to enter the Republic of Maldives. Entry permit will be granted to visitors on arrival at designated ports of entry, based on the immigration requirements.

An entry permit does not allow an visitor to take up employment, set up any business or exercise any profession whether paid or unpaid except with the consent and in conformity with the pertinent laws and regulations of the Maldives. However, a visitor or foreign delegation visiting the Maldives to conclude business agreements, contracts or to negotiate business transactions with their counterparts do not require work permits if the stay does not exceed the duration granted on arrival.

An expatriate must obtain a work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources Employment and Labour prior to arrival in Maldives to engage in employment.

Visitors who stay beyond the period for which they have been approved may be deported.

The Government of Maldives refuses admission and transit to holder of Merchant Seaman books.

Disembarkation and Embarkation card shall be filled by every passenger and submitted to the Immigration Officer on entry.

Transit

Transit passengers must leave Maldives within 24 hours of arrival. If a transit passenger fails to leave within 24 hours the passenger shall revise his permit to stay.

Crew

Crew member on scheduled services shall retain their passport in possession when disembarking and embarking, remains at the airport where the aircraft has stopped or within the confines of the island adjacent there to, departing on the same aircraft or next regular scheduled flight out of Maldives.

Passport or valid international travel document is acceptable for temporary admission in to the Maldives.

Departure

All persons leaving the Republic of Maldives shall possess a valid passport or travel document. All passengers shall complete and submit an embarkation card with their passport to the Immigration Officer for inspection

Port Health

Maldives being free from certain diseases that are of public health concern as well as of international importance, implementing continuous vigilance activities at Ports of entry at sea and Air, to ensure that appropriate surveillance activities are carried out effectively in safe guarding against any threat of introducing diseases are of health importance.Intensified surveillance for incoming passengers and continuous inspection of food items, and animals that were imported into the country is being carried out at all ports of the country.

In preparation for the certification of the Malaria Free Maldives, all incoming passengers from malaria-infected countries are screened.
For Certification of Sanitary Port an organized Medical Service, adequate staff and equipment provides in and out passengers care and attend Medical emergencies at port.

Disinfections is compulsory for Cargo aircraft and passenger aircrafts coming from Yellow Fever and Malaria endemic areas.

Duty Free

Duty free shopping is only available in the departure terminal of the Male’ international airport. The lounge has specialized shops for electrical goods, watches, cameras, fashion, liquor, jewelry, tobacco and more.

International Airlines

2007-03-20T03:28:00.000+05:00

Schedule Flights

Name of Airlines - Country of Origin
AEROFLOT - RUSSIA
AIR EUROPE - ITALY
AIR SEYCHELLES - SEYCHELLES
AUSTRIAN AIRLINES - AUSTRIA
CONDOR - GERMANY
EMIRATES - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
EUROFLY SPA - ITALY
EXPO AVIATION (CARGO FREIGHTER) - SRILANKA
IBERWORLD AIRLINES - SPAIN
INDIAN AIRLINES - INDIA
KUWAIT AIRWAYS - KUWAIT
LAUDA AIR ITALY - ITALY
LTU - GERMANY
MALAYSIA AIRLINES - MALAYSIA
SINGAPORE AIRLINES - SINGAPORE
SRILANKAN AIRLINES - SRILANKA
QATAR AIRWAYS - QATAR

Charter Flights

Name of Airlines - Country of Origin
AERIS - FRANCE
AIR 2000 LTD - UNITED KINGDOM
BELAIR - SWITZERLAND
BLUE PANORAMA - ITALY
CORSAIR INTERNATIONAL - FRANCE
EDELWEISS AIR - SWITZERLAND
MONARCH AIRWAYS - UNITED KINGDOM
MY TRAVEL AIRWAYS - UNITED KINGDOM
SRILANKAN AIRLINES (CARGO FREIGHTER) - SRILANKA
TRANSAERO AIRLINES - RUSSIA

Visa / Formalities

2007-03-20T03:26:00.000+05:00

Free 30 days Visa upon arrival for all visitors

- Visitors entering the Republic of Maldives should fulfill the following requirement for the grant of an entry permit into the country.

- Possession of a valid international travel document issued by the Government of a Sovereign State.

- Possession of a valid return air ticket to a destination where the passenger has permission to enter, together with necessary visas for the onward journey to the next destination.

- Possession of minimum of US$30.00 per person per day or confirmed hotel reservation for the intended period of stay in the Maldives. Following are exempted from this requirement.

Diplomats
UN Personnel
Approved persons for employment
Technical and other experts attached to the Government
Those who have confirm bookings in registered tourist resort/hotels etc.
Those sponsored by Maldivians
- No prior visa is required to enter the Republic of Maldives. Entry permit will be granted to visitors on arrival at designated ports of entry, based on the immigration requirements.

- An entry permit does not allow an visitor to take up employment, set up any business or exercise any profession whether paid or unpaid except with the consent and in conformity with the pertinent laws and regulations of the Maldives. However, a visitor or foreign delegation visiting the Maldives to conclude business agreements, contracts or to negotiate business transactions with their counterparts do not require work permits if the stay does not exceed the duration granted on arrival.

- An expatriate must obtain a work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources Employment and Labour prior to arrival in Maldives to engage in employment.

- Visitors who stay beyond the period for which they have been approved may be deported.

- The Government of Maldives refuses admission and transit to holder of Merchant Seaman books.

- Disembarkation and Embarkation card shall be filled by every passenger and submitted to the Immigration Officer on entry.

MALDİVES NEWS

2007-03-20T03:13:00.000+05:00

HILTON MALDIVES CONTINUES ITS WINNING STREAK

The Maldives, 26 February 2007 – Hot on the heels of winning the "Best Hotel in the World" award by www.tripadvisor.com this January, the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa has just been voted the "Best Honeymoon Hideaway in the World" by Brides Magazine in the UK in their March 2007 issue. Similarly, the UK¡¯s most influential travel magazine, Condé Nast Traveller, has also included the six-star resort in their annual Gold List: "Best Hotels in the World – Best for location" (January 2007 issue) and in the "Best Spa in Africa, Middle East and Indian Ocean" (March 2007) summary of best spas in the world.

"Since our re-opening after refurbishment in June 2005, we have won 17 different awards – including winning 'Best Hotel in the World' twice. That's an average of one award every six weeks," says the resort's General Manager, Carsten Schieck. "These awards reflect guest confidence in our product and are an essential part in establishing the Maldives as a destination of choice."

It seems as though the whole world is talking about the Hilton Maldives. In just the last two months alone the resort has received positive press coverage in Condé Nast Traveller, Harper's Bazaar, Tatler, the Luxury Travel Magazine, The Daily Telegraph newspaper, Die Welt newspaper, Paris Match and the New York Times amongst others

Carsten Schieck explains his resort's popularity, saying, "The Hilton Maldives' main concept is of three resorts within one, which gives guests the opportunity to experience three distinctly different luxury experiences without ever checking out of the hotel. Guests can enjoy beach life in a 300 square metre villa set right on the beach, with a private plunge pool in their own garden and a wonderful open-air garden-bathroom. Alternatively they can opt for a romantic, exclusive villa set on stilts over the lagoon with sun deck that has steps leading straight into the ocean. And finally, they can stay at the Spa Retreat, an over-water 'resort-within-a-resort', which includes daily spa treatments and a full programme that includes spa cuisine, massages and exercise classes."

"Innovation also plays a key role in our success," continues Schieck, "the resort is home to the only all-glass undersea restaurant in the world and is the only resort that has two entirely separate spas, each with its own philosophy and treatment menu."

The six-star Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa is a stunning, romantic resort offering sophisticated barefoot luxury on two tropical islands. Awards include "Best Hotel in the World 2005" by the Sunday Times, "Leading Resort in the Indian Ocean 2006" by the World Travel Awards and "Most Exclusive Hotel in the World 2006" by VIP Traveller Magazine. Sited in a picturesque corner of the Maldives, it offers a sybaritic combination of three distinct resort experiences, surrounded by a vibrant coral reef and lagoon. The resort is home to the world¡¯s only all-glass undersea restaurant and the Maldives¡¯ only destination spa.

Full Moon Beach Resort

2007-03-20T02:43:00.000+05:00

Full Moon, Maldives
39 Orchid Magu
P.O.Box 2015
Male, 20-15
Republic of Maldives
Tel: (960) 664 20 10
Fax: (960) 664 19 79

Sales & Marketing information contact:
Email: sales@fullmoon.com.mv

Reservations and General information:
Email: reservations@fullmoon.com.mv

Corporate Office
UNIVERSAL ENTERPRISES PVT LTD
39 Orchid Magu, PO Box 2015 ,
Male' 20-02, Republic of Maldives
Tel: (960) 3332270
Fax: (960) 3325301, 3312131
Email: sales@unient.com.mv or reservations@unient.com.mv
URL: www.universalresorts.com

LOCATION
Full Moon Beach Resort is a tropical eden in full bloom. Numerous flowers of various hues grow all around the resort permeating the air with exotic tropical scents. Beach rooms are hidden in the green folds of the garden and water bungalows stretch out over the crystal clear lagoon on one side of the island. Full Moon Beach Resort is only 20 mins from the airport by motorboat, a distance of about 6 kms.

ACCOMMODATION
The recent renovation made Full Moon , Maldives , one of the most desirable locations in the archipelago. All 156 rooms have been constructed by dedicated artisans who have been drawn on the traditions of generations to create a refined natural look with a generous use of wood and thatch to enhance the entire island ambience in a truly Maldivian flair. Luxurious furniture and amenities underline the comfort.

WINING AND DINING
Indulge in a wide selection of culinary choices - be it Thai, Mediterranean, Continental or Asian cuisine. Five delightful restaurants offer something special for every taste and occasion. Refreshing cocktails, connoisseur wines, liqueurs and cigars are featured in Anchorage Bar, Drifters Club and the Beach Bar.

SPA AND FITNESS
“While most Island resorts have their own spa, our resort's spa has its own island” and offers an exciting range of treatments.
The architecture of our Spa draws on the inspiration of ancient Maldives . You are guided across a wooden bridge embedded in water, to your single or double treatment rooms. The design is drawn from an ancestry of care and wisdom, of balance and serenity. The Sen Spa offers spirited experiences with water to bring about lasting rejuvenation. The menu of the Spa merges east with west using the universal and life-giving properties of fresh seawater, nutritious sea plants, minerals as well as herbs. Each guest is offered a complimentary health consultation. Whilst one can book the day long pre-packaged wellness programs, we also custom-design treatments to suit individual lifestyles.

SCUBA DIVING
With more than 45 popular dive sites in close proximity, Full Moon Maldives is a favorite resort for scuba divers. Beginners are especially welcome and an open diver's license can be obtained. Our experienced Euro Diver team awaits you with dive trips to some of the most spectacular dive sites in the world.

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa

2007-03-20T02:24:00.000+05:00

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa
P.O. BOX 20117, South Male Atoll, Maldives
Tel: (+960) 664 2200
Fax: (+960) 664 2211

Hotel Information

62 villas which includes 3 suites
Transfers (8km N) by speed boat from Male Airport to hotel - USD 75.00 per person each way.
Guests must provide the hotel with flight details at least 72 hours prior to arrival.
Features
Adventures
Beaches
Children's Programs
Spa

Cards Accepted
Major credit cards

LOCATION

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Maldives, is an exclusive, private and romantic island resort lush with tropical plants and encircled by clear blue waters of one of the largest lagoons of the Maldives.
Taj Exotica Resort & Spa spreads idyllically along a pristine beach and the serene lagoon. The award-winning resort, now re-launched, seamlessly extends the magic of the island’s blessed natural beauty in its design even as it offers the finest contemporary luxuries and services. Jiva Grande Spa (opening in April 2006), an authentic Indian spa, offers a range of signature wellness experiences. A choice of gourmet cuisine, water sports, and recreation make for a complete and exclusive destination. The resort is only 15 minutes by a private luxury speedboat, available 24 hours, from Malé International Airport.

ACCOMMODATION

Rooms & Suites

Each of the resort’s luxuriously designed 62 villas is furnished in natural tones and textures. The warmth of wood, the fragrance of flowers and the soft glow of lamps and candles create an intimate ambience in the villas. Expansive ocean views and a soothing breeze relax the senses.
All the villas are palm-thatched, built of finest natural wood finishes on the exteriors and floors and are delightfully appointed in classic Maldivian style. Amenities include air-conditioning, personal bar, LCD television with satellite channels, safe, tea/coffee-maker, satellite television, DVD/CD player, MP3, Media Centre, Internet connection, international dialing, Electronic safe, double vanity, bathtubs overlooking the ocean (in lagoon villas ) and rain showers in the bathrooms, and hairdryer. Some of the villas have a private plunge pool.

Lagoon Villas

The 24 Lagoon Villas, of 71 sq mts each, are a series of two adjacent villas on the lagoon along the island. They offer private sun decks with loungers, easy chairs and ladders with direct access leading to the lagoon Each villa has a double vanity bathroom, rain showers and bath tubs with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean.

Deluxe Lagoon Villas

The 31 Deluxe Lagoon Villas, of 60 sq mts each , are located at the far end of the island. These elegant stand-alone villas offer complete privacy as they open out to private sundecks with serene sea views and ladders leading into the lagoon, easy chairs and loungers. Stylized furniture, a double vanity bathroom, rain showers, bathtubs with an infinite view of the Indian Ocean and special in-villa furnishings create a special ambience. 10 Deluxe Lagoon Villas feature a private deck with a freshwater plunge pool and an alluring day-bed area with spectacular views.

Deluxe Beach Villas

The 4 Deluxe Beach Villas, of 89 sq mts each, are just 5 metres from the picturesque lagoon. Each of the luxuriously styled villas offers an oversized plunge pool, a private veranda with sun beds, a tropical outdoor shower in a private walled garden and an infinite view of the lagoon.

Beach Villa Suites

The 2 two-bedroom luxurious Beach Villa Suites, of 158 sq mts each, are just 5 metres from the lagoon. Each luxuriously style villa, set on the beach, has a spacious living room, a private courtyard, an oversized plunge pool, a private veranda with sun beds and a tropical outdoor shower in a walled garden. The mezzanine bedroom unfolds a beautiful view of one of the most picturesque lagoons in the Maldives. The master bedroom has an oversized attached bathroom and a private balcony that is a perfect spot to enjoy spectacular sunsets. Guests can enjoy Jiva treatments in complete privacy at the spa treatment room attached to the villa.

The Rehendi Presidential Suite

The Rehendhi Presidential Suite, built over water, unfolds sheer luxury and privacy in its spacious and beautiful interiors. The 450 sq mts tastefully appointed villa has a living room; a master bedroom with attached his and hers bathrooms, a private balcony; a guest bedroom; a glassed bathroom with an infinite view of the Indian Ocean; a 15 ft fresh water pool with a private sundeck, two `salas’ for relaxing and dining; and a beautiful suspended deck filled with powder soft sand.

DINING AND BARS

From casual, all-day dining to formal, fine dining, guests can savour a choice of gourmet cuisine, cool beverages and the choicest wines.
The resort offers a distinctive dining experience at its restaurants. The menus feature traditional and contemporary favourites of a variety of international cuisines that are complemented with fine wines from the resort’s cellar. Guests can dine at the restaurants or any spot on the island of their choice.

RECREATION FACILITIES

The resort offers a spectrum of indoor and outdoor activities for irresistible fun and relaxation.

Fitness and fun include:

• Billiards
• Fresh water Infinity Swimming pool
• Football
• Volleyball
• Indoor games
• » PADI certified Dolphin Base Dive
and Water Sports Centre
• Fitness Centre
• Indoor Games

Beach and sports include:

Catamaran Sailing
Water Skiing
Banana Riding
Sea Kayaking
Windsurfing

Spa and Relaxation include:

Jiva Grande Spa (opening in May 2006) located on an intimate island adjoining the resort is a physical and spiritual haven for the senses. Soothing, aromatic and rejuvenating treatments are offered in elegant ocean facing pavilions.
» Jiva Grande Spa

Recreation outside the hotel:

» Escapes and Experiences offers a choice of sightseeing tours.

• Historical Male
• Seaplane Photo Flight
• Maldivian Fishing Village Experience
• Island Exploration
• Sunset Cruise
• Sunset Fishing
• Big Game Fishing and Casting

FACILITIES AND SERVICES

Guests can look forward to the finest international facilities and services at the resort.

Hotel Leisure and Other Services include:

Currency exchange
Express laundry / dry cleaning
Lifestyle Boutique
Living Room with library
Billiards and indoor games
Mediterranean Specialty Restaurant
All day dining multi-cuisine restaurant
Bar with walk-in cellar
Private in-villa a la carte dining
Travel assistance
24 hours luxury speedboat service
Over water Fitness Centre

One&Only Kanuhura hotel

2007-03-20T02:07:00.000+05:00

One&Only Kanuhura
Lhaviyani Atoll, c/o Alihava Building, Ibrahim Hassan Didi Magu, Male’ 20-03, Republic of Maldives
Tel: (+960) 662 0044
Fax: (+960) 662 0033

Hotel Information
100 rooms: Beach Villas, Duplex Villas, Grand Beach Villas, Water Villas and Grand Water Villas
SeaPlane Transfers – Malé International Airport to hotel
Features
Adventures
Banquets
Beaches
Business Meetings
Children's Programs
On-Site Fitness Center
On-Site Pool
Outdoor Pool
Spa

Cards Accepted
American Express
JCB International
MasterCard
Visa

LOCATION

One&Only Kanuhura is a five-star island hideaway, a unique resort, where service is understood and luxury is elegantly understated. The island setting is breathtaking and provides a beautiful, tropical backdrop for a world of easygoing elegance, blissfully free of schedules, routines and cares.

Built on an atoll island with two beautiful little island neighbors, One&Only Kanuhura is a very private hideaway with a wide range of relaxations, activities, sports, restaurants and bars. Close by are some of the world's best diving sites, with the outer reef dropping down nearly 2,000 meters.

The uncompromising attention to detail begins the moment guests touch down at Malé airport, where resort staff welcome and escort them to a private lounge to await the short seaplane flight to Kanuhura.

One&Only Kanuhura is located on one of the islands of Lhaviyani Atoll, to the northeast of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean. Travel is by seaplane taxi, around 35 minutes from the International Airport at the Maldives capital, Malé. The island measures approx. 1000 meters in length and 200 meters in width, with a North-South orientation.

ACCOMMODATION

The beauty of the tropical surroundings blends perfectly with design of the accommodations at One&Only Kanuhura. All the Villas and Suites are built from natural materials and are equipped with tasteful solid timber furniture of the highest quality.

The resort features 100 well appointed Beach and Water Villas or Suites - all fully air-conditioned, each with its own private veranda overlooking the sea, four-poster king-size bed, open-air sunken bathtub and shower, TV, VCD player, mini bar, safe, IDD telephone and e-mail connection.

DINING AND BARS

Mealtimes offer an excellent choice of restaurants, bars and food. The finest ingredients are imported from all over the world, while fresh fish and seafood come directly from the clear waters of Lhaviyani Atoll. The resort has sourced an interesting selection of international wines to complement the delectable cuisine.

The main restaurant, Thin Rah, open for breakfast and dinner, features "open cooking stations" where guests enjoy a whole new dining experience watching the master chefs at work. Savor the best of international delights including Maldivian, Sri Lankan, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Malay, Italian or Continental specialties.
The Olive Tree offers traditional Mediterranean food in a contemporary setting with taste and variety.

For extra privacy, guests can take advantage of Kanuhura's "In-Villa" dining service to feel thoroughly pampered. Romantic dinners can be arranged on the veranda or beach area in front of guests’ villas or at various picturesque locations around the island.

Guests can enjoy refreshments and snacks all day at Handhuvaru Bar or after-dinner drinks and music at Havana Lounge.

THIN RAH

The main restaurant at One&Only Kanuhura, Thin Rah offers expansive buffets with a different theme each day and live cooking stations where our chefs prepare individual dishes for guests. Enticing choices include fish, seafood and regional specialties, fusion dishes, sushi and sashimi, exotic salads and fruits from markets around the world, homemade ice creams and selections for younger guests.

Tables are set in the airy open-sided interior of the thatch-roofed restaurant or out on the beach overlooking the lagoon and poolside for al fresco breakfasts and evenings under the stars.

OLIVE TREE

Olive Tree brings you à la carte dishes from throughout the Mediterranean and features an open pizza oven. Specialties are fresh pastas, salads and a mouthwatering selection of freshly caught grilled seafood and steaks. Enjoy the intimate atmosphere of the restaurant itself, or take a poolside table for a romantic candlelit dinner as a glowing sunset fades to a myriad of twinkling stars.

VELI CAFE & BEACH BAR

In a stunning location at the northern tip of the island is the Veli Café. Creative Asian Fusion cuisine is served for dinner at this romantic beachside restaurant which overlooks the lagoon and the reef.

HANDHUVARU BAR

Cool off with a chilled drink in the shade, while you relax your feet in the sand or enjoy the sunshine around the pool. A selection of cocktails, beers, wines by the glass, and fresh juices are available throughout the day, complemented by an all-day snack menu of international favourites.

HAVANA LOUNGE

A tropical Eastern ambience is created with canopied seating, over-sized daybeds, sheesha pipes, dancing candlelight and chilled music. Indulge in the creative cocktail menu of after-dinner drinks with occasional live music.

NASHAA CLUB

The Maldives' first nightclub, Nashaa Club is hidden away at the far end of the island and provides a tropical atmosphere for dancing the night away to international hits and old favourites

LAVA LOUNGE

In a cozy, air-conditioned room, Karaoke evenings, big-screen sporting events and weekly movie showings can be enjoyed. The Lava Lounge can also be used as a conference or meeting room and has a full range of audio-visual equipment.

SERVICES

The property is managed by an experienced team of managers and service staff recruited from well-known international hotels. There are over ten major languages spoken by staff, including English, Japanese, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Chinese and Russian.

FACILITIES

One&Only Kanuhura features five star facilities and amenities, highlighting the customary character of the region.
The One&Only Spa has its own lavish pavilion, complete with a health and beauty center, with separate amenities for ladies and gents. For total beauty treatment, the Beauty Salon offers hair care, manicure, pedicure and personalized make-up. Aerobics, meditation and workouts at the Gymnasium are also part of the spa.

Dining at One&Only Kanuhura is a unique pleasure as a result of the variety of dishes offered at its three main restaurants: Thin Rah, Olive Tree and The Veli Café. Guests may also choose to dine in the privacy of their Villa.

SPA AND FITNESS

The One&Only Spa is the largest state-of-the-art spa in the Maldives. Spa products and oils are specially blended with fragrant essential oils, flowers, spices, herbs and plants from all over the world. An à la carte menu of treatments and indulgences draws on classical therapies, complemented by exclusive Maldivian treatments, some based on indigenous island ingredients.

There are eight beautifully appointed treatment rooms complete with private outdoor garden shower. Four treatment rooms have been designed for couples to share the One&Only Spa experience.

Treatment bookings can be made at the Spa reception upon arrival or by calling the resort in advance. Book in advance to secure a time most suitable for you. All treatments and recreation are subject to a service charge.

Treatment bookings can be made at the Spa reception upon arrival or by calling the resort in advance. Book in advance to secure a time most suitable for you. All treatments and recreation are subject to a 10% service charge.

The Aerobics Studio is equipped with a dynamic audio-visual system and has a sprung floor. Weekly classes are held in Body, Mind & Soul Fitness schedules. The Gymnasium is well-equipped with individual weight machines, free weights, bikes, treadmills, and stair masters.

Private yoga lessons with specialized instructors from India are held in a spectacularly beautiful setting offering the perfect opportunity to experience yoga for the first time or practice already learned techniques.

DIVING

The natural splendor of the Maldives is only surpassed by the stunning beauty of its underwater world. The outer reef at Kanuhura drops down to more than 1200 meters below sea level, offering an immensely rich diversity of marine life.

In just 10 to 60 minutes from Kanuhura guests can reach over 40 dive sites, among them two shipwrecks and a manta point. Kanuhura's outer atoll location and undisturbed dive sites lie far from other resorts and shipping routes, making it possible to enjoy some of the best diving and snorkeling anywhere in the Maldives.

The Sun Dive Center, awarded the prestigious PADI Gold Palm status in recognition of excellent facilities and tuition, rigorous safety standards and expertise, caters for experienced divers with excursions to unique dive sites, and offers newcomers a first class introduction to diving. For the more experienced, Nitrox diving is available.

RECREATION

Whether a complete beginner or an experienced sailor, Kanuhura's huge, protected coral-free lagoon offers some of the finest windsurfing and catamaran sailing conditions in the world.

The Dolphin Watersports Center is a member of the VDWS (International Association of Windsurfing Schools). All equipment is top quality and maintained to the highest standards, including 16 HiFly windsurf boards with 19 ART Sails, 3 Topcat catamarans, canoes, pedalos, water-skis, and kneeboards.

Tennis courts are floodlit for evening play, and the squash court is fully air-conditioned. An instructor is available as a playing partner or for coaching sessions.

Maldives Beach Holiday

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Maldives before the Tsunami

THANKS ALL PUBLISHER

maldives map

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Tourism in the Maldives

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Tourism is the largest economic industry in the Maldives, as it plays an important role in earning foreign exchange revenues and generating employment in the tertiary sector of the country. The archipelago of the Maldives is the main source of attraction to many tourists visiting the country worldwide.

History
In the ancient times, Maldives had established relations with Arab, Persian, Malayan, Indonesian and Chinese seafarers causing the islands to be frequently visited by them.

The location of Maldives along the ancient marine trade routes from the West to the East caused the explorers to stop by to hunt for fish or to acquire supplies such as money cowrie used for exchange then. This resulted in the recognition of the islands among the international community. The visits made by these traders also left imprints on the culture of Maldives to this day.

Well-known travelers who have visited the Maldives in the ancient times include the Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta (in 1343) who acknowledged the Maldives as 'one of the wonders of the world', François Pyrard de Laval of France, H.C.P. Bell of Britain and Marco Polo of Italy.

Reasons for Tourism
Maldives is famous for its natural beauty which includes the blue ocean and white beaches, accompanied by the tropical climate. The climate of the Maldives is ideal for visitors to get engaged in water sports such as swimming, fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, water-skiing and windsurfing. Due to its extraordinary underwater scenery and clean water, Maldives is also ranked among one of the best diving destinations of the world. [1]

Overview of a tropical resort

A Maldivian tourist resortA tourist resort in the Maldives consists of an exclusive hotel on its own island, with its population entirely based on tourists and work force, with no local people or houses.

These islands developed for tourism are approximately 800 by 200 metres in size and are composed of sand and coral to a maximum height of about 2 metres above the sea. In addition to its beach encircling the island, each island has its own "house reef" which serves as a coral garden and natural aquarium for scuba divers and snorkelers. The shallow water enclosed by the house reef also serves as a large natural swimming pool and protects swimmers from the ocean waves and strong tidal currents outside the house reef.

The buildings on a typical resort includes rooms and suites reserved for use by its guests, restaurants, cafes, shops, lounges, bars, discos and dive schools. A portion of the island also contains staff lodgings and support services such as catering, power generators, laundry, and a sewerage plant. On-island shops offer a wide range of products, such as souvenirs and artifacts. The resorts offer a wide variety of activities such as aerobics, volleyball and table tennis.

Ecotourism in Maldives
The promotion of ecotourism is practiced in the Maldives as it is a beach resort country with fragile natural habitats. Resorts such as Soneva Gili emphasizes on the promotion of ecotourism such as recycling of heat that is wasted in producing elctricity in the resort and it also has policies of waste disposal.

Furthermore, the government aims to conserve the natural beauty of the islands before they are being altered into resorts by enforcing laws such as prohibition of catching turtles and reduction in the damages caused to the coral reefs

Industries in Maldives

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Fishing

Pole and Line Fishing
Since time immemorial, the method of fishing employed in the Archipelago has been the pole and line method. The types of fish caught by this method are tuna, skipjack tuna, frigate and mackerel. The main catch is tuna, which is used in the daily diet of the inhabitants, as well as for export in different forms. The daily catch depends for the most part on the seasons. Although triangular sailed dhoani, were used in the past, today fishing dhoanis are mechanized.

Traditionally, the fishermen set out at dawn in search of bait fish, which were caught and kept alive in a specially prepared compartment of the dhoani. Eight or nine men did the actual fishing. The poles are short, are equipped with a line, and hook. During a favorable season, the catch could be as much as a thousand fish per dhoani per day. Traditionally, the fishermen return to the island by nightfall however, with the advent of mechanized dhoani, they are back by early afternoon. Skipjack tuna and yellowfin tuna are the most common species caught in Maldives.

Industrial Fishing
Mechanization of the traditional sailing dhoani in 1974 revolutionized the fisheries industry of the Maldives. A new generation of dhoani, designed especially for mechanization was introduced. A fish-canning factory was set up in 1977 as a joint venture with a Japanese company. However, when the government took over the plant in 1982, it was unable to meet the overseas demand due to the poor condition of buildings and equipment, so a new factory was opened in 1986. In 1979, Maldives Nippon Corporation was formed, in partnership with the Marubeni Corporation of Japan, to process and can fresh tuna. In the same year, the Maldives Fisheries Corporation was formed to exploit fish wealth. (The MFC later became the Fisheries Projects Implementation Department (FPID), which was transformed into MIFCO in 1993).

When the Japanese pulled out, the government negotiated a deal to buy the three freezer and six collector vessels that belonged to them, which then became part of the State Trading Organization (STO) fleet. However, by the time that STO inherited the Japanese fleet; the vessels were over twenty years old. A new fleet of vessels was acquired. Three mother ships were built in Korea and nine collector vessels were constructed in Malé. A boat yard was built on the island of Alifushi and the construction of one hundred second-generation Mark II dhoanis was begun. These dhoanis were sold to the fishermen on a lease-purchase basis. The opening up of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), for fisheries proved to be a boon to the country’s fishing industry.

Fish Cannery
The first fish canning plant was established on the island of Felivaru, as a joint venture with a Japanese firm, in 1977. In 1982, the government took over the cannery, but the condition of the original buildings, equipment seriously limited production, and the cannery was not able to meet the increasing demand of an expanding overseas market. In new cannery was opened 1986. The new Felivaru Tuna Processing Plant has its own electricity, a desalination plant, water storage tanks and ice making plant. While this 150,000 cans per hour plant increased production, it was still unable to meet the rising overseas demand for Maldive tuna.

Tourism

Development
White sandy beaches, clear waters, and waving palms under blue skies make Maldives a tourist destination. Tourism was introduced to the Maldives in the early 1970s. The first two resort islands had a capacity of 280 beds. The first tourists arrived mostly as individuals or small groups. Soon, Maldives began to be recognized as an international tourist destination.

In 1972 the first tourist resort, Kurumba Village, (today a five star hotel), was pioneered by two Maldivian entrepreneurs in association with an Italian investor. A second resort was opened the same year on the island of Bandos. Despite the basic facilities and services, 1,096 tourist arrivals were recorded that year.

At the start, the country’s tourism and its development was for the most part dependent on private initiative. In 1979, the tourism law was enacted, requiring all foreign investments to be registered at the Department of Tourism and Foreign Investment. A tourism master plan was formulated in 1983, setting up guidelines for the overall development of tourism, and identifying tourism zones in different parts of the country. In 1984, the tourism advisory board was created. The department of tourism was upgraded to a ministry in 1988.

The opening of Malé International Airport in 1981 was an important milestone in the travel business. At the early stages, tourism in Maldives was a seasonal industry. As the country opened up further, this seasonal nature of tourism changed. In the early 21st century tourist arrivals were recorded throughout the year. During 1987, a school of hotel and catering was established to meet the manpower requirements of the industry. Both government and private sector provide overseas training to those employed in the industry.

The private sector and the government are actively involved in the promotion and marketing of the tourism product. Maldives is represented in all major international travel fairs by both the government and the private operators. The tourist information counter at the Malé International Airport hands out leaflets and other information about the country. The Tourist Information Unit was formed in 1989 to further disseminate information.

The development of tourism has fostered the overall growth of the country’s economy. It has created direct and indirect employment and income generation opportunities in other related industries. Today, tourism is the country’s biggest foreign exchange earner, contributing nearly a fifth of the GDP.

With 86 tourist resorts in operation, the year 2000 recorded 467,154 tourist arrivals.

Tourist Facilities
Each tourist resort is situated on an uninhabited island. The islands are self-contained, with its own electricity, water and waste disposal facilities. The islands are developed according to the standards and guidelines set by the ministry of tourism. While all modern facilities are available, the islands retain its unique natural beauty. The designs feature local architectural concepts as well as international style. A variety of services and facilities are available to guests, to make visits comfortable, pleasant and memorable.

Maldives Tourism Promotion Board
The Maldives Tourism Promotion Board was established by the government to promote quality and sustainable growth in the country’s tourism industry and to foster a well utilized and financially healthy private sector industry. - in this way enabling the industry to deliver long term economic, social and cultural benefits to the people of Maldives, whilst at the same time contributing to enhancements in Maldives’ marine environment to the benefit of the people and visitors of the Maldives.

MATI
Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) is a non-profit non-governmental organization working towards the sustainable development of the country’s tourism industry. Its membership is open to those engaged in the travel trade business. MATI coordinates its activities with the government and work in partnership with other national and international organizations.

Foreign relations of the Maldives

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Maldives follows a nonaligned policy and is committed to maintaining friendly relations with all countries. The country has Permanent Mission to UN Offices in New York and Geneva, High Commissions in Sri Lanka, India and the United Kingdom, Malaysia, a trade representative in Singapore, and a Tourist Information Bureau in Germany. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka maintain resident embassies in Malé. Denmark, Norway, the UK, Germany, Russian Federation, Italy, France, Netherlands, Turkey, and Sweden have consular agencies in Malé under the supervision of their embassies in Sri Lanka and India. Maldives is the only country that has a Consulate in a non-metropolitan Indian City. The Consulate was established in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala State, on 12th July 2005. The UNDP has a representative resident in Malé, as do UNICEF and WHO. Many countries have nonresident ambassadors accredited to the Maldives, most of them based in Sri Lanka or India.

The Maldives does not have any disputes with any of its neighbours. India provides extensive security co-operatin especially after Operation Cactus in 1988 which repelled Tamil mercenaries who invaded the country. The maritime borders with India and Sri Lanka were demarcated through bilateral negotiations and agreements deposited with the UN Secretary General. The maritime border with the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) remains undemarcated, with negotiations with the UK being broken off by the Maldives in the late 1990s. However, the Maldives has rejected offers by Mauritius to open negotiations on the demarcation of the maritime boundary between the Chagos Archipelago, which forms part of the BIOT.

As founder member in 1985 of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation, SAARC,which brings together Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, country plays a very active role in SAARC. The Maldives has taken the lead in calling for a South Asian Free Trade Agreement, the formulation of a Social Charter, the initiation of informal political consultations in SAARC forums, the lobbying for greater action on environmental issues, the proposal of numerous human rights measures such as the regional convention on child rights and for setting up a SAARC Human Rights Resource Centre. The Maldives is also an advocate of greater international profile for SAARC such as through formulating common positions at the UN.

The Maldives also maintains close cultural relations with Islamic countries, and is a member of the OIC. However, the Maldives has often distanced itself from positions taken by the OIC on matters such as the Kashmir dispute, which it regards as a bilateral to be settled peacefully between India and Pakistan. It has also not supported the OIC position on issues such as that of Cyprus, subscribing to the stance taken by the UN.

In 1982, the Maldives joined the Commonwealth, first as special member and in 1985 became full member.

The Maldives has lately become a very strong advocate of human rights, as one of the earliest supporters of the Human Rights Council. For the past two years running, the Maldives was the only South Asian country to have voted against North Korea on human rights issues. In 2006, the Maldives acceded to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, together with its optional protocol, as well as the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. In 2005, the Maldives became one of the promoters of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture after having earlier acceded to the Convention against Torture. The Maldives is party to the Child Rights Convention, the Convention on the elimination of discrimination against women and its optional protocol. In April 2006, the Maldives issued a standing invitation to all special procedures mandates of the UN human rights machinery to visit to the Maldives.

While strongly supportive of the Palestinian cause, the Maldives had however, not supported earlier calls for the expulsion of Israel from the UN, upholding its commitment to maintaining the universailty of the UN. In 2005, the Maldives co-sponsored the resolution tabled by USA on the holocaust remembrance and in 2007 it also co-sponsored the US-led resolution on condemning holocaust denial. In response to the Oslo peace process, the Maldives relaxed private sector restrictions on ties with Israel.

At the UN, the Maldives has highlighted the vulnerability of small states to various threats including terrorism, activities of mercenaries and organised crime. It is also a strong advocate of counter-terrorism, and is party to all the main UN conventions against terrorism.

Development co-operation is a major priority of the Maldives and it has been campaigning at the UN for a more structured means of graduation from the list of least developed countries targeted for preferential assistance. The main donors of the Maldives are Japan, India, and Australia.

Finance in Maldives

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Maldives has a policy of encouraging foreign financial investment. The law on foreign investments (Law 25/79) guarantees the security of investments and accords fair and equitable treatment under law for the investors. The country’s foreign investments policy allows 100% foreign owned enterprises and joint venture companies. The shares and profits thus earned can be freely transferred abroad without undue formalities.

Moreover, the country’s history of political stability resulting from the homogeneous nature of society, and the absence of ethnic and communal unrest that can disrupt the economy, makes Maldives an ideal choice for trade and investment. Foreign investment is encouraged in a number of key economic areas such as tourism, transport, fisheries, financial, infrastructure development and other services sectors.

Foreign Investment Bureau

The Foreign Investments Service Bureau was established in 1987, under the ministry of trade and industries, to administer and facilitate foreign investments. It provides the institutional framework necessary for the effective management of foreign investments.

Banks in Maldives
Maldives Monetary Authority that was established in 1981, was the nation's first central bank. List of other banks:

Bank of Maldives
State Bank of India
Habib Bank
Bank Of Ceylon Limited

Insurance companies
Allied Insurance Company [1]
Insurance Corporation Of Sri Lanka

Public companies
The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), was incorporated in the Maldives in 1980. Its corporate structure is 60% government and 40% public subscription. The company’s authorized capital was 12.5 million rufiyaa of 250,000 shares, at 50 Rufiyaa per share. The Company opened its doors to business in January 1981. MTCC’s main areas of business are marine transportation, construction, machinery and spare parts, real estate and other contracting activities.

Import and Export
External trade has always been an important component of the Maldivian economy. Being a seafaring nation, the Maldives has for centuries, carried out overseas trade with other countries in the region. The ancient trade in cowry shells was a monopoly of the Maldives, where the money shells were cultivated for export.

Traditional exports consisted of copra, smoked and dried fish (Maldive fish), tortoise shells, and ambergris and coir rope. Woven garments, mats and embroidery items were also exported in the past. However, in time, fish became the dominant export commodity of the Maldives.

Today, export destinations include South East Asia, Europe and the United States. Domestic exports consist mainly of garments and fish or fish related products such as frozen and caned tuna, tropical aquarium fish. Dried and salted fish are still exported, in small quantities Re exports consist of jet fuel and duty free imports sold to tourists. Following the relaxing of export controls in 1990, there has been a significant growth in exports from the private sector. The government’s policy is aimed towards relaxing any remaining controls on exports. There is no export duty in the Maldives.

Currency of Maldives

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Boli
Cowry shells (Cypraea moneta), or boli, were the first known medium of exchange used in the Maldives. Various writers and travellers have in the past recorded the country’s trade in these money shells, which were used as a medium of exchange in parts of Asia and Africa. In the past, cowry were actually cultivated in the Maldives. When Moroccan traveler and historian Ibn Battuta visited there in the 14th century, the Maldives was trading extensively with the money shells. The shells were also used to make ornaments. The country’s trade in cowry shells, which attracted the particular attention of the Dutch in Ceylon, continued until the late 19th century, when it was used mostly as ballast for sailing vessels.

Dhigu laari
According to history, the first dhigu laari was struck in the Maldives, during the reign of Sultan Ibrahim III ibn Ghazi Muhammed (1585-1607), son of the hero Sultan Ghazi Muhammed Thakurufa'anu Akbar al-'Azam. Dhigu laari or larin, which owes its name to Lar, in the Persian Gulf, where it was originally struck, was one of the standard currencies of the Indian Ocean in the late 16th century. The dhigu laari is actually a long piece of silver, about three inches in length, doubled over and stamped with the name of the sultan, in Arabic.

Loa laari
Loa laari or laari fothi ("circular coin") was first struck by Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar I (1648-1687). The first coins were of silver and fairly coarse. Later, coins of copper and lead were put in to circulation. Gold coins were also struck by Sultan Hassan Nooraddin (1779-1799). Said to be the finest struck at the Maldive mint, the two denominations of gold coins issued by Sultan Hassan Nooraddin, known as the mohori and bai mohori, were never put into circulation.

Today
The Maldivian unit of currency is the rufiyaa (ISO 4217 code MVR, symbol Rf.), introduced in 1981. The rufiyaa is divided into 100 laari. On 21 September 2005, the exchange rate with the US dollar was USD1.00 = MVR12.80.

Communications in the Maldives

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Telephones - main lines in use: 21,000 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular: over 71,900 (2004)

Telephone system: minimal domestic and international facilities
domestic: interatoll communication through microwave links; all inhabited islands are connected with telephone and fax service
international: satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios: 35,000 (1999)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)

Televisions: 10,000 (1999)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2003)

Internet users: 6,000 (2001)

Country code (Top level domain): MV

MV Domain registrar: http://www.dhivehinet.net.mv

Culture OF MALDİVES

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Maldivian culture is derived from a number of sources and factors. These include its proximity to Sri Lanka and South India, East Africa, the Malayan Archipelago and the Middle East via its conversion to Islam in the 12th century, and its location as a crossroads in the central Indian Ocean. Maldivians are of Sri Lankan and Southern Indian origin. There are also elements of Arabian, African, and Indonesian origin as well. Maldivian culture shares many aspects with Sri Lanka and Kerala, namely a strong matriarchal tradition.

The music of the Maldives, such as Bodu-Beru (literally "Big Drum"), showcase their African roots, and other cultural activities resemble similarity to those of Arab and North Indian regions.

A unique feature of Maldivian society is a very high divorce rate by either South Asian or Islamic standards, which demonstrates the high degree of autonomy that Maldivian women have over their lives.

The Maldives is an almost exclusively Islamic society. It is common to hear Maldivians refer to their country as a "100 percent Muslim country." But the isolation of Maldives from the historical centers of Islam in the Middle East and Asia has allowed some pre-Islamic beliefs and attitudes to survive.

There is a widespread belief in jinns, or evil spirits. For protection against such evils, people often resort to various charms and spells. The extent of these beliefs has led some observers to identify a magico-religious system parallel to Islam known as fanditha, which provides a more personal way for the islanders to deal with either actual or perceived problems in their lives. However this is a dying tradition that can be seen in only rural areas.

Demographics

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The Maldivian ethnic identity is a blend of the cultures reflecting the peoples who settled on the islands, reinforced by religion and language. The earliest settlers were probably from Southern India. Indo-Aryan speakers followed them from Sri Lanka in the fourth and fifth centuries. In the 12th century, sailors from the Malayan Archipelago, East Africa and Arab countries inhabited the islands, creating the present heterogeneous blend of ethnicity amongst Maldivians.

Originally Buddhist[3], Maldivians were converted to Sunni Islam in the mid-twelfth century. Islam is the official religion of the entire population, as adherence to it is required for citizenship.

The official and common language is Dhivehi, an Indo-European language related to Sinhalese, the language of Sri Lanka. The written script is called Thaana and is written from right to left. English is used widely in commerce and increasingly as the medium of instruction in government schools.

Some social stratification along lines similar to the Indian caste system exists on the islands. It is not rigid, since rank is based on varied factors, including occupation, wealth, Islamic virtue, and family ties. Members of the social elite are concentrated in Malé. Outside of the service industry, this is the only location where the foreign and domestic populations are likely to interact. The tourist resorts are not on islands where the natives live, and casual contacts between the two groups are discouraged.

Census has been recorded since 1905, which shows that the population of the country remained around 100,000 for the first 7 decades of the last century. Following independence in 1965, the health status of the population improved so much that the population doubled by 1978, and the population growth rate peaked at 3.4% in 1985. By 2005, the population had reached 300,000, although the census in 2000 showed that the population growth rate had declined to 1.9%. Life expectancy at birth stood at 46 years in 1978, while it has now risen to 72 years. Infant mortality has declined from 127 per thousand in 1977 to 12 today, and adult literacy stands at 99%. Combined school enrolment stands in the high 90s.

In addition to the ethnic Maldivians, more than 50 000 (2006 july ) foreign employees live in the country. They comprise mainly of people from the neighbouring South Asian countries of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.

MALDİVES MAPS

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Vaavu Atoll

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Atoll Summary
Administrative name Vaavu Atoll
Atoll name Felidhu Atoll
Location 3° 41' N and 3° 13' N
Letter J
Abbreviation V (ވ)
Capital Felidhoo
Population 2144
No. of Islands 19
Inhabited Islands 5
Atoll Chief Ali Rasheed Abdul Rahman [1]
Inhabited Islands
Felidhoo Fulidhoo Keyodhoo Rakeedhoo Thinadhoo

Alif Dhaal Atoll

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Atoll Summary
Administrative name Alif Dhaal Atoll
Atoll name Ari Atoll
Location 3° 55' N and 3° 28' N
Letter I
Abbreviation ADh (އދ)
Capital Mahibadhoo
Population 8679
No. of Islands 49
Inhabited Islands 10
Atoll Chief Mohamed Mahir
Inhabited Islands
Dhangethi Dhiddhoo Dhigurah Fenfushi Haggnaameedhoo Kunburudhoo Maamingili Mahibadhoo Mandhoo Omadhoo
Uninhabited Islands
Alikoirah Angaagaa Ariadhoo Athurugau Bodufinolhu Bodukaashihuraa Bulhaaholhi Dhehasanulunboihuraa Dhiddhoofinolhu Dhiffushi Dhiggaru Enboodhoo Finolhu Gasfinolhu Heenfaru Hiyafushi Hukurudhoo Hurasdhoo Huruelhi Huvahendhoo Innafushi Kalhuhandhihuraa Kudadhoo Kudarah Maafushivaru Machchafushi Medhufinolhu Mirihi Moofushi Nalaguraidhoo Rahddhiggaa Rangali Rangalifinolhu Rashukolhuhuraa Theluveligaa Tholhifushi Thundufushi Vakarufalhi Vilamendhoo Villingili Villinglivaru

Alif Alif Atoll

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Atoll Summary
Administrative name Alif Alif Atoll
Atoll name Ari Atoll
Location 4° 27' N and 3° 55' N
Letter U
Abbreviation AA (އއ)
Capital Rasdhoo
Population 6140
No. of Islands 33
Inhabited Islands 8
Atoll Chief Abdullah Khaleel[1]
Inhabited Islands
Bodufolhudhoo Feridhoo Himandhoo Maalhos Mathiveri Rasdhoo Thoddoo Ukulhas
Uninhabited Islands
Alikoirah, Bathalaa, Beyrumadivaru, Dhin-nolhufinolhu, Ellaidhoo, Etheramadivaru, Fesdhoo, Fusfinolhu, Fushi, Gaagandu, Gaathufushi, Gangehi, Halaveli, Kandholhudhoo, Kudafolhudhoo, Kuramathi, Maagaa, Maayyafushi, Madivarufinolhu, Madoogali, Mathivereefinolhu, Meerufenfushi, Mushimasgali, Rasdhoo madivaru, Velidhoo, Veligandu, Vihamaafaru

Kaafu Atoll

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Kaafu Atoll is an administrative atoll from the Maldives. This administrative atoll has four natural atolls collectively called the Malé Atoll: (from north to south) Kaashidhoo, Gaafaru, the North Malé Atoll and the South Malé Atoll.

Malé, capital of the Maldives is located within the North Malé atoll.

Atoll Summary
Administrative name Kaafu Atoll
Atoll name Malé Atoll
Location 4°25′N 73°30′ECoordinates: 4°25′N 73°30′E
Letter H
Abbreviation K (ކ)
Capital Thulusdhoo
Population 9886
No. of Islands 107
Inhabited Islands 9
Atoll Chief Mohamed Adam [1]
Inhabited Islands
Dhiffushi Gaafaru Gulhi Guraidhoo Himmafushi Hulhumalé Huraa Kaashidhoo Malé Maafushi Thulusdhoo
Uninhabited Islands
Aarah Akirifushi Asdhoo Baros Biyaadhoo Bodubandos Bodufinolhu Boduhithi Boduhuraa Bolifushi Dhigufinolhu Dhoonidhoo Ehrruh-haa Enboodhoo Enboodhoofinolhu Eriyadhoo Farukolhufushi Feydhoofinolhu Fihalhohi Funadhoo Furan-nafushi Gasfinolhu Giraavaru Girifushi Gulheegaathuhuraa Helengeli Henbadhoo Hulhulé Huraagandu Ihuru Kagi Kalhuhuraa Kandoomaafushi Kanduoih-giri Kanifinolhu Kanuhuraa Kudabandos Kudafinolhu Kudahithi Kudahuraa Lankanfinolhu Lankanfushi Lhohifushi Lhosfushi Maadhoo Madivaru Mahaanaélhihuraa Makunudhoo Makunufushi Maniyafushi Medhufinolhu Meerufenfushi Nakachchaafushi Olhahali Olhuveli Oligandufinolhu Ran-naalhi Rasfari Thanburudhoo Thilafushi Thulhaagiri Vaadhoo Vaagali Vabbinfaru Vabboahuraa Vammaafushi Velassaru Velifaru Veliganduhuraa Vihamanaafushi Villingili Villingilimathidhahuraa Villingilivau Ziyaaraiffushi

Lhaviyani Atoll

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Lhaviyani Atoll is an atoll from the Maldives. There is an industrial island with tuna canning facilities located at Felivaru

Atoll Summary
Administrative name Lhaviyani Atoll
Atoll name Faadhippolhu
Location 5° 15' N and 5° 34' N
Letter G
Abbreviation Lh (ޅ)
Capital Naifaru
Population 11104
No. of Islands 52
Inhabited Islands 5
Atoll Chief Qasim Abdul Kareem [1]
Inhabited Islands
Hinnavaru Kurendhoo Maafilaafushi Naifaru Olhuvelifushi

Baa Atoll

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Baa Atoll is an atoll in the Maldives. Situated on the west of the Maldives atoll chain, it consists of 75 islands of which 13 are inhabited with a population of over 11,000 people. The remaining 57 islands are uninhabited, in addition to five islands being developed as resorts.

This administrative atoll consists of two separate natural atolls, namely South Maalhosmadulu Atoll and Goidhoo Atoll (also known as Horsburgh Atoll). The South Maalhosmadulu Atoll is 42km long and 32km wide and consists of 10 inhabited islands.

Baa Atoll is also considered as a good example of the rich biodiversity found in the Maldives, including large mangroves and a unique diversity of fauna, such as the benthic fauna. Furthermore, the ring-shaped reef forms known as faroes in the Baa atoll is a reef structure which is unique to the Maldives.

The southernmost uninhabited island of Olhugiri in the Baa atoll lies 13 km north of Goidhoo Atoll. Olhugiri is well-known for its unique natural vegetation and for providing two of the only perching sites for the Great Frigatebird in the Maldives. Likewise, other marine creatures such as seaturtles and hawksbill turtles can be encountered.

The Fisheries Ministry of the Maldives has banned catching turtles or taking eggs from Olhugiri, which also applies to 11 other islands.

Atoll Summary
Administrative name Baa Atoll
Atoll name Maalhosmadulu
Location 5° 23' N and 4° 49' N
Letter F
Abbreviation B (ބ)
Capital Eydhafushi
Population 11910
No. of Islands 75
Inhabited Islands 13
Atoll Chief - [1]
Inhabited Islands
Dharavandhoo Dhonfanu Eydhafushi Fehendhoo Fulhadhoo Goidhoo Hithaadhoo Kamadhoo Kendhoo Kihaadhoo Kudarikilu Maalhos Thulhaadhoo
Uninhabited Islands
Ahivaffushi, Aidhoo, Anhenunfushi, Bathalaa, Bodufinolhu, Boifushi, Dhakendhoo, Dhandhoo, Dhigufaruvinagandu, Dhunikolhu, Enboodhoo, Fehenfushi, Finolhas, Fonimagoodhoo, Fulhadhoorah kairi finonolhu, Funadhoo, Gaagandufaruhuraa, Gaavillingili, Gemendhoo, Hanifaru, Hanifarurah, Hibalhidhoo, Hirundhoo, Horubadhoo, Hulhudhoo, Innafushi, Kanifusheegaathu finolhu, Kanifushi, Kashidhoogiri, Keyodhoo, Kihaadhufaru, Kihavah-huravalhi, Kudadhoo, Kunfunadhoo, Landaagiraavaru, Lunfares, Maaddoo, Maafushi, Maamaduvvari, Maarikilu, Madhirivaadhoo, Medhufinolhu, Mendhoo, Milaidhoo, Miriandhoo, Muddhoo, Muthaafushi, Nibiligaa, Olhugiri, Thiladhoo, Ufuligiri, Undoodhoo, Vakkaru, Velivarufinolhu, Veyofushee, Vinaneih-faruhuraa, Voavah

Raa Atoll

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Raa Atoll is an atoll from the Maldives. The capital of Raa atoll is Ungoofaaru. Recently, the island has been reclaimed up to the edge of the reef in order to provide land for social and economic activities for the growing population.

The main tourist resort island on the Raa atoll is Meedhupparu

Administrative name Raa Atoll
Atoll name Maalhosmadulu
Location 5° 58' N and 5° 20' N
Letter E
Abbreviation R (ރ)
Capital Ungoofaaru
Population 19003
No. of Islands 88
Inhabited Islands 15
Atoll Chief Saud Abdulla
Inhabited Islands
Alifushi Angolhitheemu Fainu Hulhudhuffaaru Inguraidhoo Innamaadhoo Kandholhudhoo Kinolhas Maakurathu Maduvvaree Meedhoo Rasgetheemu Rasmaadhoo Ungoofaaru Vaadhoo

MALDİVES PİCTURES 1

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Air Transport

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Maldivian Air Taxi and Trans Maldivian Airways are the sea plane operators in the Maldives. They offer the most efficient and comfortable sea plane transfers from the airport to the prospective holiday destination.

Noonu Atoll

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Noonu Atoll

Noonu Atoll is an atoll from the Maldives. The capital of Noonu atoll is Manadhoo.

Atoll Summary
Administrative name Noonu Atoll
Atoll name Miladhunmadulu
Location 5°58' N and 5°38' N
Letter D
Abbreviation N (ނ)
Capital Manadhoo
Population 14502
No. of Islands 71
Inhabited Islands 13
Atoll Chief Faruhath Ali [1]

Inhabited Islands
Foddhoo Henbandhoo Holhudhoo Kendhikolhudhoo Kudafaree Landhoo Lhohi Maafaru Maalhendhoo Magoodhoo Manadhoo Miladhoo Velidhoo

Shaviyani Atoll

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Shaviyani Atoll

Shaviyani Atoll is an atoll located in northern end of the Maldives

Geography
The atoll is situated in between Haa Dhaalu Atoll and Noonu Atoll, in Maldives. 37 miles long, it is the third atoll from the northern edge of the country, and is assigned the letter 'C' as the atoll code. It comprises 51 islands of which 16 are inhabited.

Economy
The population of the atoll crossed 14000 in 2003.

Fishing and agriculture form the mainstay of the atoll's economy. Fishing is engaged in throughout the year, with pole, line and reef fishing practised in various islands in the atoll. The atoll is also known for craftsmanship, such as mat and rope weaving.

Several inhabitants work in the tourism industry and other commercial trades in the Maldivian capital, Malé.

Administration
The atoll office is responsible for public services, development and economic affairs. The Shaviyani Atoll Office was founded in 1958. Operating from Lhaimagu earlier, it was shifted to the current capital Funadhoo in January 1968.

Atoll Summary
Administrative name Shaviyani Atoll
Atoll name Miladhunmadulu
Location 6°30' N and 5°58' N
Letter C
Abbreviation Sh (ށ)
Capital Funadhoo
Population 14502
No. of Islands 51
Inhabited Islands 16
Atoll Chief Mohamed Mahir

Inhabited Islands
Bileffahi Feevah Feydhoo Firunbaidhoo Foakaidhoo Funadhoo Goidhoo Kanditheemu Komandoo Lhaimagu Maakandoodhoo Maaungoodhoo Maroshi Milandhoo Narudhoo Noomaraa

Haa Dhaalu Atoll

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Haa Dhaalu Atoll

Haa Dhaalu Atoll is an atoll located in northern Maldives. There is a domestic airport on the island of Hanimaadhoo about 20km from its capital Kulhudhuffushi.

Atoll Summary
Administrative name Haa Dhaalu Atoll
Atoll name Thiladhunmathi
Location 6° 48' N and 6° 30' N
Letter B
Abbreviation HDh (ހދ)
Capital Kulhudhuffushi
Population 21875
No. of Islands 35
Inhabited Islands 16
Atoll Chief Mohamed Didi

Inhabited Islands
Faridhoo Finey Hanimaadhoo Hirimaradhoo Kulhudhuffushi Kumundhoo Kunburudhoo Kurinbi Maavaidhoo Makunudhoo Naivaadhoo Nellaidhoo Neykurendhoo Nolhivaram Nolhivaranfaru Vaikaradhoo

Uninhabited Islands
Bodunaagoashi, Dafaru Fasgandu, Dhorukanduhuraa, Fenboahuraa, Hirinaidhoo, Hondaafushi, Hondaidhoo, Innafushi, Kamana, Kattalafushi, Kaylakunu, Kudamuraidhoo, Kudanaagoashi, Muiri, Rasfushi, Ruffushi, Vaikaramuraidhoo, Veligandu

Resort islands, Airports and Industrial islands are also considered uninhabited

Haa Alif Atoll

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Haa Alif Atoll

Haa Alif Atoll is the northern-most atoll of the Maldives. It contains 42 islands, 16 of which are inhabited.

Atoll Summary

Administrative name Haa Alif Atoll
Atoll name Thiladhunmathi
Location 6° 48' N and 7° 07' N
Letter A
Abbreviation HA (ހއ)
Capital Dhiddhoo
Population 19251
No. of Islands 42
Inhabited Islands 16
Atoll Chief Mohamed Rasheed [1]
Inhabited Islands
Baarah Berinmadhoo Dhiddhoo Filladhoo Hathifushi Hoarafushi Ihavandhoo Kelaa Maarandhoo Mulhadhoo Muraidhoo Thakandhoo Thuraakunu Uligamu Utheemu Vashafaru
Uninhabited Islands
Alidhoo, Alidhuffarufinolhu, Beenaafushi, Dhapparu, Dhapparuhuraa, Dhigufaruhuraa, Dhonakulhi, Gaafushi, Gaamathikulhudhoo, Gallandhoo, Govvaafushi, Huraa, Huvahandhoo, Innafinolhu, Kudafinolhu, Maafahi, Maafinolhu, Madulu, Manafaru, Matheerah, Medhafushi, Mulidhoo, Naridhoo, Umaraiffinolhu, Ungulifinolhu, Vagaaru, Velifinolhu

Resort islands, Airports and Industrial islands are also considered uninhabited

26 Atolls

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Atoll

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An atoll is a type of low, coral island found in tropical oceans and consisting of a coral-algal reef usually surrounding an interior body of water called a lagoon. Atolls generally mark the locations of subsided (or sunken) extinct volcanic islands; the shape of the atoll is determined by the initial coastline of the original volcanic island, and is maintained so long as coral growth is faster than subsidence, and is not disturbed by other factors. Some atolls contain volcanic remnant islands at their centers. An atoll's low coral-sand islands form as a result of wave action breaking off pieces of coral at the reef escarpment and piling them up behind.

Usage

The word atoll comes from the Dhivehi (an Indo-Aryan language spoken on the Maldive Islands) word atholhu (Dhivehi: އަތޮޅު). Its first recorded use in English was in 1625. However, the term was popularised by Charles Darwin (1842, p. 2), who described atolls as a subset in a special class of islands, the unique property of which is the presence of an organic reef. More modern definitions of atoll are those of McNeil (1954, p. 396) as "...an annular reef enclosing a lagoon in which there are no promontories other than reefs and [islets] composed of reef detritus" and Fairbridge (1950, p. 341) "...in an exclusively morphological sense, [as] ...a ring-shaped ribbon reef enclosing a lagoon in the center."

Formation

This animation shows the dynamic process of coral atoll formation. Corals (represented in tan and purple) settle and grow around an oceanic island, forming a fringing reef. In favorable conditions, the reef will expand, and the interior island will subside. Eventually the island completely subsides beneath the water, leaving a ring of growing coral with an open lagoon in its center. The process of atoll formation may take as long as 30 million years to occur.Darwin published an explanation for the creation of coral atolls in the South Pacific (1842) based upon observations made during a five-year voyage aboard the HMS Beagle (1831–1836). His explanation, which is accepted as basically correct, involved considering that several tropical island types—from high volcanic island, through barrier reef island, to atoll—represented a sequence of gradual subsidence of what started as an oceanic volcano. He reasoned that a fringing coral reef surrounding a volcanic island in the tropical sea will grow upwards as the island subsides (sinks), eventually becoming a barrier reef island (as typified by an island such as Bora Bora and others in the Society Islands). The fringing reef becomes a barrier reef for the reason that the outer part of the reef maintains itself near sea level through biotic growth, while the inner part of the reef falls behind, becoming a lagoon because conditions are less favorable for the corals and calcareous algae responsible for most reef growth. In time, subsidence carries the old volcano below the ocean surface, but the barrier reef remains. At this point, the island has become an atoll.

Atolls are the product of the growth of tropical marine organisms, so these islands are only found in warm tropical waters. Volcanic islands located beyond the warm water temperature requirements of reef building (hermatypic) organisms become seamounts as they subside and are eroded away at the surface. An island that is located where the ocean water temperatures are just sufficiently warm for upward reef growth to keep pace with the rate of subsidence is said to be at the Darwin Point. Islands more polar evolve towards seamounts or guyots; islands more equatorial evolve towards atolls (see Kure Atoll).

Reginald Aldworth Daly offered a somewhat different explanation for atoll formation: islands worn away by erosion (ocean waves and streams) during the last glacial stand of the sea of some 300 feet below present sea level, developed as coral islands (atolls) (or barrier reefs on a platform surrounding a volcanic island not completely worn away) as sea level gradually rose from melting of the glaciers. Discovery of the great depth of the volcanic remnant beneath many atolls (see Midway Atoll), favors the Darwin explanation, although there can be little doubt that fluctuating sea level has had considerable influence on atoll and other reefs.

Distribution and size

Portion of a Pacific atoll showing two islets on the ribbon or barrier reef separated by a deep pass between the ocean and the lagoon.
An atoll in the western Pacific OceanThe distribution of atolls around the globe is instructive: most of the world's atolls are in the Pacific Ocean (with concentrations in the Tuamotu Islands, Caroline Islands, Marshall Islands, Coral Sea Islands, and the island groups of Kiribati and Tuvalu) and Indian Ocean (the Maldives, the Laccadive Islands, the Chagos Archipelago and the Outer Islands of the Seychelles). The Atlantic Ocean has no large groups of atolls, other than eight atolls east of Nicaragua that belong to the Colombian department of San Andres and Providencia.

As noted above, reef-building corals can thrive only in warm tropical and subtropical waters of oceans and seas, and therefore atolls are only found in the tropics and subtropics. The northernmost atoll of the world is Kure Atoll at 28°24' N, along with other atolls of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The southernmost atolls of the world are Elizabeth Reef at 29°58' S, and nearby Middleton Reef at 29°29' S, in the Tasman Sea, both of which are part of the Coral Sea Islands Territory. The next southerly atoll is Ducie Island in the Pitcairn Islands Group, at 24°40' S. Bermuda is sometimes claimed as the "northernmost atoll" at a latitude of 32°24' N. At this latitude coral reefs would not develop without the warming waters of the Gulf Stream. However, Bermuda is what is termed a pseudo-atoll because its general form, while resembling that of an atoll, has a very different mode of formation. While there is no atoll directly on the Equator, the closest atoll to the Equator is Aranuka of Kiribati, with its southern tip just 12 km North of the Equator.

In terms of total area (lagoon plus reef), the largest atolls are found in the Maldives: Huvadhoo Atoll, having an area of 2800 (or 3200?) km²; the area of Thiladhunmathi and Miladhunmadulu Atolls (two names, but a single atoll structure) is even larger at 3680 km². Another large atoll is Lihou Reef in the Coral Sea, with a lagoon of 2,500 km². However, by far the largest atoll structure of the world is the Great Chagos Bank in the Indian Ocean, a mostly submerged atoll, part of the Chagos Islands, with an area of roughly 13,000 km². If Saya de Malha Bank were to be recognized as a wholly submerged atoll structure, it would be the world's largest, at 40,000 km². Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands, which is sometimes listed as the largest atoll of the world (largest in the Pacific), measures only 846 km², by contrast. Large atolls are also found in the Tuamotu Archipelago, the largest being Rangiroa, with a lagoon area of 1018 km².

In most cases, the land area of an atoll is very small in comparison to the total area. The largest atoll in the world in terms of "land area" (land "permanently" above sea level) is Kiritimati (321.37 km² land area; according to other sources even 575 km²), 160 km² main lagoon, 168 km² other lagoons (according to other sources 319 km² total lagoon size). If the Caicos Islands are to be considered a huge coral atoll, with the Caicos Bank as a lagoon, this complex would be the largest atoll in land area (460.2 km²) and second largest in total area (lagoon size roughly 3,700 km²).

Atolls of the Maldives

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Maldives consist of 26 atolls which have been divided into 20 administrative districts and one capital city (Malé). The northern most atoll is Haa Alif and the southern most is Seenu. The smallest is Gnayivani Atoll with only one islet . The largest atoll in both the Maldives and the whole world is Gaafu Alif which is just south of the one and a half degree channel.

Each atoll is administered by an Atoll Chief (Atholhu Veriyaa). The president (Maumoon Abdul Gayoom) appoints atoll chiefs to each atoll, who administers it as may be decreed and directed by the president. The Ministry of Atoll Administration and its Northern and Southern Regional Offices, Atoll Offices and Island Offices are collectively responsible to the President for Atolls Administration. The administrative head of the island is the Island Chief (Katheeb), appointed by the Ministry of Atolls Administration. The Island Chief's immediate superior is the Atoll Chief.

Letter Abbr. Local letter Administrative name Former division
A HA ހއ Haa Alif Thiladhunmathi
B HDh ހދ Haa Dhaalu
C Sh ށ Shaviyani Miladhunmadulu
D N ނ Noonu
E R ރ Raa Maalhosmadulu
F B ބ Baa
G Lh ޅ Lhaviyani Faadhippolhu
H K ކ Kaafu Malé Atoll
U AA އއ Alif Alif Ari Atoll
I ADh އދ Alif Dhaal
J V ވ Vaavu Felidhu
K M މ Meemu Mulaku
L F ފ Faafu Nilandhé
M Dh ދ Dhaalu
N Th ތ Thaa Kolhumadulu
O L ލ Laamu Haddhunmathi
P GA ގއ Gaafu Alif Huvadhu
Q GDh ގދ Gaafu Dhaalu
R Gn ޏ Gnaviyani Fuvammulah
S S ސ Seenu Addu

Malé (city)
The names of most of the atolls are simply the names of letters of the Thaana alphabet. Thaana is used to write Dhivehi, the language of the Maldives, and is related to both the Arabic and Devanagari alphabets.

President: Maumoon Abdul Gayoom

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Constitution of the Maldives

The first Constitution of the Maldives was proclaimed on December 2, 1932, under the rule of Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen III. He issued a decree on March 19, 1931, to compile a written Constitution.

In 1930 Bernard H. Bourdill, the then acting Governor of Ceylon, visited Malé to advise the Sultan and the government of the Maldives in drafting of the First Constitution. His visit was made at the request of the Maldivian Government.

The compiled Constitution contained 92 articles. It took exactly 1 year, 8 months and 22 days from the Sultan's decree to draft a Constitution to the ratification of the document.

President of the Maldives

The President of the Maldives is the ceremonial head of state and first citizen of Maldives and the supreme commander of the Maldivian armed forces.

The current President of the Republic of Maldives is Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

List of presidents
Mohamed Amin Didi, 1953
Ibrahim Nasir, 1968 - 1978
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, 1978 - Present

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (Dhivehi: މައުމޫނު އަބްދުލް ގައްޔޫމް) (born December 29, 1937), has been the president of the Republic of Maldives since November 11, 1978, having succeeded Ibrahim Nasir. He was last re-elected to a sixth five-year term in October 2003 with 90.28% of the vote. He was the sole candidate, having been chosen by the Majlis or Assembly. The election is carried out as a referendum and a yes or no vote is chosen by the public.

Early and personal life
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom is the son of Abdul Gayoom Ibrahim (Maafaiygey Dhon Seedhi) and Khadheeja Moosa. His father had 25 children by 8 different wives and Gayoom is the 10th in his family. His mother died when he was studying in Cairo, Egypt. Gayoom's father who died in 1982, at the age of 87, saw the first term of his son's presidency.

Much of Gayoom's early life was spent in Egypt. He was among the 15 students selected at the direction of the then-president Mohamed Amin Didi for special education overseas. At the age of 10, he left to Egypt on September 15, 1947 but was to stay in Ceylon for few days. However his departure from Ceylon to Egypt was delayed for two and a half years, because of the Arab- Israeli conflict started due to recognition of the Israel by the United Nations, at the end of the World War II. When the situation improved, with the end of war in middle-east, he left to Egypt in March 1950 along with other Maldivian students. He spent almost 24 years outside Maldives except for the brief period he once came to Maldives in 1964. After sometime in Maldives, again he left to Egypt to begin studying for Diploma of Education. He did complete his MA degree in 1966 but could not complete his PhD due to funding issues (See sub-section, Education). After completing his MA degree, he worked in American University in Cairo, in 1967, as research assistant in Muslim History under professor Mardsen-Jones. There he worked for almost 2 years and left to Kano, Nigeria.

In 1965 Gayoom met Nasreena Ibrahim, a student who had just arrived to Cairo from the Maldives for her studies. She was 15 then and Gayoom was 27. Four years later they married in Cairo, on July 14, 1969. Just few weeks after his marriage, he joined Ahmadu Bello University in Kano, Nigeria as lecturer in Islamic Studies and moved there with Nasreena. In March 20, 1970, at the age of 20, Nasreena gave birth to twins, Dhunya Maumoon and Yumna Maumoon. When Nasreena got pregnant for the second time it was arranged to send her to Malé. She gave birth to their first son, Farish, in Malé, on March 31, 1971. Nine years later, during Gayoom's presidency, Ghassan Abdul Gayoom was born on June 12, 1980.

During his time at Egypt he was particularly interested in Egyptian Political Affairs. He was closely following the revolutionary movement accelerated by the Muslim Brotherhood and Free Officers Movement of Gamal Abdel Nasser. He attended several public meetings of Muslim Brotherhood where celebrated orators like Sayyid Qutb railed against Britain, imperialism and King Farouk's Government. In July 1952 Gayoom was at Muslim Brotherhood camp, on holiday, when Gamal Abdel Nasser took over the power in a bloodless military coup. In his book A Man for All Islands, biographer Royston Ellis wrote, "Maumoon regarded it as a privilege to be able to hear Sayyed Qutb".

Education

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom acquired his education from Al-Azhar University of Egypt. He went to Egypt in March 1950 when he was 12. In Egypt he spent six months learning Arabic in order for his enrolment in the Faculty of Sharia and Civil Law.

In 1966, he obtained his Bachelor's degree and Master's degree in Islamic Sharia and civil Law, with the degree of excellence with honors. In addition to his MA from Al-Azhar University, he obtained a second Masters Degree in the same field from the American University in Cairo. Gayoom came out first in the Faculty of Islamic Law and Studies, at Al-Azhar University and was awarded his graduation certificate by Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Maldivian government decided to stop the grants for Maldivian students at Al-Azhar University for their attempted interference with then Prime Minister, later president, Ibrahim Nasir's decision to establish diplomatic ties with Israel. Fourteen Maldivian students on Gayoom's direction, including Gayoom himself, sent a signed letter to Ibrahim Nasir to reconsider the decision. Consequently their grants were stopped. The students were then financed by the Egyptian Government. By the time Gayoom acquired his MA degree, Egyptian government decided to stop the funding. As a result of being "black listed", by the government for his attempted intervention, Gayoom decided not to go back to Maldives. Financially he was prevented from completing his PhD. Later with his marriage he decided not to go further with his studying.

Career and politics

Before returning to Maldives, after his studies, Gayoom worked in American University in Cairo in 1967 and Ahmadu Bello university in Kano, Nigeria as lecturer in Islamic Studies for two years from 1969. When his two year contract with Ahmadu Bello university ended, he decided to return to the Maldives. After almost 24 years since he first departed Maldives for studies, he returned to Maldives in 1971?. Three weeks after arrival he joined Aminiyya School as a teacher where he taught English, Arithmetic and Islam. In 1972 he was appointed as the manager of the Government shipping department.

On March 12, 1973, Gayoom was held under housearrest for criticising president Ibrahim Nasir's policies. In May 1973 he was tried in court and by the end of trial he was sentenced to banishment for four years, in May 14, 1973. A week after the sentence, on May 21, he was taken to Makunudhoo island of Haa Dhaalu Atoll. By the time he served 5 months of his punishment, Gayoom was released on October 13, 1973, by Ibrahim Nasir's amnesty following his re-election for another five-year term.

In 1974 Gayoom was appointed as under-secretary in the Telecommunications Department. After ten weeks he was promoted to Director of the department. During this period he worked as a part-time teacher in some private schools, teaching Islam, Arabic and English.

In July 28, 1974, Gayoom was again arrested for criticising Nasir's policies. This time he was kept in solitary confinement in a prison nicknamed "China garden", in Malé. The prison was famous by this name because Chinese fishermen were once detained there. This prison was later demolished in Gayoom's presidency and built Islamic Centre on the block. After 50 days in jail he was set free in September 1974. Six weeks later, he was appointed as Special under-secretary in the then Prime Minister Ahmed Zaki's office. The post of Prime Minister was abolished with the removal and banishment of Ahmed Zaki from office, in March 6, 1975. With this decision, Gayoom's position as the Prime Minister's special under secretary was no longer required. He was officially given notice, when he was in Colombo, and told that he would not be needed in government anymore. However, when he returned from Colombo, he was made the Deputy Ambassador of the Maldives in Sri Lanka. In 1975 he was sent to the United Nations, for two months, as a member of the Maldives delegation. Upon his return, he was appointed as under-secretary at the department of External Affairs. After nine weeks he was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Transport. One year later he was tenured at the United Nations, from September 1976 to January 1977, till Nasir summoned him back from UN at the end of the session.

In March 29, 1977, Gayoom was appointed as Minister of Transport, making him a member of Ibrahim Nasir's cabinet. He was Minister of Transport till November 10, 1978.

Presidency

As Ibrahim Nasir's second term was coming to an end, he wanted someone else running for the presidency. In June 1978 Citizen's Majlis was called upon to declare a nominee for the President. During this voting 45 voted for Nasir and remaining 3 voted for Gayoom. There was another ballot on June 16, in which four people participated. 27 voted for Gayoom, enough for him to be put forward as a candidate. Five months later he was elected with 92.96% of the votes as the new President of the Maldives. The grand reception of his inauguration was held at Majeediyaa School on the night of November 10, 1978. Since then he has been re-elected and still is the President of the Maldives. In 1983 referendum he was re-elected by 96.62%, for the second term. He is currently in his sixth five-year term, making him Asias second-longest serving leader after Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore. The President of the Maldives is both the Head of Government and Head of State, with very little distinction between the two roles, therefore President Gayoom is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Maldivian armed forces, the National Security Service.

Notable visits and participations

The first Country Gayoom visited as the president was Libya. His visit in September 1979 to Libya was to participate in celebration held to mark the 10th anniversary of the September Revolution.
In 1981 Gayoom attended third Islamic Summit Conference of Organization of the Islamic Conference held in Saudi Arabia. Since then he attended every ISC meetings. These have been in Morocco in 1984, in Kuwait in 1987, in Senegal in 1991, in Morocco in 1994 and in Pakistan in 1997.
In May 1981 he made state visits to neighboring Asian countries, Singapore and Malaysia
His first visit to a western country, as the president, was on May 10, 1982 to London.
In October 1982 he participated Commonwealth heads of Government Regional Meetings in Fiji
In March 1984 he made a state visit to Sri Lanka to repair the cracked relations with two countries.
In 1983 he made a state visit to North Korea. The same year, in October, he made a visit to South Korea. During this visit he was awarded the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, the highest order of the Republic of Korea. He invested the president, Chun Doo Hwan, with the Maldivian order of Nishan Izzuddeen.

Criticism

Gayoom has been harshly criticized by many for his autocratic rule, and he is widely considered to be a dictator and has been accused of nepotism. This may be because he has several family members, in-laws and close relatives in high posts in his government and cabinet. According to Amnesty International, in the year 2003 "there were severe restrictions on freedom of the press, and political parties were unable to function." Anti-government riots broke out in the country in September 2003 following a prison shooting incident. Opposition to the president has come in the form of the Maldivian Democratic Party. Political prisoners are often banished to remote atolls. Gayoom was also the defense minister and finance minister of Maldives for a long time, but gave up these positions on September 1, 2004, following international pressure, and media and public ridicule.

Area and boundaries

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Area:
total: 300 km²
land: 300 km²
water: 0 km²

Coastline: 644 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles (44 km)
exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles (370 km)
territorial sea: 12 nautical miles (22 km)

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Vilingili Island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m (Maldives is the flattest country in the world, i.e. they have the lowest high-point of any country in the world).

Resources and land use
Natural resources: fish

Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 3%
other: 84% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA

Environmental concerns
Natural hazards: low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise

Environment - current issues: depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching, overpopulation, deforestation, air pollution

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Other facts
Position: degree of latitude: 07° 06'30" N to 00° 41'48" S and degree of longitude: 72° 32'30" E to 73° 45'54" E westside of India and Sri Lanka.
Range: in length approx. 750 km (from north to south) / in width approx. 120 km (from west to east)
Land territory: 1,196 mostly deserted islands with a total area of approx. 298 km².
The islands are very flat and are in average 1.8 m above sea level.
Distances: shortest distance to India: approx. 340 km and to Sri Lanka approx. 700 km.

Climate

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The temperature of Maldives ranges between 24 and 33 °C throughout the year. Although the humidity is relatively high, the constant sea breezes help to keep the air moving. Two seasons dominate Maldives' weather: the dry season associated with the winter northeast monsoon and the rainy season brought by the summer southwest monsoon. The annual rainfall averages 2,540 millimeters in the north and 3,810 millimeters in the south.

The weather in Maldives is affected by the large landmass of the South Asia to the north. The presence of this landmass causes differential heating of land and water. Scientists also cite other factors in the formation of monsoons, including the barrier of the Himalayas on the northern fringe of the South Asia and the sun's northward tilt, which shifts the jet stream north. These factors set off a rush of moisture-rich air from the Indian Ocean over the South Asia, resulting in the southwest monsoon. The hot air that rises over the South Asia during April and May creates low-pressure areas into which the cooler, moisture-bearing winds from the Indian Ocean flow. In Maldives, the wet southwest monsoon lasts from the end of April to the end of October and brings the worst weather with strong winds and storms. In May 1991 violent monsoon winds created tidal waves that damaged thousands of houses and piers, flooded arable land with seawater, and uprooted thousands of fruit trees. The damage caused was estimated at US$30 million.

The shift from the moist southwest monsoon to the dry northeast monsoon over the South Asia occurs during October and November. During this period, the northeast winds contribute to the formation of the northeast monsoon, which reaches Maldives in the beginning of December and lasts until the end of March. However, the weather patterns of Maldives do not always conform to the monsoon patterns of the South Asia. Rain showers over the whole country have been known to persist for up to one week during the midst of the dry season.

Geography of the Maldives

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Maldives is a country of South Asia, situated in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India. It consists of approximately 1,196 coral islands grouped in a double chain of 27 atolls, spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometers, making this one of the most disparate countries in the world. Composed of live coral reefs and sand bars, the atolls are situated atop a submarine ridge 960 kilometers long that rises abruptly from the depths of the Indian Ocean and runs from north to south. Only near the southern end of this natural coral barricade do two open passages permit safe ship navigation from one side of the Indian Ocean to the other through the territorial waters of Maldives. For administrative purposes the Maldives government organized these atolls into nineteen administrative divisions.

The largest island of Maldives is Fuvammulah, which is a single island and single atoll located in the southern part of the Maldives known as Gnaviyani Atoll in the administrative division. In Addu Atoll the westernmost islands are connected by roads over the reef and the total length of the road is 12 km.

Geographic coordinates: 3°15′N 73°00′E

Physiography

Most atolls consist of a large, ring-shaped coral reef supporting numerous small islands. Islands average only one to two square kilometers in area, and lie between one and 1.5 meters above mean sea level. The highest island is situated at three meters above sea level. Maldives has no hills or rivers. Although some larger atolls are approximately 50 kilometers long from north to south, and 30 kilometers wide from east to west, no individual island is longer than eight kilometers.

Each atoll has approximately five to ten inhabited islands; the uninhabited islands of each atoll number approximately 20 to 60. Several atolls, however, consist of one large, isolated island surrounded by a steep coral beach. The most notable example of this type of atoll is the large island of Fuvammulah situated in the middle of the Equatorial Channel.

The tropical vegetation of Maldives comprises groves of breadfruit trees and coconut palms towering above dense scrub, shrubs, and flowers. The soil is sandy and highly alkaline, and a deficiency in nitrogen, potash, and iron severely limits agricultural potential. Ten percent of the land, or about 26 km², is cultivated with taro, bananas, coconuts, and other fruit. Only the lush island of Fuvammulah produces fruits such as oranges and pineapples partly because the terrain of Fuvammulah is higher than most other islands, leaving the groundwater less subject to seawater penetration. Freshwater floats in a layer, or "lens," above the seawater that permeates the limestone and coral sands of the islands. These lenses are shrinking rapidly on Male and on many islands where there are resorts catering to foreign tourists. Mango trees already have been reported dying on Male because of salt penetration. Most residents of the atolls depend on groundwater or rainwater for drinking purposes. Concerns over global warming and a possible long-term rise in sea level as a result of the melting of polar ice are important issues to the fragile balance between the people and the environment of Maldives in the 1990s.

Administrative divisions of Maldives

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Maldives has twenty-six natural atolls which have been divided into twenty administrative atolls and one city. [2] The northern most atoll is Haa Alif Atoll and the southern most is Seenu Atoll. The smallest atoll is Gnaviyani Atoll with only one island (the largest island in Maldives). The largest atoll in both Maldives and the whole world is Gaafu Alif Atoll which is just south of the One and a Half Degree Channel.

Each atoll is administered by an Atoll Chief (Atholhu Veriyaa) appointed by the President (Maumoon Abdul Gayoom). Atoll chiefs administer as directed by the president. The Ministry of Atoll Administration and its Northern and Southern Regional Offices, Atoll Offices and Island Offices are collectively responsible to the President for Atolls Administration. The administrative head of each island is the Island Chief (Katheeb), appointed by the President. The Island Chief's immediate superior is the Atoll Chief.

Judiciary

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Ustaz Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim from Fuvahmulah is the present chief justice of Maldives. All judges in the Maldives are appointed by the president. Islamic law is the basis of all judicial decisions.

The Maldives have, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Project (UNDP), undertaken to write the first Muslim criminal code in the history of the world. This project would formalize the proceedings of criminal justice in this tiny nation to one of the most comprehensive modern criminal codes in the world. The code has been written and awaits action by the parliament.

[edit] Maldives and the Indian Ocean Commission
Since 1996, Maldives has been the official progress monitor of the Indian Ocean Commission. Since 2002, the Maldives has expressed interest in the work of the Indian Ocean Commission but has not applied for membership. The interest of the Maldives relates to its identity as a small island state, especially in relation to matters of economic development and environmental preservation, and its desire to forge close relations with France, a main actor in the IOC region. The Maldives is a founder member of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation, SAARC, and as former protectorate of Great Britain, joined the Commonwealth in 1982, some 17 years after gaining independence from Great Britain. The Maldives enjoys close ties with Seychelles and Mauritius, whom like the Maldives are members of the Commonwealth. The Maldives and Comoros are also both members of the Organisation of Islamic Conference. The Maldives has refused to enter into any negotiations with Mauritius over the demarcation of the maritime border between the Maldives and the British Indian Ocean Territory, pointing out that under international law, the sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago rests with the UK, with whom negotiations were started in 1991.

Politics

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Politics in the Maldives takes place in the framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President is the head of government. The President heads the executive branch and appoints the cabinet. The President is nominated to a five-year term by a secret ballot of the Majlis (parliament), a nomination which must be confirmed by national referendum.

The unicameral Majlis of the Maldives is composed of fifty members serving five-year terms. Two male members from each atoll are elected directly by universal suffrage. Eight are appointed by the president, which is the main route through which women enter parliament. The country introduced political parties for the first time in its history in July 2005, six months after the last elections for the parliament. Nearly 36 members of the existing parliament joined the Dhivehi Raiyyathunge Party (which translates to Maldivian People's Party) and elected President Gayoom as its leader. Twelve members of parliament became the Opposition and joined the Maldivian Democratic Party. Two members remained independent. In March 2006, President Gayoom published a detailed Roadmap for the Reform Agenda, providing time-bound measures to write a new Constitution, and modernise the legal framework. Under the Roadmap, the government has submitted to the Parliament a raft of reform measures. The most significant piece of legislation passed so far is the Amendment to the Human Rights Commission Act, making the new body fully compliant with the Paris Principles.

The 50 members of parliament sit with an equal number of similarly constituted persons and the Cabinet to form the Constitutional Assembly, which has been convened at the initiative of the President to write a modern liberal democratic constitution for the Maldives. The Assembly has been sitting since July 2004, and has been widely criticised for making very slow progress. The Government and the Opposition have been blaming each other for the delays, but independent observers attribute the slow progress to weak parliamentary traditions, poor whipping (none of the MPs were elected on a party ticket) and endless points of order interventions. Progress has also been slow due to the commitment of the main opposition party, MDP to depose President Gayoom by direct action ahead of the implementation of the reform agenda, leading to civil unrest in July-August 2004, August 2005 and an abortive putsch in November 2006. Significantly, the leader of the MDP, Ibrahim Ismail, MP for the biggest constituency, Male', resigned from his party post in April 2005 and eventually left MDP in November 2006 citing the intransigence of his own National Executive Committee. The government had engaged the services of a Commonwealth Special Envoy Tun Musa Hitham to facilitate all party dialogue, and when the MDP boycotted him, enlisted the services of the British High Commissioner to facilitate a dialogue. The ensuing Westminster House process made some progress but was abandoned as MDP called for the November revolution.

The call for an Orange Revolution on 10 November by MDP is seen as a mistake by many observers and even supporters, leading to fragmentation of the party and alienation of the members of the public. According to the registrar of parties, the DRP is the largest party in the country with over 35,000 card carrying members while the MDP, the second largest party, has 14,000.

The Roadmap provides the deadline of 31 May 2007 for the Assembly to conclude its work and to pave the way for the first multiparty elections in the country by October 2008.

On 19 June 2006, the Assembly voted to hold a public referendum to decide the form of government under the new constitutional settlement.

Independence of Maldives

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On July 26, 1965, Maldives gained independence under an agreement signed with United Kingdom. The British government retained the use of the Gan and Hitaddu facilities. In a national referendum in March 1968, Maldivians abolished the sultanate and established a republic.

Nasir
The Second Republic was proclaimed in November 1968 under the presidency of Ibrahim Nasir, who had increasingly dominated the political scene. Under the new constitution, Nasir was elected indirectly to a four-year presidential term by the Majlis (legislature). He appointed Ahmed Zaki as the new prime minister.

In 1973 Nasir was elected to a second term under the constitution as amended in 1972, which extended the presidential term to five years and which also provided for the election of the prime minister by the Majlis. In March 1975, newly elected prime minister Zaki was arrested in a bloodless coup and was banished to a remote atoll. Observers suggested that Zaki was becoming too popular and hence posed a threat to the Nasir faction.

During the 1970s, the economic situation in Maldives suffered a setback when the Sri Lankan market for Maldives' main export of dried fish collapsed. Adding to the problems was the British decision in 1975 to close its airfield on Gan in line with its new policy of abandoning defense commitments east of the Suez Canal. A steep commercial decline followed the evacuation of Gan in March 1976. As a result, the popularity of Nasir's government suffered. Maldives's 20 year period of authoritarian rule under Nasir abruptly ended in 1978 when he fled to Singapore. A subsequent investigation revealed that he had absconded with millions of dollars from the state treasury.

Gayoom

Elected to replace Nasir for a five-year presidential term in 1978 was Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, a former university lecturer and Maldivian ambassador to the United Nations (UN). The peaceful election was seen as ushering in a period of political stability and economic development in view of Gayoom's priority to develop the poorer islands. In 1978 Maldives joined the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Tourism also gained in importance to the local economy, reaching more than 120,000 visitors in 1985. The local populace appeared to benefit from increased tourism and the corresponding increase in foreign contacts involving various development projects.

Despite the popularity of Gayoom, those connected to the former President hired ex-SAS mercenaries in 1980 to carry out a coup to oust him. The attempt was sponsored by Ahmed Naseem, brother-in-law of Nasir and former junior Minister and was supported by a handful of Nasir loyalists. Naseem had objected to the emergence of Gayoom and had vowed to depose him within 6 months. Naseem's disaffection only increased when the parliament began investigating financial irregularities under Nasir as well as the murder of inmates and torture in Villingili Prison in the early 1970s, which implicated his brother-in-law, the erstwhile strongman Abdul Hannan Haleem who was Nasir's Minister for Public Safety.

The smallgroup of mercenaries arrived in the Maldives smuggling their light arms in diving equipment, but did not carry out the mission because Gayoom had been tipped about their arrival and they found that they had been misinformed about the popularity of Gayoom.

In 1983, a local shipping businessman, Reeko Ibrahim Maniku made a bid to win the parliamentary nomination by offering bribes to members of parliament and to High Court judges. Reeko Ibrahim remained in self-imposed exile, returning to Maldives only in 2006 and has since registered a political party, Social Democratic Party.

Despite coup attempts in 1980, 1983, and 1988, Gayoom's popularity remained strong, allowing him to win three more presidential terms. In the 1983, 1988, and 1993 elections, Gayoom received more than 90 % of the vote. Although the government did not allow any legal opposition, Gayoom was opposed in the early 1990s by Islamists (also seen as fundamentalists) who wanted to impose a more traditional way of life and by some powerful local business leaders.

Whereas the 1980 and 1983 coup attempts against Gayoom's presidency were not considered serious, the third coup attempt in November 1988 alarmed the international community. About 80 armed Tamil mercenaries belonging to PLOTE landed on Malé before dawn aboard speedboats from a freighter. Disguised as visitors, a similar number had already infiltrated Malé earlier. Although the mercenaries quickly gained the nearby airport on Hulele, they failed to capture President Gayoom, who fled from house to house and asked for military intervention from India, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi immediately dispatched 1,600 troops by air to restore order in Malé. Less than 12 hours later, Indian paratroopers arrived on Hulele, causing some of the mercenaries to flee toward Sri Lanka in their freighter. Those unable to reach the ship in time were quickly rounded up. Nineteen people reportedly died in the fighting, and several taken hostage also died. Three days later an Indian frigate captured the mercenaries on their freighter near the Sri Lankan coast. In July 1989, a number of the mercenaries were returned to Maldives to stand trial. Gayoom commuted the death sentences passed against them to life imprisonment.

The 1988 coup had been masterminded and spsonsored by a few disgruntled businessmen, chiefly Sikka Ahmed Ismail Maniku and Abdulla Luthufi, who were operating a farm in Sri Lanka. Earlier, the two of them had also been caught in an attempt to assassinate Nasir when he was president and had been tried and imprisoned before being released in 1975. The captured mercenaries and their paymasters were put on trial. Sikka Maniku and Luthufee were sentenced to death in 1989, but Gayoom commuted their sentences to life imprisonment. In 1994, Gayoom pardoned and released Sikka Maniku on humanitarian grounds as he had developed cardiovascular complications, and Maniku went into self-imposed exile in Colombo.

Ex-president Nasir denied any involvement in the coup. In fact, in July 1990, President Gayoom officially pardoned Nasir in absentia in recognition of his role in obtaining Maldives' independence.

History of the Maldives

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Maldives is a nation consisting of 26 natural atolls comprising of 1192 islands. In olden times, the islands provided the main source of cowrie shells, then used as a currency throughout Asia and parts of the East African coast. Moreover, historically Maldives has had a strategic importance because of its location on the major marine routes of the Indian Ocean. Maldives' nearest neighbors are Sri Lanka and India, both of which have had cultural and economic ties with Maldives for centuries. Although under nominal Portuguese, Dutch, and British influences after the 16th century, Maldivians were left to govern themselves under a long line of sultans and occasionally sultanas.

Maldives gained independence in 1965. The British, who had been Maldives' last colonial power, continued to maintain an air base on the island of Gan in the southernmost atoll until 1976. The British departure in 1976 almost immediately triggered foreign speculation about the future of the air base; the Soviet Union requested use of the base, but Maldives refused.

The greatest challenge facing the republic in the early 1990s was the need for rapid economic development and modernization, given the country's limited resource base in fishing, agriculture and tourism. Concern was also evident over a projected long-term rise in sea level, which would prove disastrous to the low-lying coral islands. Fortunately in the early 2000s it was found sea level had fallen during preceding decades.

Maldivians consider the introduction of Islam in A.D. 1153 as the cornerstone of their country's history. Islam remains the state religion in the 1990s. Except for a brief period of Portuguese occupation from 1558-73, Maldives also has remained independent. Because the Muslim religion prohibits images portraying gods, local interest in ancient statues of the pre-Islamic period is not only slight but at times even hostile; villagers have been known to destroy such statues recently unearthed.

Early Age

Western interest in the archaeological remains of early cultures on Maldives began with the work of H.C.P. Bell, a British commissioner of the Ceylon Civil Service. Bell was shipwrecked on the islands in 1879, and he returned several times to investigate ancient Buddhist ruins. Historians have established that by the fourth century A.D. Theravada Buddhism originating from Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka) became the dominant religion of the people of Maldives. Some scholars believe that the name "Maldives" derives from the Sanskrit maladvipa, meaning "garland of islands."

In the mid-1980s, the Maldivian government allowed the noted explorer and expert on early marine navigation, Thor Heyerdahl, to excavate ancient sites. Heyerdahl studied the ancient mounds, called hawitta by the Maldivians, found on many of the atolls. Some of his archaeological discoveries of stone figures and carvings from pre-Islamic civilizations are today exhibited in a side room of the small National Museum in Male'.

Heyerdahl's research indicates that as early as 2,000 B.C. Maldives lay on the maritime trading routes of early Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Indus Valley civilizations. Heyerdahl believes that early sun-worshipping seafarers, called the Redin, first settled on the islands. Even today, many mosques in Maldives face the sun and not Mecca, lending credence to this theory. Because building space and materials were scarce, successive cultures constructed their places of worship on the foundations of previous buildings. Heyerdahl thus surmises that these sun-facing mosques were built on the ancient foundations of the Redin culture temples.

Introduction of Islam

The interest of Middle Eastern peoples in Maldives resulted from its strategic location and its abundant supply of cowrie shells, a form of currency that was widely used throughout Asia and parts of the East African coast since ancient times. Middle Eastern seafarers had just begun to take over the Indian Ocean trade routes in the tenth century A.D. and found Maldives to be an important link in those routes.

The importance of the Arabs as traders in the Indian Ocean by the twelfth century A.D. may partly explain why the last Buddhist king of Maldives converted to Islam in the year 1153. The king thereupon adopted the Muslim title and name (in Arabic) of Sultan (besides the old Divehi title of Maha radun or Ras Kilege) Muhammad al Adil, initiating a series of six islamic dynasties consisting of eighty-four sultans and sultanas that lasted until 1932 when the sultanate became elective.

The person responsible for this conversion was a Sunni Muslim visitor named Abu al Barakat. His venerated tomb now stands on the grounds of Hukuru Mosque, or miski, in the capital of Malé. Built in 1656, this is the oldest mosque in Maldives. Arab interest in Maldives also was reflected in the residence there in the 1340s of the well-known North African traveler Ibn Battutah.

Era of colonial powers

Portuguese

In 1558 the Portuguese established themselves on Maldives, which they administered from Goa on India's west coast. Fifteen years later, a local guerrilla leader named Muhammad Thakurufaanu Al-Azam organized a popular revolt and drove the Portuguese out of Maldives. This event is now commemorated as National Day, and a small museum and memorial center honor the hero on his home island of Utheemu on South Thiladhummathi Atoll.

Dutch

In the mid-seventeenth century, the Dutch, who had replaced the Portuguese as the dominant power in Ceylon, established hegemony over Maldivian affairs without involving themselves directly in local matters, which were governed according to centuries-old Islamic customs.

However, the British expelled the Dutch from Ceylon in 1796 and included Maldives as a British protected area. The status of Maldives as a British protectorate was officially recorded in an 1887 agreement in which the sultan accepted British influence over Maldivian external relations and defense. The British had no presence, however, on the leading island community of Malé. They left the islanders alone, as had the Dutch, with regard to internal administration to continue to be regulated by Muslim traditional institutions.

British

Britain got entangled with the Maldives as a result of domestic disturbances which targeted the settler community of Bora merchants who were British subjects. Rivalry between two dominant families, the Athireege clan and the Kakaage clan was resolved with former winning the favour of the British authorities in Ceylon, who concluded a Protection Agreement in 1887. During the British era, which lasted until 1965, Maldives continued to be ruled under a succession of sultans. It was a period during which the Sultan's authority and powers were increasingly and decisively taken over by the Chief Minister, much to the chagrin of the British Governor-General who continued to deal with the ineffectual Sultan. Consequently, Britain encouraged the development of a constitutional monarchy, and the first Constitution was proclaimed in 1932. However, the new arrangements favoured neither the ageing Sultan nor the wily Chief Minister, but rather a young crop of British-educated reformists. As a result, angry mobs were instigated against the Constitution which was publicly torn up. Maldives remained a British crown protectorate until 1953 when the sultanate was suspended and the First Republic was declared under the short-lived presidency of Muhammad Amin Didi.

This first elected president of the country introduced several reforms. While serving as prime minister during the 1940s, Didi nationalized the fish export industry. As president he is remembered as a reformer of the education system and a promoter of women's rights. Muslim conservatives in Malé eventually ousted his government, and during a riot over food shortages, Didi was beaten by a mob and died on a nearby island.

Beginning in the 1950s, political history in Maldives was largely influenced by the British military presence in the islands. In 1954 the restoration of the sultanate perpetuated the rule of the past. Two years later, the United Kingdom obtained permission to reestablish its wartime airfield on Gan in the southernmost Addu Atoll. Maldives granted the British a 100 year lease on Gan that required them to pay £2,000 a year, as well as some 440,000 square metres on Hitaddu for radio installations.

In 1957, however, the new prime minister, Ibrahim Nasir, called for a review of the agreement in the interest of shortening the lease and increasing the annual payment. But Nasir, who was theoretically responsible to then sultan Muhammad Farid Didi, was challenged in 1959 by a local secessionist movement in the southern atolls that benefited economically from the British presence on Gan. This group cut ties with the Maldives government and formed an independent state with Abdulla Afif Didi as president.

The short-lived state (1959-62), called the United Suvadive Republic, had a combined population of 20,000 inhabitants scattered in the atolls then named Suvadiva--since renamed North Huvadu and South Huvadu--and Addu and Fua Mulaku. In 1962 Nasir sent gunboats from Malé with government police on board to eliminate elements opposed to his rule. Abdulla Afif Didi fled to the then British colony of Seychelles, where he was granted political asylum.

Meanwhile, in 1960 Maldives allowed the United Kingdom to continue to use both the Gan and the Hitaddu facilities for a thirty-year period, with the payment of £750,000 over the period of 1960 to 1965 for the purpose of Maldives' economic development.

ECONOMY

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Current GDP per capita of Maldives registered a peak growth of 26.5% in the 1980s and stabilised around 11.5% in the 1990s.

Tourism and Fisheries form the two key components of Maldivian economy. The country's shipping, banking and manufacturing sectors are also growing at a considerable pace. Among the South Asian nations, Maldives has the second highest per-capita GDP at 3,900 USD (2002 figure). Major trading partners include India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Fisheries

The Maldivian economy was entirely dependent on fishing and other marine products for many centuries. Fishing remains the main occupation of the people and the government gives special priority to the development of the fisheries sector.

The mechanization of the traditional fishing boat called "Dhoni" in 1974 was a major milestone in the development of the fisheries industry and the country's economy in general. A fish canning plant was installed in the island of Felivaru in 1977, as a joint venture with a Japanese firm. In 1979, a Fisheries Advisory Board was set up with the mandate of advising the government on policy guidelines for the overall development of the fisheries sector. Manpower development programs were begun in the early 1980s, and fisheries education was incorporated into the school curriculum. Fish aggregating devices and navigational aids were located at various strategic points. Moreover, the opening up of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Maldives for fisheries has further enhanced the growth of the fisheries sector. Today, fisheries contribute over fifteen percent of the GDP and engage about thirty percent of the country's work force. It is also the second-largest foreign exchange earner after tourism.

Cottage industries
The development of the tourism sector gave a major boost to the country's fledging traditional cottage industries such as mat weaving, lacquer work, handicraft, and coir rope making. New industries that have since emerged include printing, production of PVC pipes, brick making, marine engine repairs, bottling of aerated water, and garment production.

Maldives

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Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is an island nation consisting of a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives are located south of India's Lakshadweep islands, and about seven hundred kilometers (435 mi) south-west of Sri Lanka. The twenty-six atolls encompass a territory featuring 1,192 islets, roughly two hundred of which are inhabited by people. The country's name may stand for "Mountain Islands" (malai in Tamil, meaning "mountain" and teevu in Tamil meaning "island") or it may mean "a thousand islands". Some scholars believe that the name "Maldives" derives from the Sanskrit maladvipa, meaning "garland of islands", or from "mahila dvipa", meaning "island of women". Others believe the name means "palace" (from Mahal in Arabic).
Following the introduction of Islam in 1153, the islands later became a Portuguese (1558), Dutch (1654), and British (1887) colonial possession. In 1965, Maldives obtained independence from Britain (originally under the name "Maldive Islands"), and in 1968 the Sultanate was replaced by a Republic. However, in 38 years, the Maldives have had only two Presidents, though political restrictions have loosened somewhat recently.
Maldives is the smallest Asian country in terms of population. It is also the smallest predominantly Muslim nation in the world.

History

Western interest in the archaeological remains of early cultures on Maldives began with the work of H.C.P. Bell, a British commissioner of the Ceylon Civil Service. Bell was shipwrecked on the islands in 1879, and returned several times to investigate ancient Buddhist ruins.
By the fourth century AD, Theravada Buddhism came from Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka) and became the dominant religion of the people of Maldives. Some scholars believe that the name "Maldives" derives from the Sanskrit maladvipa, meaning "garland of islands". Also "Mal" is fish "deeb" is land is also a favored suggestion by many islanders.
In the mid-1980s, the Maldivian government allowed the noted explorer and expert on early marine navigation, Thor Heyerdahl, to excavate ancient sites. Heyerdahl studied the ancient mounds, called hawitta (Dhivehi: ހަވިއްތަ) by the Maldivians, found on many of the atolls. Some of his archaeological discoveries of stone figures and carvings from pre-Islamic civilizations are today exhibited in a side room of the small National Museum in Male'.
Heyerdahl's research indicates that as early as 2000 BC, Maldives lay on the maritime trading routes of early Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Indus Valley civilizations. Heyerdahl believes that early sun-worshipping seafarers, called the Redin, first settled on the islands. This was evident then in many mosques facing the sun and not Mecca, lending credence to this theory. Because building space and materials were scarce, successive cultures constructed their places of worship on the foundations of previous buildings. Heyerdahl thus surmises that these sun-facing mosques were built on the ancient foundations of the Redin culture temples. Heyerdahl's early mosques have now in large part been converted to face Mecca, as Islam gained solidarity in Maldives, in the earlier half of the modern Republic.
According to Maldivian legend, a Sinhalese prince named Koimala was stranded with his bride – daughter of the king of Sri Lanka – in a Maldivian lagoon and stayed on to rule as the first sultan from the House of Theemuge. Prior to that Malé had belonged to a group of people today known as the Giravaaru who claim ancestry from ancient Tamils (Tamilas).
The Maldivians followed Buddhism before they converted to Islam and the conversion is explained in a controversial mythological story about the demon Rannamaari.
Over the centuries, the islands have been visited and their development influenced by sailors from countries on the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean littorals. Mappila pirates from the Malabar Coast – present-day Kerala state in India – harassed the islands.
Although governed as an independent Islamic sultanate for most of its history from 1153 to 1968, Maldives was a British protectorate from 1887 until July 25, 1965. In 1953, there was a brief, abortive attempt to form a republic, but the sultanate was re-imposed. In 1959, objecting to Nasir's changes, the inhabitants of the three southernmost atolls protested against the government. They formed the United Suvadive Republic and elected a president, Abdulla Afeef Didi.
After independence from Britain in 1965, the sultanate continued to operate for another three years. On November 11, 1968, it was abolished and replaced by a republic, and the country assumed its present name. Tourism and fishing are now being developed on the archipelago.
In November 1988, Tamil mercenaries from Sri Lanka invaded the Maldives. After an appeal by the Maldivian government for help, India launched a military campaign to throw the mercenaries out of Maldives. On the night of November 3, 1988, the Indian Air Force airlifted a parachute battalion group from Agra and flew them non-stop over 2,000 kilometres (1,240 mi) to Maldives. The Indian paratroopers landed at Hulule and secured the airfield and restored the Government rule at Malé within hours. The brief, bloodless operation, labelled Operation Cactus, also involved the Indian Navy.
On 26 December 2004 the Maldives were devastated by a tsunami following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Only 9 islands were reported to have escaped any flooding, while 57 islands faced serious damage to critical infrastructure, 14 islands had to be totally evacuated, and 6 islands were decimated. A further 21 resort islands were forced to shut down due to serious damage. The total damage was estimated at over 400 million dollars or some 62% of the GDP. A total of 108 people, including 6 foreigners, reportedly died in the tsunami. The destructive impact of the waves on the low-lying islands was mitigated by the fact there was no continental shelf or land mass upon which the waves could gain height. The tallest waves were reported 14 feet high.

REPUBLİC OF MALDIVES

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ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމުހޫރިއްޔާ
Republic of Maldives

Capital (and largest city) :Malé
4°10′N 73°30′E
Official languages :Dhivehi
Government :Republic
President : Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom
Independence : from the UK 26 July 1965
Area :Total 298 km² (204th) 115 sq mi
Water (%) negligible
Population July 2005 estimate 329,000 (176th1)
2006 census 298,842
Density 1,105/km² (9th) 2,862/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2005 estimate Total $2.569 billion (162nd)
Per capita $7,675 (79th)
HDI (2004) 0.739 (medium) (98th)
Currency Rufiyaa (MVR)
Time zone (UTC+5)
Internet TLD .mv
Calling code +960

Historical setting
Maldives is a nation consisting of 26 natural atolls comprising of 1192 islands. In olden times, the islands provided the main source of cowrie shells, then used as a currency throughout Asia and parts of the East African coast. Moreover, historically Maldives has had a strategic importance because of its location on the major marine routes of the Indian Ocean. Maldives' nearest neighbors are Sri Lanka and India, both of which have had cultural and economic ties with Maldives for centuries. Although under nominal Portuguese, Dutch, and British influences after the 16th century, Maldivians were left to govern themselves under a long line of sultans and occasionally sultanas.

Maldives gained independence in 1965. The British, who had been Maldives' last colonial power, continued to maintain an air base on the island of Gan in the southernmost atoll until 1976. The British departure in 1976 almost immediately triggered foreign speculation about the future of the air base; the Soviet Union requested use of the base, but Maldives refused.

The greatest challenge facing the republic in the early 1990s was the need for rapid economic development and modernization, given the country's limited resource base in fishing, agriculture and tourism. Concern was also evident over a projected long-term rise in sea level, which would prove disastrous to the low-lying coral islands. Fortunately in the early 2000s it was found sea level had fallen during preceding decades.

Maldivians consider the introduction of Islam in A.D. 1153 as the cornerstone of their country's history. Islam remains the state religion in the 1990s. Except for a brief period of Portuguese occupation from 1558-73, Maldives also has remained independent. Because the Muslim religion prohibits images portraying gods, local interest in ancient statues of the pre-Islamic period is not only slight but at times even hostile; villagers have been known to destroy such statues recently unearthed.