MALDIVES ONLiNE <body><script type="text/javascript"> function setAttributeOnload(object, attribute, val) { if(window.addEventListener) { window.addEventListener('load', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }, false); } else { window.attachEvent('onload', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }); } } </script> <div id="navbar-iframe-container"></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://apis.google.com/js/platform.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> gapi.load("gapi.iframes:gapi.iframes.style.bubble", function() { if (gapi.iframes && gapi.iframes.getContext) { gapi.iframes.getContext().openChild({ url: 'https://www.blogger.com/navbar/2565417034522534591?origin\x3dhttp://maldives-online.blogspot.com', where: document.getElementById("navbar-iframe-container"), id: "navbar-iframe" }); } }); </script> SCREEN RESOLUTION HAS TO BE 1152*864


<$Monday, October 01, 2007h5>
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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.




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<$Sunday, April 08, 2007h5>
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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.

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<$Saturday, March 31, 2007h5>
<$Thursday, March 29, 2007h5>
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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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).

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<$Wednesday, March 28, 2007h5>
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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.


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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

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