Asian Current

Atolls of Maldives

If you have not been to the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia, you can very well decide to come to Maldives - and rest assured, the beauty is no less.

Atolls form when an underwater volcano tops, surrounded fringing reefs sink into the ocean or the sea level rises around them. The fringing reefs grow gradually, forming circles with lagoons inside in the form of islands. The Maldives, where the word Atoll originated, is a group of such coral islands, sitting atop an ancient volcanic mountain range off the coast of India. Since most of the atolls are composed of coral reefs and sand bars, they attract a wide variety of marine life that includes colorful tropical fish and larger predators who come in search of them. The crystal clear water adds charm by way of displaying the amazing world of tiny marine creatures playing in the knee-deep water. The climate being tropical and the swaying palms providing the ideal shade, it requires but little imagination to see that such an island is a heaven on the earth.

There are altogether 26 atolls in Maldives that have been divided into twenty administrative districts and a capital city is at Malé. The atolls in Maldives vary in dimension and class too. Sometimes, there are hundreds of island in an atoll, and while most of them are not inhabited, some are fairly populated. Haa Alifu atoll is at the extreme north and Seenu atoll is at the extreme south, and the islands there are lived in. The largest atoll in the Maldives and perhaps in the world is Gaafu Alif while the smallest is the Gnayivani atoll. Maldives is a very small and peaceful country, and so thousands of people come to visit. But sometimes traveling between the various atolls can be a bother, because the distance from one atoll to another can be quite big. And so sea planes and bigger vessels cover the greater distances. A small boat is called Dhoni and a Dhoni is a great option for island hopping within an atoll.

The atolls of Maldives attract people from all over the world for their ethereal bliss, coral beaches and the temperate climate. An assortment of hotels, resorts and retreats complete with private swimming pools and seaside bars and restaurants welcome visitors from far and abroad. Cruising could be another interesting pastime while in the Maldives. And the atolls are particularly delightful for all diving enthusiasts. You can choose between a diving safari and a relaxing cruise through the atolls. Since most of the cruise vessels are equipped with professional diving equipment and are staffed with qualified diving instructors, diving could be a pleasurable experience even for the beginner. Alternatively, you can opt for snorkeling in the atolls.

A word or two about the luxuries afforded by some of the five or six star resorts hotels and spas in the Maldives. Tourism is restricted here and so, no more than one resort per island is allowed here. And some of the resorts are really world class - the Hilton, Taj and others… many of the atolls offer the ultimate in luxury. But the prices can be a bit steep for the budget traveler. There are cheaper city hotel options as well in the capital Malé from where a tour of the atolls can be organized.