Must-Sees - Maldives
It's off to the Maldives atolls! An idyllic picture-postcard with dots of confetti scattered across pure waters... From desert islands to wild atolls, the Maldives promise a series of underwater discoveries perfect for diving enthusiasts. These unspoilt natural surroundings and fantastic beaches are what people come here to the middle of the Indian Ocean for. Here, we look closer at 5 of the most interesting Maldives atolls.
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The Essentials - Maldives
All people tend to know about the Maldives is that they have idyllic landscapes: their culture is not very well known. Etiquette, culture, gastronomy... Learn more about this standout Indian Ocean destination here.
Read more
Must-Sees - Maldives
It's off to the Maldives atolls! An idyllic picture-postcard with dots of confetti scattered across pure waters... From desert islands to wild atolls, the Maldives promise a series of underwater discoveries perfect for diving enthusiasts. These unspoilt natural surroundings and fantastic beaches are what people come here to the middle of the Indian Ocean for. Here, we look closer at 5 of the most interesting Maldives atolls.
Rasdhoo Atoll
Rasdhoo Atoll is one of the smallest atolls in the Maldives. Of the five islands that make it up, only two are inhabited. This lagoon is ideal for swimming, while the reefs that border it are famous as a place to see underwater wildlife by going scuba diving or snorkelling. Some people say Rasdhoo Atoll is one of the best diving sites in the Maldives. The visibility is excellent and the waters, at between 27°C and 30°C, are brimming with hammerhead sharks, eels, oarfish, barracudas, humphead wrasses and black coral.
Baa Atoll
Made a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2011, Baa Atoll is one the best-known Maldives atolls - and one of the wildest. Its plateaus and coral reefs are home to rich biodiversity comprising 250 coral species and 1,200 fish species. Sea turtles, manta rays and whale sharks are some of the most popular animals here. Of Baa Atoll's 75 islands, 13 are completely uninhabited and shelter this unspoilt fauna, making them ideal for memorable diving sessions.
Noonu Atoll
71 islands, just 13 of which are inhabited by humans. Because access is limited to a few ships and hydroplanes, Noonu Atoll is one of the loveliest in the Maldives. It's also a great dive site with accessible reefs from 3 to 14 metres deep. Red-toothed triggerfish, nurse sharks, silvertip reef sharks, rays, hard and soft coral can be seen at different levels and put on a great show.
Ari Atoll
You don't arrive at Ari Atoll by chance. Of the 86 islands that make it up, around 20 are uninhabited and cut off from all human activity, making them excellent places for remarkable dives. Ari Atoll is also known for having some of the world's most beautiful dive sites. This is HEAVEN for manta rays and whale sharks. Little rocks, faults, slopes and caves provide shelter for colourful and diverse marine life comprising coral blocks, soft coral, groupers, moray eels, angelfish, shoals of tuna and barracudas, silvertip sharks and common stingrays.
Mulaku Atoll
Another atoll, another earthly and underwater paradise! Mulaku Atoll is one of the Maldives' wonders. With 9 inhabited islands out of 33, it has a range of little dots of land that seem to float in the middle of the turquoise lagoon. Remarkable fact: the atoll's east coast is under pressure from the ocean and its landscape has changed a lot in recent years. Some islets have disappeared, while other strips of land have emerged from the sea.
Mulaku Atoll also offers great diving down to 30 metres, with silvertip sharks, guitar sharks, common stingrays, humphead wrasses, barracudas...
The Essentials - Maldives
All people tend to know about the Maldives is that they have idyllic landscapes: their culture is not very well known. Etiquette, culture, gastronomy... Learn more about this standout Indian Ocean destination here.
Top tips
In the Maldives, Islam is the state religion. Locals don't even consider practising another faith or straying from Muslim precepts. For example, no Maldives locals consume or serve alcohol. The servers at the hotel-islands who are allowed to serve it to foreign clients generally come from Sri Lanka.
Unique features
Some of those who own tourist establishments on the hotel-islands in the Maldives are aware of and careful with the incredible environment around them. Big groups are less scrupulous. In 2018, to save Rihiveli Island from having a resort built, 50 people who love the area (mainly French and Swiss) obtained an operating licence that continues until 2042 to run a sustainable tourism project.
Essential phrases
In most of the islands, the locals speak English. However, it's always good to know a few words of Dhivehi: the official language with origins in Sanskrit and dialects of India and Sri Lanka.
Hello / Good evening: asalam aleykum
Goodbye: vakivani
Welcome: maruhabaa
Sorry: hithaamahuri
Thank you: choukouriya
Yes / No: ahn / nouné
How are you?: kihiné ta?
Very well, thank you, and you?: vara gada
Gastronomy
Rice, potato and fish (fresh or dried) are the cornerstones of the Maldives cuisine. These are eaten at every meal, often with coconut milk, grated coconut, various chillies and, of course, spices and condiments. Most exotic fruit found in situ is imported from Sri Lanka. The same applies to meat and chicken. As a result, these foods can cost quite a lot.
In the spotlight
According to numerous scientific studies, some of the Maldives may disappear by 2100. Why? A rise in the seawater level estimated at 1.1 to 2 metres. 80% of the islands are less than a metre above sea level and the highest point in the archipelago is barely 3 metres. The government is considering creating artificial islands to rehouse the people affected.
Culture
Music. Bodu beru is a rhythmic musical style found across the Maldives and accompanied by a few dancers. The rhythms are reminiscent of those of eastern Africa. Bodu beru is played by a group of 15 artists, including 3 or 4 percussionists. A lead singer sings of fishermen, love and everyday life in Dhivehi.
Facts and figures
1 199The Maldives archipelago is made up of 1,199 islands of which just 200 are inhabited, covering 90,000 km2. The land represents just 1% of the country's total surface area.
