Maldives Travel Guide
The Maldives islands lie in the north-central Indian Ocean, to the south-west of the tip of India. They consists of a chain of about 1, 200 small coral islands and sandbanks, grouped in clusters, or atolls. There are 200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts.
All the islands are low-lying, none rising to more than 1.8 metres above sea level. Barrier reefs surround the islands and protect them from the destructive effects of monsoons.
The islands have plenty of dive sites which are rich in tropical fish and coral formations. Larger islands here offer an array of bars, restaurants, and clubs as well as religious sites and markets.