Maldives Overview

The Maldivian archipelago located 300 miles southwest of the southern tip of India and 450 miles west of Sri Lanka is a beautiful string of 1,1 90 low-lying coral islands scattered across the equator in the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean, giving a rare glimpse of what is aptly described as a tropical paradise.

These are just the three simple realities beckoning tourists from far and wide to these islands, sun, sea and sand which add up to being a heavenly getaway from the rest of the world and its worries.

Resorts and hotels woo tourists with promises of, 'the last paradise on earth', and they will not disappoint. It is a major destination for scuba divers, who come for the wealth of marine life and the reefs as well as being popular with honeymooners and older couples seeking to rejuvenate their lives.

Tourism in the Maldives is carefully managed. The country's tourism master plan identifies both the underwater environment and 'the intrepid explorer factor' as major attractions. The lack of local resources makes it necessary to import virtually everything a visitor needs, from furniture to fresh vegetables. The strategy has been to develop a limited number of quality resorts, each on its own uninhabited island, free from traffic, crime and commercialism.

Climate

Generally, the year is divided into two monsoon periods: the north-east monsoon or Ruvai lasts from December to March, which are the drier months; the south-west monsoon or Ulhangu lasts from April to November, and is wetter, with more storms and occasional strong winds. Daytime temperatures are about 28 deg. C. (82 deg. F.) all year. The humidity is slightly lower in the dry season but most days there's a cooling sea breeze.