The Atolls of the Maldives are very complex structures and the country itself is formed from 26 natural atolls which are now divided into 20 for administrative purposes.

Built vigilantly over thousands of years, like necklaces draped along an undersea plateau, 1,200 coral islands, each island is unique in its shape and full of wonders. These ring shaped coral structures can be tens of kilometres in diameter with individual reefs large enough to support the beautiful islands.

A British Captain Robert Moresby drew the first accurate maritime charts of the Maldives in 1834-36 and they were used by Maldivian navigators to sail through Maldives until the 1990s.

Perhaps one of the most interesting features of the Maldives, apart from its breath taking beauty, is the unique shapes of the islands. From about, we could spot islands with a green, white, turquoise blue surrounded by navy blue or deep blue combination. Again, this could vary in unimaginable shapes, at time only the sand deposit shifts around the island, changing the shapes of the island seasonally and some island look really interesting from the time of its creation.

Here is some of the visual process of the most beautiful islands in the world in the making. Largely the islands take share similar to the base reef the island is built on.
On some rare cases where the reef is excessively large, and the island that come through the surface is small, it may take many different shapes before settling with vegetation where roots or lose coral may define boundaries.

This is how the islands are born.

This is an interesting shape of reef which i thought was worth sharing.

First that little island roots out from the depth of the Indian Ocean. Than we see little island or sand bank buds from the reef and starts collecting drifting waste, woods and almost anything that will prepare the sand bank capable of attracting birds of seed. Than little greens patches starts appears.

Here is the same process with different shape of the islands.

It is sad that at the end we go and damage the beauty in the name of life, development and living. Male’, as and island would have been a beautiful place now no more!

Here are some of the islands which are distinctively different and beautiful in their shape.

A travel writer’s honeymoon is not something to be taken lightly. The right destination has to be exotic yet decadent, adventurous yet romantic. Months are ticking down to my wedding this summer, and as I search for the ultimate honeymoon locale, my mind keeps returning to the Soneva Gili resort in the Maldives.

A nation of coral islands located south of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives represents pure self-indulgent escape. You see it on every paradise calendar: white sand, blue water, total privacy.

Like most tourists, I quickly departed the overcrowded island capital of Malé for the island resorts. While alcohol is illegal in Malé (my bottle of duty-free rum was even confiscated at the airport), the resorts function as their own kingdoms, accessible by boat or floatplane. On the island of Lankanfushi, just 20 minutes by speedboat from the capital, Soneva Gili has its own wine cellar, cures its own hams and serves cocktails and beer at the bar. The resort even sets its clock an hour later than the rest of the country, giving its guests more time in the day, literally running in its own time zone.

Forty-five villas built over the water branch off from the island, and are designed to be friendly on the environment and the eye. Ranging from 2,250 square feet to an incredible 15,000 square feet in the five-building “private reserve” area, the villas offer decks, large bathrooms, Bose surround-sound systems, Wi-Fi and a glass-walled shower accessible via an enclosed sea pool. Upstairs, the patio has a double bed, should you wish to sleep directly under the stars.

The attention to detail in each villa is staggering, with simple yet stylish decor that comes from spending plenty of time, thought and dollars. They call it “intelligent luxury.” Every window and deck looks onto the crystal sea, in which tropical fish, stingrays and harmless, small reef sharks swim right beneath your feet. The villas, like the resort itself, are designed for couples to enjoy their privacy, pampering and relaxation. I met honeymooners from the United States, Spain, Russia, France and Japan doing exactly that.

Soneva Gili belongs to the Six Senses chain of luxury resorts and spas, well known for an elite clientele including business and showbiz celebrities. Villas start at $1,000 a night, with meals and activities extra, and I got the feeling if I had to ask how much things cost, I really didn’t want to know.

On arrival, guests are greeted with a canvas bag for their shoes, labelled “No News, No Shoes.” Just in case I might step on anything sharp, the beaches and boardwalks are swept every day. As for the rest of the world, well, it may as well have not existed.

Each villa has its own bikes to pedal around the resort, along three main wooden jetties holding each villa like a pea in a pod. Lit up at night, the jetties look like runways, sparkling under the canvas of stars. Lavish buffets or à la carte meals are served on the beach, at the over-water bar, or brought to the villa for a romantic candlelight dinner. The cellar, built around a large piece of wood that washed up on the beach, stocks 500 wines, and the resort grows its own organic vegetables. Staff from around the world serve every whim, organizing sunset cruises, reef dives or whatever guests ask of them.

Of course, every honeymoon needs a spa. Specifically one that accommodates couples, since the missus might not be amenable to the beautiful blond Swedish masseuse rubbing me down. International therapists work out of the Six Senses Spa, offering various massages, facials, body wraps, yoga classes and Ayurvedic treatments. The couples room has thoughtful glass-bottom windows, to admire the marine life during the massage.

The water sports, diving, snorkelling, kayaking and windsurfing are all excellent and I quickly realized that if my marriage could survive figuring out how to sail a catamaran, we’d be in calm waters. I found a well-stocked book and movie library, and a gym too, which I avoided. Somehow, even though the resort was full, the island felt sparse and empty. Those craving absolute privacy, like the occasional Russian oligarch, can book one of the seven Crusoe Residences, accessible only by private pontoon and featuring a floating sundeck.

Rising sea levels, however, are threatening the very existence of the Maldives, which is just 2.3 metres at its highest point. With its 1,192 islands spread out over 90,000 square kilometres, many will soon be completely submerged. It makes the Maldives that much more precious and exotic, like a gem slowly slipping away into the sea. The ocean villas at the Soneva Gili await honeymooners like a dream, albeit an expensive one far beyond the budget of this travel writer. It may have been a plum assignment to shoot a TV show, but I envied the couples on my solo assignment. My search for the ultimate honeymoon destination continues.

Source: theglobeandmail.com

Maldives tourism officials said they had not received any details about Lithuania-based multi-purpose company’s Olialia plans to install a resort staffed only by blondes in the Maldives, and had not issued any permits for such purpose.

Olialia (pronounced Oh-la-LA) has created a business empire in Lithuania, using its troupe of glitzy models with platinum hair to market just about anything from potato chips to pop music. There’s Olialia pizza and Olialia cola, even Olialia computers.

With the Maldives resort – and plans for an airline linking it to the Baltic republic – Olialia is taking its blond ambition to a new level, writes AP/LETA.

“Blond is light. It attracts people like sunshine,” brand manager Lauryna Anuseviciute, a 24-year-old former model, explained at the Olialia office in downtown Vilnius.

Simon Hawkins, director of the Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation, noted that: “We welcome any serious innovations and investment for discussions so long as it is backed by serious finance with a robust and realistic business plan.”

However, he did not appear to see the blond requirement as a major hurdle for employees from the Maldives, saying “perhaps they could work behind the scenes, or die their hair?”

Anuseviciute commented on the hair color requirements for the stuff the following way: “Staff who are not blond will wear a blond wig to make everyone look similar.” The wig will be considered part of their uniform.

Approximately 65% of the staff will be women, she said.

The resort plans are still in their infancy – the tentative launch date is 2015 – but Anuseviciute insisted Olialia already has secured financing.

Still, it will not miss a good chance to promote the project, like at next month’s international real estate fair in Cannes, France. Olialia plans to arrive in style, with 130 blondes flying in from Lithuania on a chartered plane. Back home, the small women’s rights movement is cringing in disgust. Not only is the “blond island” idea demeaning to women, but borderline racist, said Margarita Jankauskaite, director of the Lithuanian Center for Equality Advancement.

“I am ashamed that this initiative came from my country. This only sends a message to the world that Lithuania is a country of cheap beer and cheap blond women,” Jankauskaite said.

Anuseviciute dismissed such concerns. “It is not discrimination,” she said. “For example, if a ballet is casting for a male-only dance performance, is it discrimination against women when they only hire men?

“The same with our resort – everyone will be welcome to work but will have to wear the uniform,” Anuseviciute said.

Source: baltic-course.com

The ministry’s statistics also shows that China had emerged, for the first time, as the biggest market for Maldives tourism in February, beating the European markets.
The Chinese New Year holiday period may have been a factor, but also China’s rapidly growing middle class has been credited with having a substantial impact on the international travel industry. Italy came in second, with 12,000 tourists, followed by the UK with just over 10,400 tourists.

Traditionally, the United Kingdom and Italy had always claimed the top two markets but with 13,345 Chinese tourists arriving in Maldives during February, China now holds the record for the highest number of tourist arrivals in Maldives during a one-month period. China is also the second biggest contributor to Maldives tourism so far this year, emerging with a 13 percent share.

According to the Tourism Ministry, the occupancy rate for the 20,312 beds in 91 resorts of the Maldives was just over 95 percent, while the average occupancy rate was a bit lower at almost 89 percent. Tourists spent on average 7.4 days in the Maldives, the Ministry added.

Download of the past year statistics are available here.

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The 11,127 exhibiting companies from 187 countries occupy the whole of the Exhibition Grounds, comprising 26 halls and covering 160,000 square metres.

According the organiser Messe Berlin the show drew slightly more participants than last year.In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors.

The Maldives Tourism Promotion Board and other institutions involved in the tourism industry will be taking part to promote the Maldives in the fair.

This year’s Berlin show will be the first to include a platform for “mobile travel services” which highlights the future mobile usage in looking and booking hotel services and ticketing.

At the start of the 44th ITB Berlin there are encouraging signs for the travel industry, Exhibitors are looking to the future and investing to make their presentations at the fair a success.

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To compliment this exceptional spectacle, Anantara Resorts designed a splendid Eclipse Cruise. At 11am, participating guests accompanied by Resident Manager Patrick Both, set sail for a vantage point which would afford unobstructed views of the eclipse.

As the Moon moved slowly between the Earth and the Sun, chilled aromatic champagne and delectable canapés were served as guests mingled and observed the progress of the moon through special eclipse-glasses. At approx 12:20 our party was rewarded at first with a clear and spectacular view of the eclipse; then, as clouds moved across the sky, the sight was perhaps even more striking; it was indeed a memorable excursion for all those on board.

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, totally or partially obscuring Earth’s view of the Sun. The solar eclipse of January 15, 2010 was an annular eclipse of the Sun, which happens when the Moon’s apparent diameter is smaller than the Sun, causing the Sun to look like an annulus (ring), blocking most, but not all of the Sun’s light. The Maldives was in fact the best place for viewing this eclipse as this is where it was longest on land with 10.8 viewable minutes.

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Maldives is going through a time that it has never been through before, even during the time of natural and man-made disasters such as tsunami and 9/11. Predictions are that there might even be some unsold hotel beds through Christmas and New year in the Maldives. For an experienced traveller this might be an opportunity to get an extreme value for money and for those who want to visit the Maldives for the first time, this is the TIME!

Try some of these large hotel and travel groups

Universal Resorts
Villa Hotels
Sun Hotels
AAA Hotels
J Resorts
Crown Tours
Inner Maldives
Intour Maldives
Lets Go Maldives
100 percent Maldives

The campaign is being organized by the Swiss based New7Wonders Foundation after their success in organizing the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.

For the Finalist stage, the 28 New7Wonders of Nature Finalists have been put to popular vote in July 2009. Voting will continue throughout 2010 and into 2011. During this time, the New7Wonders World Tour will visit each of the Finalists to allow them to present themselves to the voters across the globe.

The New 7 Wonders campaign aims to promote cultural diversity by supporting, preserving and restoring monuments and natural sites. It relies on private donations and revenue from selling broadcasting rights.

Please vote for Maldives by visiting www.new7wonders.com and make its beauty known to the world as one of the natural wonders of the world.

The Maldives guide team would like to call all Maldivians, fans and well wishers of Maldives to join our effort to make Maldives as one of the Natural Wonders of the World.

You can also join the facebook group and follow on twitter.

While in the underwater meeting the cabinet including president and the vice-president signed a document ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December, calling on all nations to cut their carbon emissions.
Ministers spent half an hour on the sea bed and communicated with white boards and hand signals.

World's first ever Cabinet meeting Underwater - Maldives

They will also participate in a bicycle ride in the capital Male later in the day.

source: http://presidencymaldives.gov.mv/

Holidays in The Maldives will introduce British Airways customers to a fantastic selection of tiny palm fringed coral islands each with its own exclusive resort hotel. Each of these international standard hotels in the Maldives is four or five stars in quality offering a great range of activities such as diving, snorkelling, sailing and fishing, or you can simply laze your days away sunbathing on a stunning white, sandy beach.

The routes will be operated by Boeing 777 aircraft with a three-class configuration: World Traveller, World Traveller Plus and Club WorldBritish Airways is to launch its new thrice-weekly direct flights from Gatwick to Male, Maldives from October 25, 2009.The new service will be the first time ever British Airways has offered flights to the Maldives. As of now, the new flights to Male will depart on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

Holidays in The Maldives will introduce British Airways customers to a fantastic selection of tiny palm fringed coral islands each with its own exclusive resort hotel.

Each of these international standard hotels in the Maldives is four or five stars in quality offering a great range of activities such as diving, snorkelling, sailing and fishing, or you can simply laze your days away sunbathing on a stunning white, sandy beach.

The routes will be operated by Boeing 777 aircraft with a three-class configuration: World Traveller, World Traveller Plus and Club World.

Source: pr-canada.net

But to the surprise of many, especially the Kenyan delegation, the minister, Dr Hussein Rasheed Hassan, explained that his country was in the process of banning fishing of sharks from its waters, making it the first nation in the region to make such a move.

The majority of states in the region do not attach such value to the sharks.

But in Maldives, where the number of sharks has plummeted in recent years due to their killing by fishermen targeting them for their lucrative fins, the predator are a key feature of the tourism sector.

In 1998, a 10-year moratorium banning shark fishing was imposed to cover the seven atolls where tourism had been established on the assumption that many tourists visited the Maldives to see sharks.

However, with the spread of tourism to almost all islands in the country, the ministry decided to expand the ban to encompass all reef sharks fishing across the Maldives within a 12 nautical mile radius (22km).

Dr Hassan said the Maldives government has now given a one year notice of a total ban on reef shark fishing by March 2010.

“We have realised that it is more economically viable to leave the shark and other sea creatures unharmed because the country currently earns about $7 million annually from the diving industry,” Hassan said.

The reason for the ban, he said, was to increase the stocks and add value to diving tourism and attract more tourists who visit the islands for their beautiful underground coral gardens.

“The marine ecosystem is very fragile and that is why we have to regulate activities that coupled with the treats of climate change could adversely affect the major sources of income for the country,” he said.

With most of its 1,000 scattered islands without electricity, Maldives has in the past few years become a favoured tourist destination for honeymooners as well.

Dr Hassan said that, today, the country receives tourists twice its 350, 000 population every year.

In Maldives, sharks have a particularly valuable role in the tourism industry, which generates some 30 per cent of the country’s GDP.

According to surveys, about 30 per cent of tourists visit the Maldives for its underwater marine with life, viewing sharks and manta rays as their top priorities.

Source: http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news

Its dramatic setting in the sparkling turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean was conceived of and executed by Maldivian architect Mohamed Shafeeg, together with Thailand-based interior design company Abacus headed by John Lightbody. With a truly unique location, this over-water spa allows the tranquil sounds of the ocean waves and the expert hands of gracious therapists to lull every guest into a deep state of relaxation.

Anantara Spa was designed in harmony with the natural landscape and the resort’s architecture, focusing on the exotic beauty which evokes a feeling of ‘spiritual tranquillity and harmony’ with nature. Emphasis has been placed on light and space whilst respecting the environment and allowing for the free flow of energy.

With so many spa treatment options, guests may desire the advice of the professionally trained therapists found in a private consultation area.  Those who are unsure of which treatment to select, as well as those with specific goals in mind, can receive personalised guidance and necessary information to make a well-informed decision.

The Anantara Spa massage menu offers techniques from Thailand, Hawaii and India as well as indulgent Aromatherapy to calm the senses. Aromatherapy, Thai and Oriental Foot Massage can also be enjoyed under the sun by the pool or beachside, or in the privacy of guests’ villas or suites.

The curative Anantara Detoxifying Signature Treatment invites guests on a healing journey through the use of mud, steam, and massage that have the power to cleanse the body and mind.  Rhassoul, or moor mud, long used for its richness in vitamins and minerals, is applied to the body before a period of luxurious relaxation to promote cleansing and aid the skin in the absorption of active ingredients. Guests are encouraged to linger in their peaceful repose while a therapist applies the light massage of a manual lymphatic drainage that stimulates lymphatic circulation, reduces fluid retention, and assists in the continued elimination of toxins from the body.

The blissful 60-minute skin-nourishing White Sesame Body Treatment, a popular choice after a day in the sun, uses a mixture of crushed sesame seeds and yoghurt, enriched with the finest oils to hydrate and calm dry and sensitive skin.  After a morning of tennis, a day of kayaking, or a stressful work week, muscle tension and fatigue can be relieved with the Elemis Musclease Aroma Spa Ocean Wrap, which uses a warm seaweed body mask infused with soothing pine and purifying rosemary essential oils.

The epitome of luxury can be experienced in one of the spa’s signature baths, like the Exotic Ginger Bath to restore harmony or the anti-oxidant rich Detoxifying Green Tea Bath to purify.  Both are perfect preludes to the sumptuous Cellutox Aroma Spa Ocean Wrap or the therapeutic Lymphatic Drainage Massage.

Rituals of Wellbeing, borrowing from traditional and ancient techniques, range from the 90-minute Beautifying Hand Ritual to the 145 minute Asian Ritual, which includes a peaceful Oriental Spa Bath, stress-relieving Back Massage, and an Oriental Foot Massage based on an age-old therapy that links the reflex zones on the feet to organs and systems in the body.

The three to five day Anantara Spa Voyages of Wellbeing packages combine the essence of herbal steam, body rejuvenation, massage, and facials for an indulgent head to toe experience that restores the senses to a natural state of peace and balance.

Set in the idyllic archipelago of the Maldives, the Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa is a luxurious five-star hideaway spread across five acres of tropical terrain on Dhigufinolhu (island) on the South Male Atoll and is conveniently located only 30 kms from the Maldivian capital of Male. The resort has 68 deluxe beachfront villas, two deluxe beachfront pool villas, 38 deluxe over water suites and two deluxe over-water pool suites all set around a natural, private lagoon.

For more information please visit www.maldives.anantara.com