Maldives Travel Guide

MaledivenServing life sunny side up, Maldivesis perhaps tourism industry'scatchphrase for vacation at itsbohemian and lavish best. Withmiles of white coral sand stretchingout to the horizon at one end andthe sea stretching out at the other,Maldives is where you will findworld's best diving spots andwaters teeming with coral reefs.

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Set afloat atop 26 coral atolls in the IndianOcean, Maldives is where the sun-dappledbeach sand is soft, there's an incredible viewof the Indian Ocean stretching out toeternity before you. With a margarita in onehand, succulent seafood in another and theoption to build sand castles- Maldives 1,200islands will make you want to bring yourtent and settle down forever there.

Secluded private island vacationing,indulgent and luxuriating spa treatmentswith Cataraman cruises that row you intothe sunset surrounded by coral reefs atopwaters that are home to an incredibleunderwater world, Maldives is your answerto an uber, lavish bohemian escape.

Malediven Travel Guide - http://www.ixigo.com/travel-guide/malediven page 1

What To

SEE5 Sights

http://www.ixigo.com/places-to-visit-see-in-malediven-lp-1475578

1 Alimantha Island

Vaavu Atoll, Maldives

Nestled on the Vaavu atoll towards theeastern side of Maldives, Alimantha Island isyet another stunning dive site that will takeyour breath away with not just its incredible,rare underwater denizens, but also thekaleidoscope of colors that its soft wall-covering corals dazzle with. Sitting 4 degreesnorth of the equator, Alimantha Island's reefrings the southern side of one of the mostsought after channel dives that are there inthe world, Myaru Kandu that translates toShark channel and as you can imagine, it ishome to sharks of all sorts of shapes andsizes and is an underwater marine reserve.

From grey reef sharks to leopard sharks,waving through the numerous underwatercaves, Myaru Kandu is your ultimateunderwater adventure fix.

When you have snorkeled to your heart'scontent, head over to the several bars andrestaurants that line the beach front forrefueling and then work off those shoulderknots at the Ayurvedic massage center.

2 Banana Reef

Steep cliffs with stomach-churning dropsand views, splendid coral growths, watersteeming with underwater predators, BananaReef or Gaathugiri as its known officially, isthe first discovered dive site of Maldives andfirst in the line of several others that gaveMaldives its moniker of 'world's leadingscuba diving destination'.

Nicknamed after its shape as it appearsfrom up above, Banana Reef has numerousunderwater caves that make for a thrillingscuba diving experience, teeming as they


are with schools of grouper fishes,pufferfishes, fusiliers, banner fishes andseveral other varieties. Snorkel your waytowards the western end of the reef and youwill come across an underwater wall, semi-circular in shape, that suddenly drops 25feet. Near the wall is a fairly large cave,home to an ecosystem in itself, where youare likely to come across squirrelfishes,Maldivian grubfish, soldier fishes.

But be wary, when there are strongcurrents, the region in and around the wallbecomes something akin to a washingmachine in its swirl action and can shakeeven the most experienced of divers.

3 Manta Point

Baros Island, Male, Maldives

For a tete-a-tete with the more elusivedenizens of the underwater world ofMaldives, be sure to make your way to the

tiny Baros island near which lies the famousManta Point, home to the shy and gentlemanta rays. Just off of Baros island and anhour's sail away from Male, Manta Pointsimply filled to the hilt with Manta rayswhere they feed on the planktons and getcleaned by smaller fishes.

Dive down the point and you will comeacross a ledge at about 18 metersunderwater. Once you reach the ledge,remain on it, staying in one place and don'texplore around. After a while the MantaRays will come out and encircle you,seemingly welcoming you and for a thrillingmoment making you a part of theirmysterious realm. But be careful whilediving at this point since due to strongcurrents it is more suited for expereinceddivers.

4 Hukuru Miskiiy

North Male, Male, Maldives

Maldives oldest mosque, dating back to1656, Hukuru Miskiiy is an architecturalwonder of reverential proportions. While ithas a corrugated iron facade that gives it amore run-down appearance, peer past itand you can make out the beautiful coralstone walls that have been exquisitelycarved with intricate patterns and motifs.On the walls are also etched verses in Arabicscript.

As you walk into the mosque, you will comeacross an interior that is even morestunningly carved and embellished with finelacquer work and woodcarvings. Risingabove the mosque is the blue-white towerof a minaret, overlooking the mosque like abenign forefather. You will find that duringnamaz (prayer) time, the worshippers facingthe mosque's corner on a carpet that is laiddown at an angle pointing towards Mecca.Originally, there was a temple at themosque's site that faced the setting sun inthe west and the mosque was later builtover its foundations.

5 HP Reef

North Male Atoll, Maldives

Not for the faint-hearted or those who arejust beginning to discover the joys and thrillof underwater exploration, HP Reef or as itsrightly called Rainbow reef after itskaleidoscopic colors, is a spectacular divesite off the North Male atoll thatpermanently features strong currents. Asyou make your way across the North Maleatoll and come across the reef suddenlybedazzling with hues of yellow, orange andblue, the kaleidoscope signals the start ofHP Reef. Carpeted with soft corals of variedcolors and adorned with gorgonians or seawhips, HP Reef is an year-round dive site.

Enabling dives of 10 to 40 meters deep, thereef is home to varied reef fishes, mantarays, dog tooth tunas and other underwaterdenizens lured by the strong sea currents. Aprotected marine reef, out here you will alsofind crevices and caves with some leading toother, larger caves. Do keep a lookout forthe red flag that signals the presence ofparticularly strong currents with divingbeing prohibited for the interim.

Where To

Eat5 Places

http://www.ixigo.com/foods-in-of-malediven-lp-1475578

1


Ithaa Undersea Restaurant

Conrad Maldives, PO Box 2034,Maldives

+960-6680629

Dining 5 meters below sea level is certainlynothing less than a dream.Ithaa, a one of its kind underwaterrestaurant offers you breathtaking views ofunder sea creatures while feasting onmouthwatering dishes.

Their wine list is impressive, to say the leastwhile the food is cooked to perfection.Though, definitely on the expensive side, therestaurant is a class apart. Perfect for aromantic dinner or a memorable familymeal, the restaurant will leave you withprecious memories.

2 Sala Thai Restaurant

Buruneege, Boutique Hotel, Male,Maldives

+960-331-3345959

Sophisticated and swanky, this classy Thairestaurant offers an unforgettable diningexperience. The ambience is elegant withcomfortable seating arrangements and softlighting.

It may be a good idea to reserve a tablesince the restaurant is usually packed. Thefood at Sala Thai Restaurantoffers a lot ofvariety and promises authentic spices andflavours. The Tom saab nua and Phud prewwarn are especially recommended for theirunbelievable perfection. Though, a tad biton the expensive side, the restaurant willnot disappoint you.

3 Sea House Maldives

Dhathuruvehi 3, BoduthakurufaanuMagu, Mal, Maldives

+960-777-4539

Over looking the gorgeous views of theIndian Ocean, theSea HouseMaldives offers the perfect diningexperience in Maldives. The menu overflowswith delicacies ofAsian, Indian, Thaicuisines that is presented beautifully onyour table.

The outdoor sitting area is just perfect atany time of the day. During day time youcan literally touch the waters and look at theships sailing far away while at night thesparkling waters just sets the mood for anamazing dining experience.

4 Sea Fire Salt Sky Restaurant

Anantara Kihavah Villas Resort,Maldives

+960-660-1020

Be it the sea or the sky, this beautifulrestaurant offers you a dining experienceunlike anyother. You can choose to headdown to the ocean's surprising depths andenjoy the savoury affair. The sea foodserved is cooked to perfection and is adelight for food lovers. Dinning underwateris certainly an experience to treasure.

You could also head to the Teppanyakilounge and treat yourself to someastonishing antics with fire. Theatrical,dazzling and breathtaking, the show here isthrilling. Add to this a lavish meal and youare in for treat. The lobster is delicious andis grilled just as you prefer.

Alternatively , you can choose to dine at therooftop section of the huge complex. Toutedas Sky for obvious reasons, therestaurant promises awe inspiring viewsalong with a tempting grilled menu. The foottapping music and efficient service only addto the charm of the diningexperience.


From so much to choose from, a uniqueexperience awaits you at this remarkablerestaurant.

5 Aioli Restaurant

Orchidmaage Lotus Goalhi, Mal20095, Maldives

+96-0300-2525

Aioli Restaurant, in the capital, is one of thefinest dining option and offers pleasinglyauthentic South Asian food in a charming,relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Thisrestaurant is decked out all in dark woodand cream furnishings which adds to therich ambience. The outdoor balcony isperfect for enjoying a cocktail.

It also serves as an ideal venue forcorporate luncheons, dinners, specialevents, product launches and farewells.Therestaurant has two main venues availablefor exclusive use: the ground floor with aseating capacity of 25 guests and the firstfloor of up to 50 seated guests and 100standing.

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Maldives Travel Guide