​Maldives|​Travel Guide

​Travel Guide

Geography

The Maldives is situated 717km from Sir Lanka and 430km from India in the Indian Ocean. It has approximately 1,190 islands which span over 90,000 sq km of ocean and 26 coral atolls. The land mass total is 298 sq km making it the smallest Asian country. Only 200 islands are inhabited full time and approximately 100 are occupied by hotels and resorts. The country is incredibly low lying with land rising between 1 and 1.5 metres above sea level. Consisting of mainly coral reefs, beaches and blue oceans. Most visitors start their holiday in Male, the main island with speed boats and scenic flights to the smaller islands.

Climate

The Maldives with its own micro climate has a year-round hot tropical climate with two distinct seasons. The dry season (November to April) with the north-east monsoon where the islands are less windy and the temperatures are at their highest. This is when most people tend to visit. Visibility in the sea is clear making it for excellent snorkelling and scuba diving. The wet season (May to October) with the south-east monsoon where the islands experience tropical rain showers. Temperatures are still warm. Plankton spawns in June and July, whale sharks, manta rays and other marine animals come to feed making them more visible to see. The year-round destination has temperatures staying between 25 – 30 degrees c and only dropping a few degrees at night.

House Reefs

A House reef is a living part of a coral beneath the surface that is close to the vertical drop off. The Maldives is made up of blocks of coral that broke the surface of the water and collected sediment leading to plant growth. The shallow water enclosed by the house reef serves as a natural swimming pool and is not affected by the currents and tides of the seas. It makes the best underwater experiences for snorkellers and divers.

High Commission of the Republic of Maldives Tel: 020 7224 2135

Population: 543,617 (UN, 2021)

Area: 297.9 sq km

Major languages: Dhivehi. English is widely spoken.

Main religion: Islam

Currency: Maldivian rufiyaa

Internet domain: .mv

International dialling code: +960

Voltage: 230V

Plug size: Type D & G.