Maldives, the land of charming coral reefs and astonishing underwater

Going up from the secret indigo of the limitless ocean are more than a thousand atolls and thousands more reefs that form the Maldives. Specks of pea green enveloped by stunning turquoise waters like scatered beads in the ocean, pale powdery beaches, large palms lean on just before the ocean, crystalline white sands giving way to crystal lucid waters, shades of turuoise blend flawlessly with deeper tones of blue; pure coral reefs and some of the most astonishing undersea life on our planet.

"Assalaam Alaikum" - The time honored Maldivian salutation be it to a sightseer or mate; it represents the Islamic ethnicity of the citizens and comes with a impassion desire for quiet.

Hospitality has been an innate part of Maldivian tradition and a piece of isle life. It has for eternity been a land where visitors are greeted with open arms, where citizens are inclined to share.

The name "Maldives" means garland or ribbon of isles. It is also known as the pearls of the Indian Ocean. Totaling over 1200 islets they congregate in ring like formations and appear like ribbons or garlands from the atmosphere.

Each of these deserted island type coral islands most of them no more than a kilometer wide, has the conventional tropical vegetation of swaying palms and a white powder like sandy shoreline on its border. The isles themselves are encompassed by crystal clear lagoons that provide a remarkable tinges of colors as they get deeper to dark blue ocean.

The Maldives is as desirable underwater as it is over water, hosting two of the worlds top 10 dive spots, the Maldivian coral reefs are residence to a wide range of colorful coral and possibly the most assorted variety of fish one will ever meet. Since the coming of the first tourists, in 1972 the Maldives has come a lengthy way, each year Maldives is host to over 600,000 sightseers from all over the globe. Almost one out of four of who are repeaters.

The luxury Maldives resorts array provides a choice for everyone from the ultimate magnificent spa oriented resorts to the more basic no frills resorts all with a touch of the warm Maldivian kindness.

The Maldives has been a melting pot of numerous cultures as people from numerous parts of the world came here and settled down. Some of the local music and dance for example remind you of African influences, with hand beating of drums and songs in a language that is not known to any but definitely represents that of East African countries. As one would anticipate there is a significant South Asian influence in some of the music and dancing and especially in the established food of the Maldivians. Nevertheless many of the South Asian habits mainly with regard to women - for example the Sub Continent's tradition of secluding women from public view - are not principles of life here. In fact women play a main role in culture - not astonishing taking into consideration the fact men spend the full day out at sea fishing. Many of the conventions are strongly related to the seas and the fact that life is dependent on the seas around the imhabitants.