| While scuba diving in a remote part of the ocean | | | | a short overview of just a few of the experiences |
| southeast of India, there lies a beautiful chain of islands | | | | that can be had in this unique region: |
| formed out of the coral tips of an underwater volcanic | | | | The Victor Wreck - On the western side of the |
| mountain range. The chain of more than 7,000 islands | | | | airport-island, Hulule, lays the famous wreck of the |
| stretches onward for 1,200 miles and is only sparsely | | | | Maldives Victory. At a depth of 115 feet, this dive is |
| inhabited. This magical place is called the Maldives, and | | | | recommended for experienced divers only. Here you |
| it is here that divers from all over the world converge | | | | will see a large sea turtle that frequents the tip of the |
| to experience scuba diving the way that the gods | | | | bowsprit; large schools of fusiliers, batfish, and |
| intended it. | | | | barracuda; and numerous other varieties of small |
| Most of the land masses of the Maldives are below | | | | marine animals. |
| sea level. What looks like open ocean interspersed by | | | | Banana Reef - On the eastern side of the North Male' |
| tiny islands is actually lagoons, deep channels, and atolls | | | | Atoll is Banana Reef. This prime scuba diving spot |
| broken only by the occasional tip of coral that breaks | | | | derives its name from the shape of the reef which |
| the surface to form an island. This means that most of | | | | resembles a banana. The upper section of Banana |
| the magic to be found in the Maldives is underwater | | | | Reef is only about 10 feet below sea level which is |
| and can only be experienced through a scuba diving | | | | ideal for beginner divers. If you like more of a challenge, |
| expedition. | | | | the western side of the reef reaches depths of more |
| Only about 200 of the islands of the Maldives are | | | | than 100 feet. But no matter how deep you choose to |
| inhabited and many of these are devoted entirely to | | | | dive, the abundance of marine life around Banana |
| an isolated resort or two. The sheer number of | | | | Reef will simply amaze you. |
| uninhabited islands guarantees that there are numerous | | | | Scuba diving in the Maldives is such a varied |
| dive sites that remain untouched and unseen by man. | | | | experience that you could spend a lifetime diving the |
| While there are a few scuba diving sites located | | | | pristine waters surrounding the coral-tipped islands and |
| directly offshore of some of the inhabited islands, | | | | still not see everything that this rich and diverse region |
| many dive sites of the Maldives are remote and can | | | | has to offer. From deep crevices to current-swept |
| only be accessed by boat. | | | | reefs teeming with life, you will never tire of the |
| There are so many popular scuba diving sites in the | | | | wonders to be seen while scuba diving in the Maldives. |
| Maldives that it is impossible to list them all here. Here is | | | | |