Beautiful Maldives 1

The Maldives are a cluster of almost 2,000 atolls and lagoons that lie in the Indian Ocean, just off the coast of Sri Lanka. They form a magical blue and green mosaic of palm shaded, beach fringed islands embraced by shimmering waters. Marco Polo referred to the islands as the ?lower ofAtoll and Ari Atoll. Their white sand beaches are protected by miles of sheltered reefs that teem with fish the Indies? Some of the islands are inhabited by the native Maldivians, who live from the wealth of their catch, whilst over 80 are tourist resorts, located around the North Atoll, South and brightly coloured coral.Conditions for water-sports are unrivalled with warm water, superb underwater visibility and an abundance of coral life. To many dive enthusiasts the waters of the Maldives rate as the best in the world. Many islands are small enough to walk around the perimeter in a few minutes whilst others are quite sophisticated with a choice of restaurants and bars.