Having being protected by the reefs, the lagoons are calm and crystal-clear with abundant species of fish and coral. Out of the total of some 1,190 islands in the Maldives, about 200 are inhabited. The total land area of all these islands put together will amount to the size of a small city. The capital of the country is Male' situated within close proximity of the island that house the Male' International airport.

For Ptolemy, the Greek geographer, the Maldives was a multitude of islands. Ancient Chinese navigators, referring to the maze of lagoons and reefs that require great care in navigation, knew it as the Three Thousand Weak Waters. Marco Polo, the Venetian traveler, found the islands to be "the flower of the Indies". For Ibn Batuta, who traveled extensively during the 14th century and actually lived on the islands, the Maldives was "one of the wonders of the world".

Beaches and top dive locations in the world where professional dive training is given to the beginners and beautiful reefs.