DISCOVER MALDIVES

The Magazine of Escale Maldives, Your Travel Partner 2010 issue

Destinations Scuba Diving Features WIN A FREE HOLIDAY TO

Kaashidhoo Island III Dive Sites for beginners Shapes of Islands COCO PALM BODU HITHI
Coco Palm Bodu Hithi Wreck Hunters Dream What kind of Water Villas
Destination Story of Jetties
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Photo credits:
89,-":;<"("=>>?"@"("<ABC;9" 3ULFHVKRZQLQFOXGHVIXOOERDUGDQGRWKHUVHUYLFHVSHU All underwater photos by Sendi
Aerial photo of Bodumohoraa island in Vaavu atoll by Amooo
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6| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

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 EDITORS NOTE
Almost all postcards of and books about the Maldives feature exotic
resorts. Due to this, most people relate Maldives with expensive
holiday destinations. Indeed, Maldives’ islands are heavenly pearls
strewn in the Indian Ocean. And of course, we have pristine white
beaches and crystal clear seas.

However, Maldives is this and much more. The real Maldives is more
than the picture perfect postcard.

We have hundreds of reefs, inhabited and uninhabited islands, sand

banks and hundreds of hidden and unexplored treasures under the sea.
Our objective in publishing Discover Maldives is to present these un-
explored and rarely talked about features of the Maldives. To show the
real Maldives, the lives of Maldivians and the numerous and fantastic
opportunities this island nation has to offer for the adventurer.

Hence, it is our pleasure to be part of this unique venture in publishing

a magazine that is “everything Maldives”! We have received contribu-
tion, assistance and support from a large number of people and we owe
them our deepest gratitude and thankfulness. It is their indefatigable
toil that has made this magazine a reality and a success.

As such, we are hopeful that our readers would gain new insights into
our islands through Discover Maldives and perhaps seek the opportu-
nity to explore the real Maldives with us!

For this inaugural issue, we have stretched our resources to bring you
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about the Maldives. We travelled more than 2000 miles within the
Maldives in 2009. We have gone underwater, walked on virgin sand
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so much more to be discovered. This is, of course, excellent news as
we anticipate your support and participation with us in continuing our
journey exploring the paradise on earth – the Maldives !

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Fushifaru island in Lhaviyani Atoll.
Photo by: DigitalGlobe

ŽŵŵĞŶƚƐΘŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶƐ
Please send in your comments,
contributions and letters to the editor to
editor@escalemaldives.com

www.escalemaldives.com | 7

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Want to contribute?
Do you have a passion to write or have photos that are worthy of publishing? We are looking for keen photographers and
writers to contribute to our magazine. Escale Maldives is very keen to develop the Maldivian youth and if you think you
have the motivation and interest to try something new, then write to us. Foreigners who have a story to tell and would like
to include in our publications may also write to us. Please send all your queries to the editor at editor@escalemaldives.com
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www.escalemaldives.com | 9
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 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Contents
DESTINATIONS
18 Kaashidhoo Island. Isolated 18
and not visited my many visitors, yet
such an interesting island with a rich his-
tory. See what life is like in this island.

26 Coco Palm Bodu Hithi.

Get to know about this luxury resort
which is among the best in Maldives.

ENVIRONMENT
34 Designing Reefs. A practical
and cost effective approach to restore
your house reef or just creating one from
scratch.

40 Why you should not hate

seagrass. Most people hate seagrass
in Maldives, but there’s just more than
one reason not to hate them.

44 Safeguarding the Whale-

shark. Learn about the latest protected
area in Maldives and what this means to
the Whalesharks.

48 Maldivians and sand-

banks. Read about sand banks, one
of the unique geographical features of
Maldives.

FEATURES
52 The big 7 of Maldives.
With more than 99% ocean, Maldives is
blessed with some of the famous giants 52 64
of the sea. Read about what they are and
why we think they deserve the title.

64 The story of jetties. The real

life use of jetties and how important they
are to the Maldives.

72 Shapes of islands. Every is-

land has a unique shape and it is continu-
RXVO\FKDQJLQJ6KDSHVGH¿QHDQLVODQG
and has several implications.

80 Mapping Maldives. Survey-

ing and its challenges in the Maldives.

40
10| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

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 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))33
345645737)))3583289<):*
 Contents Continued
84 What kind of water vil-
las. In a time when luxury water villas 100
are ruling the Maldives, a new kind of
water villas have emerged and are ruling
the Maldives. Be amazed by this unique
Maldivian invention.

SCUBA DIVING
90 III Dive sites for the abso-
lute beginner. Guide to three beau-
tiful dive sites for the absolute beginner.

100 Exploring the mystery

of the Maldivian queen. Dis-
cover the ruins of the famous Maldivian
Queen that ruled the Maldivian seas and
the story behind her fateful death.

108 Wreck hunters dream

destination. From small wrecks to
large wrecks, this place has everything.
Its a wreck divers dream destination.

TRAVEL DIARY
118 Exploring South Male’
Atoll. Detail account of a two-day div-
ing adventure in south Male’ atoll.

CITY BREAKS
128 Explore some of the best
mosques in Male’. Discover
some of the best and historic mosques
in Male’ on your own with this ultimate
walking tour. 118
AGENDA
132 What’s happening
around Maldives. Get the latest
128
updates on development, environment,
hot events and book reviews.

FUN ZONE
138 Fun things. Learn about Mal-
dives through games and puzzles.

12| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

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  | 13

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Laamu Atoll (L)

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14| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

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 N
Maldives Ports Fish Market 0 400 Meters
Authority Area Local
Map of Male’ Market Ahmadhee Jetty 1
Bazaar Area Official Jetty 2
Jetty

Jetty 3
ATM
Jumhooree

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Cinema P Police Station
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Sea Wall Ferry Terminal Restaurant
Filling Station Swimming Area
Hotels / Guest House Traffic Light
Hospitals / Health centre
Map: www.atoll-images.com

345645737)))3583;85;):*
 !"

PHOTOS FROM Maldives

A freshwater lake

Maldivian Grey Heron !$

13 - Ihavandhoo
9 - Nolhivaranfaru

6 - Huvandhumaavwattaru
11 - Lhaviyani Atoll
7 - Coco Palm 12 - Dharavandhoo
Dhunikolhu
5,10 - Eriyadhoo
4 - Male’
2 - Bolifushi
3 - Dhagethi

1 - Gan
8 - Olhuveli

Photo credits:

5,10 by Verena Wiesbauer Ali

1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13 by Riya
7 by AJ
8 by Mazin A rural house made from coconut thatch
4,12 by Amooo !#

!% !&

Male’ fish market A brightly coloured Lionfish

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 A typical scene from a dessert island !' !* A crow resting on a papaya tree

A small dhoni in a luxury resort !( !) A huge tuna caught in Laamu atoll "! A colourful nudibranch

Tuna fishing

""

"# "$ Tuna fish drying beds. Dried tuna is a popular delicacy in Maldives

A father carrying his two children on a motocycle

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))2: 245645727)))258298<=);*
 Destinations

Women and children collecting shells during low tide hours. Photo by: Amooo

18| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))26 245645727)))258298<6);*
 Kaashidhoo Island
Text by : Amooo

www.escalemaldives.com | 19

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))29 245645727)))258298=5);*
 Destinations
!#
IT’S A LARGE ISLAND, it has got
history, infact a very interesting history
and it’s one of the most isolated islands
in the Maldives. As you enter the lagoon
through the longest access channel in the
Maldives, you are welcomed by a beauti-
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extracted from this long access channel.
Once you reach the island, a destroyed
harbour awaits to receive you. The mo-
ment you step on the semi destroyed
quay wall of the harbour, you instantly
feel the uniqueness of this island. Every
day, several international cargo ships
pass this island carrying millions of
dollars worth of goods from east to the
west as they cross the Maldives on their
routine journey. And every day several
local boats and vessels cross this unique
island comforting them with the sight of
the island, knowing that they could take
shelter if the weather gets nasty. Yes, you
guessed it right. It is Kaashidhoo island.
The name Kaashidhoo literally means
‘coconut island’. ‘Kaashi’ means coconut
and ‘dhoo’, although it does not liter-
ally mean an island, it is a common term
!$
Photo by: Riya
20| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue
!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))57
“ Although considered
as part of the admin-
istrative Male’ atoll, it
is geographically an
atoll by itself on its
own coral reef.
”
Photo by: Riya
used to describe an island in Dhivehi
Language. The island lies in Kaashid- !" !"
hoo Kan’du (kan’du in Dhivehi is
referred to Sea) also known as ‘Kardiva
Channel’ which is the broad channel
separating some of the central atolls of
Maldives, most notably Male’ atoll and
Lhaviyani atoll. The island of Kaashid-
hoo lies roughly in the middle of this
channel. Although considered as part
of the administrative Male’ atoll, it is
geographically an atoll by itself on its
own coral reef. It is the biggest island
in Male’ Atoll and is the biggest among
the islands north to Male’. Kaashidhoo
can also be considered among the largest
islands in Maldives. The island is 87.5
km north of the capital Male’, and is in a
very strategic geographic location. The
island is totally isolated from the rest of
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to establish its transportation with the
rest of Kaafu Atoll and the country in
general.
Despite the isolation, the island is unique
and full of history, a history that dates
back to centuries. Not many foreigners
!""#$%&$''()"*+#
1 - Aerial view of Kaashidhoo island
2, 3 - Most houses are constructed using mined coral like this
house.
WŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶ͗!""" 4, 5 - Agriculture is the number one income generating activity
>ĂŶĚƌĞĂ͗!#$%&'()*+', and generates revenue to the local economy. Both men and
women are engaged in agriculture and atleast one person from
>ĞŶŐƚŚ͗!-.%/0 each household is enaged in agriculture.
6 - Ripe water melons in a farm. Water melons are widely grown in
tŝĚƚŚ͗1-"!%/0 the island most of which end up in the local market in Male’
ŝƐƚ͘ĨƌŽŵDĂůĞ͛͗.#-2%/0 Photos by: Amooo
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 get to visit this island, mainly due to its
isolation and there are no nearby resorts
or regular transport networks. Seafarers
stop by this island during rough weather
when Kaashidhoo Kan’du cannot be
crossed. It is a nasty sea during rough
weather and you would not want to be
even near this channel when it is rough.
When the conditions are bad, it is best
to avoid this sea. In bad weather, many
travelers take refuge in the calmness
of the island’s lagoon until it is safe to
travel. The islanders are a friendly bunch
of people most of whom are engaged in
agriculture. Fishing is also a major activ-
ity, but Kaashidhoo is largely an agricul-
!'
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ered as a source of income for this huge
island. Some of the islanders are engaged
in other economic activities such as boat
building and in resort jobs, but the major-
ity concentrates on agriculture.

ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

With a population of only about 2000

people, Kaashidhoo has plenty of space
for agricultural farming on a large scale.
Despite the large size, the full potential
of agriculture has not been explored.
Twenty four million square feet of land,
with 8000 feet NE-SW as the longest and
3200 at the widest dimensions is con-
sidered very big in Maldives. It is said
that Kaashidhoo is the island from which
most of the coconuts are brought to
Male’. The markets of Male’ are always
loaded with agricultural produce from
this island including chilli, cucumber,
water melon, banana and papaya. A large
percent of the land is still unused. Basic
health and other facilities are available
on the island. The island’s health facility
was built in February 1999 while the
educational facility, a school, was built
in April 1984 and upgraded in Janu-
ary 1986. The island is equipped with
modern telecommunication systems such
as cellular phones and local telephone
!% !&
network and radio telephone system
,VODQG2I¿FH7KHLVODQGKRXVHVDVWDWH
owned power station and is equipped to
provide electricity 24 hours. The commu-
nity water tanks provide adequate storage
capacities, yet the locals install their own
storage vessels as well. Rain water is
the main source of drinking water while
groundwater is extensively used for other
domestic purposes.

www.escalemaldives.com | 21

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 !( !)

7 - A woman at her farm.

8 - A fisherman displays his catch in the late afternoon.
9 - The compound of the old mosque which has been renovated
recently. The compound used to be a graveyard in the early days.
10 - A man and his goat crosses a dusty road. Sights like this are
rare today, even in rural Maldives.
11 - A backyard lettuce farm. It is a good cash crop and very
popular among Maldivians.

Photos by: Amooo

!*

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))55 245645727)))25857859);*
 "! BOOKS ON MALDIVES

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ŚŽůŝĚĂLJŽƌĨŽƌǁŽƌŬ͘

get to know
everything about
Maldives before
you come - order
your copy today !
""

AVAILABLE FROM

ATOLL IMAGES
Ma.Shah, Dhidhi Golhi
Male’, Maldives
Tel: (960) 334 1643
Fax: (960) 333 1643
www.atoll-images.com
info@atoll-images.com

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 Destinations

"# KAASHIDHOO THARAAGAN’DU

Kaashidhoo has several landmarks

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12 - A care taker rests beside the archaeological site. ĨĞǁƌĞƐƚĂƵƌĂŶƚƐĂƌĞĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ͘/ƚŝƐĂĚǀŝƐĂďůĞƚŽŵĂŬĞ
13 - Ruins of a Bhuddhist temple. The entire site is consid- *CF*@('%ABB/6@<,%?+6B+%)B%*++6F*5-
ered to be a temple.
14 - A well in ruins. ,ŽǁƚŽŐĞƚƚŚĞƌĞ͗NB@)*()%4,(*5'%D*5C6F',%*)%%
Photos by Amooo 6@EBO',(*5'0*5C6F',-(B0
QDPHO\.DDVKLGKRR,VODQG2I¿FH
Kaashidhoo Island Court, Kaashidhoo
Health Centre, Kaashidhoo Atoll School,
Kaashidhoo Women’s Centre, Masjidul
Niumaa, Old Friday Mosque, Masjidul
Furqaan, Masjidul Ihusaan, Masjidul
Amaan and Kaashidhoo Tharaagan’
du (the Buddhist ruins). But amongst
the numerous landmarks, Kaashid-
hoo Tharaagan’du is notably the most
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is a place worth visiting. Kaashidhoo
Tharaagan’du, is the ruins of a Buddhist
temple used by the Maldivians before
the people embraced Islam. The origins
of this historic landmark originate from
India. Some of the ancient chronicles of
South India and the Mahavansa of Sri
Lanka contain records about the Mal-
dives. According to the Mahavansa, one
of the ships that sailed with Prince Vijaya
who went to Sri Lanka around 500 BC,
went adrift and arrived at an island called
Mahiladvipika, which is the Maldives.
It is also said that at that time the people
from Mahiladvipika used to travel to Sri
Lanka. A Roman manual of navigation
IURPWKH¿UVWFHQWXU\$'3HULSOXV0DULV
Erithraei mentions islands assumed to be
the Maldives. This archaeological site
at Kaashidhoo, which is among the dis-
coveries in the Maldives to be subjected
WRVFLHQWL¿FLQTXLU\KDYHEHHQGDWHGWR
3rd or 4th century AD. Thus, Buddhism
would have been brought to the Mal-
dives sometime before that date. As the
Maldives was well known in the region,
it is quite possible that when Ashoka, the
famous Indian King (265-238 BC) sent
out missionaries to various South Asian
countries to spread Buddhism, some of
them had arrived in the Maldives. Today,
Kaashidhoo Tharaagan’du is a protected
historical site.
In 2008, the government decided to
develop a resort in the island’s lagoon by
reclaiming land but until today, nothing
has materialized and it is the islanders’
hopes and dream that one day the full
economic potential of this island would
be realised.
References

- www.maldivesstory.com

- www.kaashidhoo.net

- www.kaashidhoo.org

- www.kaafuatoll.gov.mv

24| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

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 ORIGINAL BRANDS SOLED EXCLUSIVELY AT

Alikilegefaanu Magu, Tel: 333 4080, E-mail: college@dhivehinet.net.mv

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 Destinations

26| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

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 Environment

!"

Designing Reefs
A useful management tool for resorts in
the Maldives? Text by: Mag. Verena Wiesbauer Ali

The Maldives is one of the few nations in the world that can
be considered a “100% coastal community”, being entirely
dependent on a continuous supply of resources such as tuna and
UHHI¿VKFRDVWDOVHDGHIHQFHDQGDWRXULVPLQGXVWU\WKDWLVEXLOW
around crystal clear water and colourful coral reefs. Therefore,
the functioning of the ecosystem surrounding the tiny
Maldivian islands is vital for the local community. However,
together with tourism that contributed so much to the country’s
economic boom, came its negative side effects: dredging, !#
increased sewage discharge, chemical pollution, run-off of
sediment due to land reclamation, a huge amount of waste and
tourist damage through reef-walking, swimming, snorkelling,
boating and SCUBA diving. These anthropogenic pressures
on reefs further exacerbated in the 1980s and 1990s by several
strong El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, which
have been correlated with widespread warm water anomalies
and associated bleaching and mortality of corals.
!$
In recent years, the worldwide decline in coral reefs prompted
greater attention towards remediation and restoration activities
in the Maldives. In 2006, the ‘First National Workshop (EIA) regulations were implemented in 2007, requiring an EIA
on Resort Reef Management’ was held in Male’, where VWXG\IRUDUWL¿FLDOUHHIV7KLVPDNHVVHQVHFRQVLGHULQJWKDWRQH
marine biologists from various resort islands presented their third of the zooxanthellate reef-building coral species using
remediation and restoration activities and encouraged other the IUCN Red List criteria that could be assigned conservation
resort managers to initiate similar projects. The growing status (n=704) are now in categories with elevated risk of
enthusiasm among resort managers for such projects lasted just extinction (Carpenter et al. 2008).
a few months, until the new Environmental Impact Assessment

34| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

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 !&

!% !'

1 - Artificial reef outside the underwater spa in Huvafen Fushi

Resort, two years after creation
2 - In Huvafen Fushi Resort, an artificially created reef based on
concrete structures lines the windows of their Underwater Spa
3 - In less than one year, corals have overgrown the structures
and cannot be seen anymore
4 - Coral nubbins established on nursery tables at the Huvafen
Fushi Resort
5 - Nubbins of local branching and Corymbose Acropora and
Pocillopora species on a coral nursery grow-out table at Taj Coral
reef resort
6 - A dead reef in North Male’ atoll

Photo Credits

1,2,3,4,5 by Verena Wiesbauer Ali

6 by Amooo

www.escalemaldives.com | 35

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))2< 345645737)))35822852):*
 Environment
Nevertheless, major redevelopment projects in the Maldives,
such as construction of over-water bungalows, seawalls and
underwater structures, that may affect the marine environment,
require an EIA as well. Resorts that get the “permission to dam-
age their house reefs” within such a framework are allowed to
XVHFRUDOVIRUDUWL¿FLDOUHHISXUSRVHVWKDWZRXOGEHGHVWUR\HG
anyways during the construction process.
Therefore, legal requirements have to be met before resort
managers and local communities can proceed with their
“designed reefs”.
+RZHYHUWKH¿UVWTXHVWLRQLQUHHIUHVWRUDWLRQPDQDJHPHQW
procedure should always be:
Was there a coral reef at the site where restoration efforts
should be applied? If there has never been a reef there it is
probably best not to create one as the environment (abiotic
conditions) may not support a coral reef community.
From a management viewpoint, two important points, which
emerge from several studies (references in Edwards & Clark
1998), are that: (1) there is no point in designing reefs in
areas where water quality is poor as transplants will tend to
die, and (2) loss of transplants in high-energy environments
tends to be high whatever methods are used to attach them.
However, where water quality is good in relatively low energy
environments, transplants tend to survive reasonably well.
,QJHQHUDOGHVLJQLQJDQDUWL¿FLDOUHHIVHUYHVDVDFDWDO\VWIRU
recovery by increasing the live coral cover and topographic
complexity on a reef. In the Maldives, a reason for coral
transplantation would be to mitigate damage caused by tourists
engaged in water-based recreational activities, to save coral
communities threatened by pollution, land reclamation or piling
works, or to enhance the attractiveness of underwater habitat in
7 - An isolated live coral growing in an almost 100 percent dead
reef.
8- Corals are frequently damaged by snorkellers, divers and during
!(
anchoring or major storm events. Such broken coral pieces can be
cultured and placed back on the reef after growth in a nursery.
9 - Guests of the Four Seasons Resort can adopt Reef Balls: man-
made structures comprised of a special, marine friendly concrete
that are designed to mimic natural reef systems and to facilitate
the growth of corals in areas where the reef has been damaged.
10 - Some reefs in the Maldives are still suffering after the El
Nino mass coral bleaching event in 1998 and look more like rubble
fields than healthy reefs that protect an island.
11 - Banyan Tree Maldives Vabbinfaru uses metal frames as nurs-
eries for corals and as artificial wave-breaks. By passing a small
electric current through the metal, a layer of limestone forms and
coral growth is accelerated.
Photo Credits
7 by Amooo
8,10 by Verena Wiesbauer Ali
9 Courtesy of www.reefball.org
11 Courtesy of Banyan Tree, Ihuru, Maldives
36| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue
!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))2=
tourist resorts.
Efforts to rehabilitate or restore the ecological functions of
FRUDOUHHIVYDU\IURPWKHH[SHQVLYHGHSOR\PHQWRIDUWL¿FLDO
structures over the electrochemical deposition of CaCO3 to
simple coral culturing activities, depending upon the spatial
VFDOHDQGWKHORJLVWLFSRWHQWLDORIWKHVSHFL¿FFRXQWULHV2WKHU
activities involve sexual reproduction and larval recruitment to
initiate recovery.
In the Maldives, the simplest way to design reefs is to attach
loose coral pieces to a substrate, i.e. concrete or iron grids and
let them grow for some months.
(YHQWKRXJKWKHHGXFDWLRQDODQGVFLHQWL¿FXVHVRIDUWL¿FLDO
coral growth are being acknowledged, we should not forget to
focus on measures to prevent damage. Once human pressures
such as untreated sewage, coastal reclamation and pollution
are reduced, natural processes can take over and speed up coral
growth, naturally restoring reefs that have suffered under the
bleaching event.
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Why You Should

Not Hate Seagrass Text by: Mag. Mag. Verena Wiesbauer Ali. Photos by Amooo

S
eagrass beds surrounding Maldivian tourist resorts are often destroyed because their
guests expect clean blue water to swim in and no washed up grass on the beaches in
the morning. A common method to do so involves laying down sheets of plastic over the
seagrass and weighing it down with bags full of sand, thereby smothering the grass, leaving it
and other benthic fauna and flora to rot. Their biological importance as a habitat that offers food,
shelter and essential nursery areas to many fish species is often ignored.

The complexity of seagrass habitat is even increased

when several species of seagrasses grow together, ŝĚLJŽƵŬŶŽǁ͍ '
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ǀŝĚĞƐ ĨŽŽĚ͕ ŚĂďŝƚĂƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ŶƵƌƐͲ
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brates, while also preventing the scouring of bottom ŝŶǀĞƌƚĞďƌĂƚĞƐ͘&ƵƌƚŚĞƌ͕ĂƐŝŶŐůĞ
areas and seeds, and manufacturing their own food ĂĐƌĞ ŽĨ ƐĞĂŐƌĂƐƐ ŵĂLJ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ
via photosynthesis. ĂƐ ŵĂŶLJ ĂƐ ϰϬϬϬ ĮƐŚ ĂŶĚ ϱϬ
ŵŝůůŝŽŶƐŵĂůůŝŶǀĞƌƚĞďƌĂƚĞƐ͘

40| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

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1 - A branching coral growing in a shallow lagoon among a colony of seagrass.

2 - Exposed seagrass beds between the island of Hoadehdhoo and Madaveli in Gaaf Dhaal atoll.
3 & 4 - A circular patch of sea grass formed on the eastern side of the island Kaadedhdhoo, where the
regional airport is located.
5 - A resort island in North Male’ atoll with heavy sea grass growth around it.
6 - A sea urchin skeleton found in a seagrass patch.

Photos by Amooo

www.escalemaldives.com | 41

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 Environment

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SAFEGUARDING
THE WHALE SHARKS
Hanifaru in Baa atoll declared a protected site

F
inally good news for Whale sharks and for the people who love this amazing creature. A sanctuary has been
declared for them in the Maldives. Hanifaru reef in Baa atoll declared a protected site on the occasion of the
2009 World Environment Day. This famous reef is well known as a breeding and feeding ground for Mantas
and Whale Sharks. Text by: Amooo

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44| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

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“ Hanifaru bay is known to divers as

“Aquarium”or locally as “Vandhumaafaru
adi” and is home to a large number of
Whale sharks, grey reef sharks, Manta
!$

1 - Hanifaru reef
2 - Hanifaru reef, Dhonfan and Kihaadhuffaru Resort

rays and sting rays.

”
Photo credits

1 by DigitalGlobe
2,3 by Rifaa
4 by Amooo
5 by Guy Stevens (photo courtesy of AEC project)
6 by Shafraaz Naeem (photo courtesy of AEC project)

www.escalemaldives.com | 45

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 Environment

!&

Maldivians & SANDBANKS

Text by: Riya

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48| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

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1 - A sand bank formed near a small uninhabited island in WLFHWRPLQHVDQGIURPVDQGEDQNV
Lhaviyani atoll.
2 - An oval sandbank
3 - Sea birds in a sandbank in Baa atoll
4 - A hut and a dining table in an isolated sand bank in Baa
atoll. Most sandbanks are used by tourist resorts for picnics and
barbeques.
5 - The uninhabited island of Kashidhoo and the nearby sandbank
in Baa atoll

Photo credits

1 by DigitalGlobe
2,3,4 by Riya
5 by Amooo
!(

!# !"

www.escalemaldives.com | 49

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 SAVE
THE
SHARK

A campaign
started in
2000 to Save
the Shark.
Joinnus!
Jo i
contact@ecocare.mv

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))23 345645737)))3589:875);*
 THE BIG
SE7EN
OF MALDIVES by Mag. Verena Wiesbauer Ali

A
ustralia has Koalas and Kangaroos, New Zealand
has Kiwi’s, South Africa has Lions, Elephants and
Leopards, but what does Maldives have? The
only wild life found in Maldives are sea creatures and for
many years Maldivians have had a special relationship
with these sea creatures.

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))25 345645737)))3589:87<);*
 SCUBA divers at one of the few “Manta Points” in the Maldives, where Manta rays (Manta birostris) congregate for feeding or being cleaned.
Photo by Amooo

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))29 345645737)))3589:835);*
 Features

!"

The seas surrounding the Maldives

unfold an exotic realm of marine life.
Innumerable species of possibly all
colours, shapes, and sizes can be found
right from the tepid waters of the ocean
surface to the cold, dark abyss hundreds
of kilometres below.

The diving destination Maldives is

particularly renown for its large pelagics
like whales, whale sharks, manta rays or
sharks that visit the area. Reef associated
animals like turtles, groupers, moray eels
or reef sharks can be frequently encoun-
tered during a snorkel or dive trip in
the Maldives. Let’s take a closer look at
probably the most popular large marine !#
animals in the Maldives - The “Big 7 of
Maldives” VPDOOVFKRROLQJ¿VKHV Marine Protected Area (MPA).
Research by the “Maldives Whale Shark
THE WHALE SHARK Whale sharks have been caught for their Project” suggests that many of the 90
OLYHURLODQGWKHLU¿QVXQWLOWKH0LQLVWU\ individual whale sharks recorded from
5KLQFRGRQW\SXVLVWKHODUJHVW¿VKLQ
the world and grows possibly up to 21m
in length, but rarely above 12m. With
their huge size and distinctive spotting,
whale sharks cannot be confused with
any other species. These circumtropi-
FDOSHODJLF¿OWHUIHHGHUVRFFXUVLQJO\RU
in small schools, often near the surface.
They feed mainly on plankton, some-
times on small pelagic crustaceans or
54| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue
!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))2=
of Fisheries and Agriculture imposed a
EDQRQDOO¿VKLQJFDSWXULQJRUWDNLQJLQ
1995. Whale sharks are sometimes seen
by divers, normally during the southwest
monsoon off the east coast and during the
northeast monsoon off the west coast of
the Maldives. Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll
is considered one of the few places in the
world where whale sharks congregate
to mate. It has recently been declared a
the Maldives are resident here all year
round – which is unique within the
Indian Ocean.
1 - A Snorkeller approaching the largest fish in the world, the Whale
shark (Rhinchodon typus), indicating “Everything is OK!”.
2 - Divers and snorkellers can swim with this giant Whale shark with-
out risk, apart from unintentional blows from the shark’s large tail fin.
3 - Spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) are a common sight in the
Maldives.
4 - Dolphins are a common bycatch in tuna fisheries – but not in the
Maldives! The Maldivian tuna industry ensures that tuna fishery is
“dolphin safe”.
Photo Credits
1,2 - by Rifaa
3,4 - by Verena Wiesbauer Ali
345645737)))3589:852);*
 WHALES AND DOLPHINS
!$ The Maldive islands lie in the Central
Indian Ocean, at the very heart of the
Indian Ocean Sanctuary (IOS), which
was established by the International
Whaling Commission in 1979. It is home
to a remarkable abundance and diversity
of cetaceans, including geographically
isolated populations.

The Maldivian cetacean community is

diverse; a total of 19 different species
have been recorded here, including 2 rare
species of Beaked Whale (Anderson et
al., 1999; Balance et al., 2001). Species
include: Blue Whale, Bryde’s Whale,
Spinner Dolphin, Rough-toothed Dol-
phin, Fraser’s Dolphin, Spotted Dolphin,
Striped Dolphin, Risso’s Dolphin, Bottle-
nose Dolphin, Cuvier’s Beaked Whale,
Blainville’s Beaked Whale, Ginkgo-
toothed Beaked Whale, Melon-headed
Whale, Killer Whale, Pygmy Killer
:KDOH)DOVH.LOOHU:KDOH6KRUW¿QQHG
Pilot Whale, Sperm Whale and Dwarf
Sperm Whale.

All whales and dolphins are protected

in Maldivian waters – the capture of all
FHWDFHDQVLVVSHFL¿FDOO\EDQQHGXQGHU
Maldivian law, as is the export of ce-
!% tacean products. Perhaps more impor-
tantly, all pelagic gill-net and purse-seine
¿VKLQJLVEDQQHGLQ0DOGLYHVLQRUGHU
to protect the traditional pole-and-line
WXQD¿VKHU\$VDUHVXOWWKHUHLVQRFDWFK
(direct or incidental) of cetaceans, and
the Maldives is a sanctuary within the
Sanctuary. Dolphins are often sighted in
almost every atoll in Maldives.

“ Whale sharks
have been
caught for their
liver oil and their
fins, until the Min-
istry of Fisheries
and Agriculture
imposed a ban
on all fishing,
capturing or tak-
ing in 1995

”
www.escalemaldives.com | 55

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))22 345645737)))3589:856);*
 Features

!&

MANTA RAYS !'

Manta rays are particularly easy to watch

in the Maldives as they occur seasonally
at regular feeding and cleaning stations.
At cleaning stations they are usually seen
in small numbers, but when the currents
are right for feeding, up to 100 may
gather at one time in favoured channels.
It is estimated that the total population
for this small country in the middle of
the Indian Ocean is likely to exceed ten
thousand individuals. In three years of
data collection, the Maldivian Manta Ray
3URMHFW0053KDVDOUHDG\LGHQWL¿HG
over 1,500 different mantas with new
individuals being sighted on a regular
basis.
In the southwest monsoon, an astonish-
ing number of manta rays can be seen at
/DQNDQ¿QROKX)DUX0DQWD3RLQW1RUWK
Male’ Atoll) when they come in to be
cleaned, whereas during the northeast
monsoon they can be encountered at
Hukurueli Faru (Madivaru, Ari Atoll).
This abundance of marine life has made
the Maldives one of the top dive des-
tinations in the world and Manta rays
continue to be one of the ‘must sees’
for most of its visitors. Manta rays are
therefore extremely important to tourism
in the Maldives, which is by far the larg-
est source of revenue for the country. A
56| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue
!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))2>
recent paper co-authored by the MMRP
and other researchers valued direct rev-
enue generation from manta ray diving
and snorkelling at US $10 million annu-
ally in the Maldives. However, despite
WKLV0DQWDUD\VDUHQRW\HWVSHFL¿FDOO\
protected by Maldivian Law and, as
natural resources continue to be stretched
in this developing nation, the negative
associated impacts are increasingly af-
fecting the Manta population.
5 - The Maldivian Manta Ray Project undertakes research on all
aspects of the Maldivian manta ray population to create greater
awareness and understanding of these graceful rays.
6 - One the best places to observe mantas is at cleaning sta-
tions. While these locations offer excellent close encounters, it’s
important that divers never swim directly onto the cleaning station
or inhibit the path of the mantas.
7 - The Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) occurs
regularly at particular channel entrances and current-swept reefs.
8 - Leopard or Zebra Sharks (Stegostoma fasciatum) are nocturnal
and spend most of the day resting motionless on the sea floor. At
night, they actively hunt for molluscs, crustaceans and small bony
fishes inside holes and crevices in the reef.
Photo Credits
5,6 by Amooo
7 by Rifaa
8 by Dr.Norman Quinn
345645737)))3589:8=5);*
 SHARKS

Some people are frightened at the

thought of swimming with sharks, others
are thrilled. Of the forty or so species
of sharks that have been recorded in
the Maldives so far, the most familiar
is perhaps the Blacktip Reef Shark.
Juveniles occur in shallow water near
island beaches, where they avoid larger,
deeper-swimming sharks that might eat
them. Large schools of Hammerhead
sharks may be observed near Rasdhoo
(Ari Atoll) and a few other sites. The
Maldives are even home to one of the
most dangerous sharks: the Tiger Shark
(Galeocerdo cuvier), which has the worst
reputation as one that attacks swimmers,
GLYHUVDQGHYHQERDWV1HYHUWKHOHVV
the few people who have been bitten
by sharks here are divers involved in
VKDUNIHHGLQJDQG¿VKHUPHQZKRDUH
careless in landing sharks that they have
caught. Therefore, diving with sharks
remain popular and safe in the Maldives.
The Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon
obesus) might be seen on almost any
!( dive or snorkel and is probably the most
widespread shark species on Maldivian
reefs. The other common species is the
Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus ambly-
rhynchos), which occurs regularly at
particular channel entrances and current-
swept reefs. Getting into position at the
upstream of such dive sites is sometimes
a challenge, but always rewarding.

In March 2009, the Maldives imposed

DEDQRQ¿VKLQJDOOVSHFLHVRIVKDUNV
within twelve miles from the atoll rim
of all Maldivian atolls following the
precipitous decline in recent years in
the number of reef sharks sighted by
divers. It is hoped that the regulation to
EDQVKDUN¿VKLQJZRXOGVHHDUHYHUVDO
in the declining shark populations of the
Maldives.
!)

Tel: +(960) 330 6693; Fax: +(960) 333 1643; HP: +(960) 796 1643
Web: www.escalemaldives.com, Email: reservations@escalemaldives.com

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))2< 345645737)))3589:825);*
 Features

!*

“
Save the sharks, Message
from Water Solutions

”
"! ""

"#

58| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))26 345645737)))358=787>);*
 "$

"%

9 - Although many people are frightened at the thought of swimming with sharks, Maldivian reef
sharks are not at all aggressive towards snorkellers or divers.
10 - Each manta has a unique spot pattern on its underside, enabling researchers to track
individual’s movements, plot migration routes and calculate population sizes.
11 - Whale sharks are gentle filter feeding sharks. Their main diet is plankton.
12 - Manta rays are listed as ‘near threatened’ by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and much
scientific research is still needed to properly assess their status worldwide.
13 - Swimming with manta rays is an awesome experience, however divers and snorkellers should
always ensure that they interact responsibly when encountering them. Chasing or attempting to
touch or ride a manta will frequently result in them being frightened off.
14 - The Giant Moray (Gymnothorax javanicus, top) and the Honeycomb Moray (G. favagineus, bot-
tom). Moray eels lack a gill cover and therefore have to open an close their mouth for respiration.

Photo Credits

9 by Rifaa
10, 13 by Shafraaz Naeem. Photo courtesy of AEC Project
11 by Guy Stevens. Photo courtesy of AEC Project
12 by Amooo
14 by Dr. Reinhard Kikinger

www.escalemaldives.com | 59

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))2: 345645737)))358=7832);*
 Features

TURTLES GROUPERS

$PRQJWKH¿YHPDULQHWXUWOHVYLVLWLQJ Groupers and their relatives (Basslets,

15 - Six of the eight species of marine
turtles, like this Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia
mydas), are found in the vast Indo-Pacific.
16 - Today, all species of turtles are con-
sidered threatened or endangered by the
International Union for the Conservation
of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
17 - Groupers like this Camouflage grou-
per (Epinephelus polyphekadion) predate
on small fish and are also highly valued
as food fish. Their numbers have seriously
declined in the past years.
18 - A Giant Moray eel waiting to be
cleaned by a cleaner wrasse (Labroides
dimidiatus).
19 - The turtles we see swimming over
the reef are very similar to ances-
tral forms that shared the seas with
ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs 150 million
years ago.
20 - A moray’s peculiar breathing is often
mistaken for aggressive behaviour
Photo Credits
15,16,18, 19 By Amooo
17 By Dr. Reinhard Kikinger
20 By Rifaa
"&
60| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue
!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))>7
the Maldives, the Green Turtle (Chelonia
mydas) and the Hawksbill Turtle (Eret-
mochelys imbricata) are regularly seen
on dives and snorkels and also frequently
nest in the Maldives.
The sea turtles’ reproductive capacity in-
creases with age. They start reproducing
when they are between 20 and 30 years
old, and lay a nest every 2 to 4 years.
After the age of 30, they have the ability
to reproduce every year, but typically
lay just one nest. It is only when they are
much older, approximately 45 years and
above, that they are able to lay multiple
nests. However, because they are often
hunted by humans when they reach this
age or size, such turtles are generally rare
DQGGLI¿FXOWWRFRPHE\
The country has a long history of trade in
turtle shells, until a Cabinet decision was
made in 1995 that prohibited catching or
killing of any marine turtle species, and
the sale, import and export of its prod-
ucts. This decision was aimed at conserv-
ing the dwindling turtle population in the
Maldivian waters, which the Government
saw as a serious threat to the marine
environment of the country.
6RDS¿VKHVDQG$QWKLDVDOOEHORQJWRRQH
RIWKHODUJHVWDQGPRVWGLYHUVHRIDOO¿VK
families on Maldivian reefs. The Grou-
pers themselves are voracious predators
RIVPDOO¿VKHV6RPHVSHFLHVJURZXS
to 90cm or more in size; hence Grou-
pers have in recent years been heavily
¿VKHGIRUH[SRUWWR&KLQD+RQJ.RQJ
DQG7DLZDQ(DUOLHU¿VKHGRQO\IRUORFDO
consumption, Grouper stocks are now
said to be dwindling, and sizes of catch
thinning. Groupers are normally solitary
¿VKEXWWKH\JDWKHULQVSDZQLQJFRQ-
gregations during full moon, normally
EHWZHHQ6HSWHPEHUDQG1RYHPEHU/R-
FDO¿VKHUPHQDUHQRZDZDUHRIWKHH[DFW
times and days when groupers gather
for spawning. This makes the spawning
groupers very vulnerable.
0DOGLYLDQ¿VKHUPHQFDWFK*URXSHUV
while snorkeling, swimming above their
intended prey and dangling a baited
hook just in front of its mouth. Such
¿VKHUPHQDUHQRZDQRWXQFRPPRQ
sight around the atolls, with several
¿VKHUPHQVZLPPLQJRIIIURPRQHERDW
HDFKWRZLQJDÀRDWLQJEDVNHGEHKLQG
in which they keep their catch alive.
7KLV¿VKHU\ZKLFKVWDUWHGLQLV
very selective in the sense that it only
UHPRYHV¿VKRIFRPPHUFLDOLQWHUHVW
resulting in little waste. On the other
KDQGLWHQDEOHV¿VKHUPHQWRSLFNRXWWKH
EHVW¿VKIRUFDSWXUHDQGDVDUHVXOWODUJH
Groupers are now much less common
on Maldivian reefs than they used to
be. An awareness-raising campaign for
groupers has already been set up by the
Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture
together with the BOBP (Bay of Bengal
Program) by printing an attractive poster
on commercially-exploited groupers in
the Maldives.
"'
345645737)))358=7856);*
 !" !#

!& $%

MORAY EELS
HQFHWKH³%LJ´RIWKH0DOGLYHVLVD >'%9-#T#4G6HG!T"G!I#
Moray Eels are sometimes mistaken FRPELQDWLRQRIERWKOLYHDERDUGDQG F#"#U'R*'(#?-D-#'9#1@-#4GKKG6#.'917'1%)#;%#90'#V%&;1%#
IRUVHDVQDNHVEXWDUHDFWXDOO\¿VKWKDW ODQGEDVHGVWD\V3ODQDWOHDVWQLJKWV W7'1%#/1%79C1(XH#$#('A;'S-#$#2U./#/7;'%7'#,'P*(9-#
ODFNSHFWRUDOVLGH¿QVLQFRQWUDVWWR DERDUGRQHRIWKHVHYHUDOWRSUDWHG³6D- tŚĂůĞĂŶĚŽůƉŚŝŶŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ^ŽĐŝĞƚLJ͕h<͘
*DUGHQ(HOVRU6QDNH(HOVZKLFKGR IDULERDWV´DVWKHOLYHDERDUGVDUHFDOOHG L#"#R@C'P'17'#?1@&;A')#4DYW6+## # #
KDYHSHFWRUDO¿QV0RUD\HHOVFDQJURZ LQWKH0DOGLYHVDQGYLVLWDZLGHUUDQJH SSS-Q@C'P'17'>1@&;A')-*(<#
XSWRP*LDQW0RUD\*\PQRWKRUD[ of atolls and remote sites not accessible ϱͲ'ƌŽƵƉĞƌĮƐŚĞƌLJ   #
MDYDQLFXVDQGKDYHDIHDUVRPHUHSXWD-
WLRQDPRQJ¿VKHUPHQ%XWWRWKHGLYHU
RUVQRUNHOOHUZKRGRHVQRWSURYRNH
WKHP0RUD\VDUHJHQWOHDQGJUDFHIXO
FUHDWXUHV2QHH[FHSWLRQLVWKH%DQGLW
IURPODQGEDVHGUHVRUWVDQGGLYHWKUHH
WLPHVSHUGD\7KHQFKHFNLQWRRQHRIWKH
OX[XULRXVSULYDWHLVODQGUHVRUWVIRUDIHZ
GD\VRIVXQVSDDQGDPRUHUHOD[HGGLYH
VFKHGXOH
SSS-Q*QP;<*-*(<ZQQ%Z&'7'>Q'([KLZN"GI-P&8#
\#"#?1@&;A;1%#?1%91#,1X#N(*]'79# # #
SSS->1@&;A;1%>1%91)-7*>#
J#"#?1@&;A')#201@'#/01(^#N(*]'79# # #
SSS->1@&;A')S01@')01(^(')'1(70-*(<#
0RUD\*\PQRWKRUD[EUHHGHQLWKDW
SUH\VRQWKH$QWKLDVEXWDOVRGULYHV
DZD\RWKHUSRWHQWLDO$QWKLDVHDWHUV
VXFKDV-DFNV*URXSHUVDQGGLYHUVUDVK
HQRXJKWRSODFHDKDQGQHDUWKHLUODLU
6RPHVSHFLHVRI0RUD\UHJXODUO\VZLP
RXWLQWKHRSHQQRWDEO\WKH3HSSHUHG
I#"#?1(;%'#,')'1(70#.'%9'(#?1@&;A')###
!"#$%&#'#&()*+,- SSS->(7-<*A->A#
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D19-#E;)9-#F4G6H#!IJ"GKG#
G"#$%&'()*%#.-#4GKKL6#,''8#M;)0')#*8#90'#?1@&;A')-#?1%91#
?1(;%'#NA9#O9&+#,'PCQ@;7#*8#?1@&;A')-
0RUD\6LGHUHDSLFWDZKLFKIRUDJHV ϯͲĂůĂŶĐĞ>͘d͕͘ŶĚĞƌƐŽŶZ͕͘͘WŝƚŵĂŶZ͘>͘^ƚĂīŽƌĚ͕<͕͘ ./01'23'435'1/678'69'1/:';6<'='3!'
RQWKHUHHIÀDWRUDORQJEHDFKIURQWV /011%#$-+#210''&#3-+#R(*S%'@@#B(-#,-O-#4GKK!6#.'917'1%# >0?26@:9A'9&+)'BC"#'D%C*D&E'$C-''
ƐŝŐŚƟŶŐƐĂƌŽƵŶĚƚŚĞZĞƉƵďůŝĐŽĨƚŚĞDĂůĚŝǀĞƐ͕ *+FCG&ED(H&I(H)*J&EKDCI
7KHRSWLPDOZD\IRUGLYHUVWRH[SHUL- $P(;@#!55I-#B*C(%1@#*8#.'917'1%#,')'1(70#1%&#?1%1<'"

www.escalemaldives.com | 61

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))23 345645737)))3589783:);*
 Features

64| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))23 456756848)))469:49;8)<*
 THE STORY Of
JETTIES
Text by: Amooo

J
etties may not sound much other than just a simple
walkway on water. But if you ask a Maldivian what
a jetty means, then he or she will have lot of stories
to tell. We are not just talking about a wooden deck laid
on concrete columns. We are talking about a very im-
portant infrastructure for Maldives that is associated with
every aspect of life including social well being, economic
development, health and safety and many more. Just
how much do you know about the importance of this
structure to Maldives?

The arrival jetty of Chaayaa Lagoon Hakuraa in Meemu Atoll considered one of the longest in Maldives. Photo by: Amooo

www.escalemaldives.com | 65

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))23 456756848)))4693:96;)<*
 Features

“ To get on and off an

island, you either need a
harbor or a jetty or else
the consequences can
be disastrous

”
In simple terms, a jetty can be described
DVDSLOHRIZRRGHQSODQNV¿[HGRQD
horizontal beam supported by either
concrete or wooden columns. Accord-
ing to Wikipedia, “A jetty is a structure
H[WHQGLQJLQWRDERG\RIZDWHUZKLFK
protects a harbour or coastline from the
effects of currents and tides”. This is
the simplest description and if you do a
detail research on the types of jetties in
Maldives, you are likely to come across
many. Nevertheless, in Maldives a jetty
is the gateway through which people
JHWRQDQGRIIDQLVODQG,WLVGLI¿FXOW
WRGHWHUPLQHZKHQWKH¿UVWMHWW\ZDV
constructed, but evidence indicates that it
!" KDVEHHQLQH[LVWHQFHIRUDIHZKXQGUHG
years.
-HWWLHVH[WHQGIURPWKHLVODQG¶VVKRUHWR
an area that is safe for boats to come in,
hence the length of jetties will vary de-
pending upon the depth of lagoon. Every
island is unique and so there is no hard
and fast rules that can be applied when
designing a jetty. Therefore, the impor-
tance of jetties is inevitable in Maldives.
,Q0DOGLYHVMHWWLHVH[LVWHGEHIRUHWKH
harbours and even today, jetties are
H[WHQVLYHO\XVHGLQUHVRUWVDQGLVODQGV
throughout the Maldives that act as a
bridge between the island and the outside
world. Without it, life would be incred-
ibly tough for Maldivians. As important
!# as they are, their placement is also vital
in Maldives as the two monsoons can
KDYHDVLJQL¿FDQWHIIHFWRQWKHLUXV-
age. On inhabited islands, they allow
people and goods to safely get on and off
the island without being damaged. On
resorts, they serve the same purpose. In
addition, you will often see them con-
necting the over-water structures to the
main island. These over-water structures
include water villas, over-water spas,
over-water restaurants, etc. On industrial
and agricultural islands, they serve the
!$ same purpose as well. Connect the island
to the outside world

66| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))22 456756848)))4693:9=6)<*
 1 - The arrival jetty of Coco Palm Bodu Hithi Resort.
2 - The water villa access jetty in Coco Palm Bodu Hithi.
3 - A group of people trying to board a speedboat from an
island without a jetty.
4 - A very basic jetty in an inhabited. Similar jetties can still be
seen in some islands, though its not very common.
5 - The arrival jetty of Kanuhuraa Resort in Lhaviyani atoll
6 - In Narudhoo island, Shaviyani atoll, a man tries to get on !'
a small Bokkuraa. No jetty nor a habour means people have to
get on and off this island using similar small Bokkuraa’s, a very
difficult task.

All Photos by Amooo except photo 4

Photo 4 by Riya

JETTIES, PART OF EVERYDAY LIVING FOR RURAL ISLANDS

Imagine getting on and off an island !%

without a jetty. Now imagine getting es-
sential food supplies and materials to an
island where there is no jetty. Now imag-
ine a pregnant women in labour pain try-
ing to get on a boat from an island where
there is no jetty nor a harbour. These
PD\VRXQGH[WUHPHHYHQWVEXWWKHVHDUH
some of the realities that Maldivians face
almost on a daily basis. Despite the cur-
rent development status, it is a sad fact
that even today some islands are without
a jetty nor a safe harbour. Getting on
and off these islands is a nightmare and
people have suffered enormously and
LQFXUUHGVLJQL¿FDQWORVVHV'XHWRWKH
scattered nature of the islands, sea trans-
port happens to be the only option; with
WKHH[FHSWLRQRILVODQGVWKDWDUHFORVH
to regional airports. People on these
islands would still have to travel by sea
to the airport island. To get on and off
an island, you either need a harbour or
a jetty; or else the consequences can be
disastrous. In calm weather and sea con-
ditions, boats can come up to the beach
and get people on and off, but even when
WKHFRQGLWLRQVDUHH[WUHPHO\FDOPLWVWLOO
does not solve anything. Large boats can-
not easily beach and even if they can, no
captain would ever do this as a means to
!&
get on and off an island. Although this is
the practice most small boats follow, no
large vessel will ever do this.

Fuvahmulah island with a population

of 9,000 in the south of Maldives is a
W\SLFDOH[DPSOHRIWKHVHULRXVGLI¿FXO-
ties faced by the people due to a lack of
safe means of access to an island. Until
17 July 2003, Fuvahmulah did not have
a harbour nor a jetty. The opening of the
ORQJDZDLWHGKDUERXUVLJQL¿FDQWO\HQ-
hanced the social and economic develop-
ment of Fuvahmulah.

www.escalemaldives.com | 67

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))2; 456756848)))4693:93>)<*
 Features
!(
Lack of a safe and an adequate harbour
had posed tremendous hardships on the
people of Fuvahmulah. Several people
have lost their lives while leaving or
going to the island. Unfortunately, it in-
cludes some of my friends too. Until the
completion of this harbour, access to the
island had been a perilous undertaking
as there was neither a safe anchorage nor
a calm lagoon with an entrance. Small
boats had to beach with the force of
waves breaking on the shore. The lucky
ones survive this tough maneuver while
the unlucky ones either get drowned or
get lost. Due to the unique geography of
Fuvahmulah, the island is formed in the
middle of the ocean with hardly any reef.
Fuvahmulah is one of the few islands
that are complete atolls in themselves,
among the 26 naturally formed atolls
of the Maldives. Among such atolls are
Maamakunudu and Kaashidoo. Access-
ing the island has been a huge challenge
until 2003. Due to the impossibility of
safely off-loading goods, cargo vessels
have had to wait weeks for calmer seas.
The only other option is to beach on
the shore with the force of the waves in
small boats or “Bokkuraa”, as they are
commonly called. This is only possible
when the waves are not too strong. Had
there been a jetty, it would have been
all too simple. Goods worth millions of
UXI¿\\DOLHRQWKHVHDEHGDOOORVWGXULQJ
WKLVWRXJKH[HUFLVH:KHWKHU\RXOLNHGLW
or not, it had to be done and this was the
practice until 17th July 2003.
7KRXJK)XYDKPXODKLVDQH[WUHPHH[-
ample, there are also many other islands
68| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue
!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))27
where lack of a safe means of getting
RQDQRIIDQLVODQGKDVSRVHGVLJQL¿FDQW
challenges. In a recent visit to Narudhoo
island in Shaviyani atoll, some people
related to me stories where women have
given birth on boats. They had to wait
until the conditions are right before the
small Bokkuraas are able to beach. Until
then, all they could do was wait. The
nearest hospital is located in the atoll
capital Funadhoo which is roughly a
KRXU¶VERDWULGH
Jetties are also very important for the
tourism sector without which we would !)
not be at this level of development. If
resorts were to build a harbour, then the
whole concept of the resort is lost. As
a result, harbours are not preferred by
most developers as they are aestheti-
cally unappealing and they create more
environmental problems. Despite this,
few of the new generation resorts are
now opting for harbours but they still
have not abandoned the jetty. It is almost
standard practice to have two jetties on
a resort island, one for guest arrivals and
one for service. In addition, if over-water
structures are present, there is always an
access jetty. !*
In very high end resorts, jetties are
deliberately eliminated, thereby detach-
ing over water villas and other structures
from the main island adding that unique
DQGLVRODWHGOX[XU\IHHO*RRGH[DPSOHV
are the detached water villas in Soneva
*LOLUHVRUWLQQRUWK0DOH¶DWROO7KRXJK
operationally it poses certain issues, it
"!
increases the value of the property.
456756848)))4988984)<*
 “ Cargo vessels have to wait sometimes
weeks before they can unload their
goods simply because they don’t have a
safe means of offloading their goods
)RUUHVRUWLVODQGVMHWWLHVDUHDQH[WUHPH-
O\LPSRUWDQWVWUXFWXUH)URPWKHYHU\¿UVW
stage of construction to operation, jetties

”
IRUPWKHYHU\EDVLFDQG¿UVWLQIUDVWUXF-
ture that come to life. They allow
First, they have to be properly located
for use during both seasons. Second,
WKH\KDYHWRH[WHQGORQJHQRXJKLQWRWKH
lagoon so that boats can berth alongside.
For jetties that provide access to over-
ZDWHUVWUXFWXUHVWKHLUH[LVWHQFHSOD\VD
vital role in the operation of the resort.
Imagine the operational cost a resort
have to bear if there were 50 rooms
over-water and detached from the main
island. Without a jetty, it would be a very
H[SHQVLYHH[HUFLVHWRPDQDJHWKHP

Jetties come in all shapes and sizes but

"" the principle is the same. There are long
jetties, short jetties, wooden jetties, con-
crete jetties and even coral jetties. The
acceptable means of construction is very
simple. Place some concrete columns on
a foundation pad and place them on the
seabed. Once that is done, connect these
columns using a beam and place wooden
planks. Or why not just stick some
wooden poles or steel pipes and then
place some planks on them. Your jetty is
complete.

:KHWKHUWKH\DUHORQJVKRUWRUH[WUD
long, whether they are made from wood
or steel, jetties are here to stay for a very
YHU\ORQJWLPH,GRQ¶WWKLQN0DOGLYLDQV
will ever abandon the use of jetties, at
OHDVWQRWLQWKHQHDUIXWXUH6RQH[WWLPH
you go to an island, check them out. Go
and take a walk on them. Go underneath
them if you can and appreciate their
place in our lives. I am sure they will
impress you.

!"#"$"%&"'
((()(*+*,"-*.)/$0
ŚƩƉ͗ͬͬǁǁǁ͘ǀŝƐŝƞƵǀĂŚŵƵůĂŚ͘ŶĞƞŝƌŵƐ͘ĐŽŵͬŚĂƌďŽƌ͘Śƚŵů

"#

7 - An excavator being used to carry a man ashore to an island

without a jetty.
8 - A Bokkuraa (small local dinghy) is used on this island to get
on and off due to the absence of a jetty.
9 - The busy passenger jetty at Hanimaadhoo island.
10 - A poorly constructed wooden jetty in an inhabited island.
11 - Cargo offloading on Cinamon Island Alidhoo in Haa Alif
atoll.
12 - Floating jetties are the latest addition to the list of jetties
in Maldives that conveniently allow people to emplane and
de-plane from sea planes.

All photos by Amooo except photo 7 & 10.

Photo 7 & 10 by Riya.

www.escalemaldives.com | 69

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))2: 456756848)))4988942)<*
 Go PRO
Faculty of
Marine Studies &
Water Sports
Sun Island Resort

.
www.villacollege.edu.mv
sendi@villacollege.edu.mv
!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)));8 456756848)))4988947)<*
 7HO)D[+3
ZZZHVFDOHPDOGLYHVFRP(PDLOUHVHUYDWLRQV#HVFDOHPDOGLYHVFRP

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)));4 456756848)))4988947)<*
 Features

72| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)));6 456756848)))4988968)<*
 !"

SH PES OF
OUR ISLANDS
Text by: AJ

F
or centuries, writers and poets have extensively written about the beauty of our islands. It was
only a few decades ago that we were able to get a bird’s eye view of this beauty when aerial
photography became possible. One of the most striking features of our islands is it’s SHAPE.
So what does the shape of an island really represent? Does it have any significance at all? The thrill
in seeing these delicate and tiny islands from above is not only due from the white beaches and
blue lagoons surrounding the island, but also largely from the various shapes of these islands.

Facing Page: Islands of Laamu atoll

!# 1 - Kafeena island in Gaaf Dhaal atoll
2 - An uninhabited island in Lhaviyani atoll.

Photos by Amooo

www.escalemaldives.com | 73

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)));> 456756848)))4988963)<*
 Features

Shape is an interesting topic in geometry. notably over-water villas have become a

We get introduced to shapes at a very
tender age. Some of the shapes we learn
to draw are circles, triangles, square and
rectangles. Some of our islands have
WDNHQWKHVHGH¿QHGVKDSHV$FFRUGLQJ
WRVFLHQWL¿FUHVHDUFKJHWWLQJDFTXDLQWHG
with the simple different shapes and
colours fascinates young minds. Every-
thing they need to learn can be integrated
with the use of shapes and colours. It all
begins from there. So from an early edu-
cational point of view, shapes play a vital
role in our lives and how we interpret the
outside world. Perhaps, that is the reason
!$
why we are so eager about the shape of
an island.
The islands of Maldives are formed in
various shapes and sizes. Unless
norm in the modern day resort; today it is
DOPRVWLPSRVVLEOHWR¿QGDQLVODQGZLWK-
out them. Shapes also play a vital role in
shaping the beach around an island, thus
LQÀXHQFLQJGHVLJQHUVDQGDUFKLWHFWVWR
incorporate the elements of nature in the
PDULQHHQYLURQPHQW)RUH[DPSOHVDQG
spits around an island can be formed at
certain locations due to the shape of an
LVODQG6KDSHVLQÀXHQFHWKLVWKURXJK
altering surface currents and winds that
make the sand move or become stagnant.
As a result, this natural phenomenon is
used for the advantage of many designers
and architects while designing an island
as a resort. Several of these elements are
already incorporated in resorts that are 3 - Kumburudhoo island in Haa
Dhaal atoll
currently in operation in the Maldives. 4 - Bolifushi island
5 - Eriyadhoo island in Shavi-

“
you see an island from above, it
LVGLI¿FXOWWRGHWHUPLQHWKHVKDSH
Studying of it. In spite of having spent our
the shapes whole lives on these islands, it is
yani atoll
6 - Hanifaru reef and Hanifaru-
Studying the shapes of islands could rah in Baa atoll
be an interesting topic to develop your 7 - Hinnavaru island
8 - One and Only Reethi Rah
PhD proposal if you are planning to
get away from work and brush up your
Photo Credits

of islands still intriguing to see and contem- studying skills. Very few studies have 3,4,6,8 by DigitalGlobe
5,7 By Amooo
could be an plate about its different shapes. been done focusing on the shapes of the
interesting (YHU\WLPHZHJHWRQDÀLJKWZH islands, especially in Maldives. It may
topic to de- FDQ¶WKHOSEXWVWDUHDWWKHP,WLV VRXQGVLPSOHEXWWKHWRSLFLVH[WUHPHO\
velop your
PhD pro- only then that we truly realize
posal if you how interesting the shape of our !'
are planning islands are. Shapes of islands
to get away play a vital role in everyday life
from work of the inhabitants of these beauti-
and brush ful islands. Shapes determine
up your where a jetty or harbour can be
studying constructed. These are indispens-
skills. .

”
able infrastructures for an island.
Shapes determine the vulner-
ability of islands, whether it is
seasonal erosion or a tsunami. It also de-
termines where people live on an island.
The shape of an island are even more
important for tourist resorts because
it can be incorporated in to the overall
GHVLJQWREULQJRXWDVSHFL¿FWKHPHRU !%
look. Shapes play a vital role in how
an island can be marketed as a destina-
WLRQ)RUH[DPSOHWKHVKDSHRIDQLVODQG
determines the linear beach available on
an island, thus indicating the number of
beach villas and water villas that could
be developed. Compare a circular island
and a crescent shaped island. Which
shape do you think is more important
from the point of view of available linear
beach?. Of course, the crescent shaped
island has more linear beach than the
circular island. Shapes also determine
where over-water structures can be
developed. Over-water structures, most

74| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)));= 456756848)))49889>>)<*
 !& FRPSOH[DQGVFLHQWL¿FDOO\WKHUHDUH
many theories and underlying phenom-
ena that make the shape of an island
XQLTXH$VLPSOHH[DPSOHLVKRZWKH
differently shaped islands were affected
by the Asian Tsunami that swept through
the Indian Ocean in December 2004.
,WLVLQWHUHVWLQJWRQRWHWKDWWKHLVODQG¶V
VKDSHZDVDVLJQL¿FDQWIDFWRUWKDWPDGH
them resilient from the tsunami. It was
found that circular islands which were
inside the atolls were less impacted by
the Tsunami wave compare to other
shaped islands located on the atoll rims.
Shape of islands was a major part of my
research undertaken for a Masters thesis
at University of Canterbury in 2007.
According to the research, 14.7% of our
!( islands are circular. Most common island
shape is elongated, which accounts to
85.3%. This shape includes kite, crescent
and rectangular shapes.

In Maldives, islands are also continuous-

ly changing shape due to natural causes
and human actions. Do not be surprised
to see an island which you visited some
years ago in a completely different shape
WKHQH[WWLPH\RXYLVLW1DWXUDOO\VKDSHV
are altered mainly by erosion and accre-
tion. During the north-east and south-
west monsoons, the shore line changes
to accommodate the forces of nature thus
altering the shape of an island. This is a
natural phenomenon which is a very in-
teresting science. But today, the number
one reason for drastic changes in island
shape occurs as a result of developmental
activities, most notably reclamation. In
order to create more land for the increase
in population and developmental activi-
ties, several islands have been reclaimed,
thus altering their shape forever. These
!) islands will never be the same again.
Though it may look odd and environ-
PHQWDOO\XQMXVWL¿DEOHLWLVGRQHWR
cater for the needs of the people. Today,
several islands from north to south have
been given new shapes through reclama-
tion. After few years, the new generation
will never know that their island was
once in a different shape. Some of these
islands will probably get a new shape
after a few years and some may remain
so. Only time would tell.

www.escalemaldives.com | 75

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)));3 456756848)))49889=6)<*
 Features
!"
#!
Have you ever wondered why circular is-
lands do not have natural harbours on the
leeward side; why beach rock is found
on one side of a crescent shaped island
and how large beaches are found on oval
shaped islands? If you are curious to
know answers, then consider yourself an
island enthusiast.
Nature has created these islands with
unique shapes and they are part of every-
day living for Maldivians. We appreciate
the shapes though we do not know much
76| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue
!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))23
about how they came in to existence.
The shape of Maldivian islands play an
integral role in the lives of Maldivians.
It determines the individual character of
these islands and its relationship with its
inhabitants.
##
#$
#%
9 - Naivaadhoo island in Haa Dhaal atoll
10 - Vashafaru island (right) in Haa Dhaal atoll
11 - Maadhoo and Kuda finolhu in South Male’ atoll
12 - Kanifinolhu in North Male’ atoll
13 - Villigili in Gaafu Alif Atoll has a new shape after a
major reclamation to increase land.
Photo Credits
9, 10, 11, & 12 by DigitalGlobe
13 by Amooo
456756848)))49869:3);*
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 Choose from over 50,000 data files and still growing everyday!

Bank of Maldives Giyaasudheen

ATM School

Ameenee Magu
Cafe’

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 B'%4/6$(&'"%)('/1'(,&
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Maldives before
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,)0/2$:"7''>&',$6&'"%&#/$0'%$#?$<&"'+)4',)1&:*))1&4"@'2/6&4"@' you come - order
$26&1(.4&'"&&?&4"@'0.A.4:'(4$6&0@'-.2<&('(4$6&0'$12'*$1:'*)4&7' your copy today !

AVAILABLE FROM

ATOLL IMAGES
Ma.Shah, Dhidhi Golhi,
Male’, Maldives
Tel: (960) 3341643,
Fax: (960) 3331643
www.atoll-images.com
Email: info@atoll-images.com

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 Features

!# !$

Mapping Maldives
Why it is a challenge ? Text by: Farey

T
he Maldives was known to ancient mariners, as being a particular hazard to ships sailing to and from India.
Today super tankers plying between the Gulf and Japan plus cargo ships bound for Colombo and the Far East
from Europe pass very close to the islands.

The Maldives was known to ancient mari-

ners, as being a particular hazard to ships
sailing to and from India. Today super
tankers plying between the Gulf and Ja-
pan plus cargo ships bound for Colombo
and the Far East from Europe pass very
close to the islands. A captain of a cruise
liner confessed to passengers in 1994, ‘I
was surprised to see the Admiralty Charts
for the Maldives, through which we
passed in the dark, were printed in Eng-
land in 1839.’ It is a fact that the charts
still in use today are essentially those
surveyed and produced in 1835–39. Be-
fore then, the Maldives were marked on
charts as a crudely drawn line of atolls,
including islands which did not actually
exist. Ibn Battuta, the Moroccan traveller,
wrote: ‘When a vessel arrives at any one
of them [the atolls] it must take one of the
inhabitants to pilot it to the other islands.
They are so closely set that on leaving one
island, the tops of the palms on another
is visible. If a ship loses its course, it is
unable to enter and is carried by the wind
to the Coromandel Coast [Malabar] or
Ceylon.’ Even in present day, mapping
the Maldives accurately has been a formi-
dable challenge and although the govern-
ment and the private sector is doing sur-
veying work at various levels, it is yet to
be completed.
!%

80| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))78 456756848)))498:983);*
 Our island’s are extremely dynamic natu-
ral bodies and keeps changing their shape
seasonally due to natural erosion and
KXPDQ LQÀXHQFHV$V D UHVXOW WKH H[DFW
number of islands in the archipelago is a
mystery. The British Admiralty chart lists
some 1,100 islands, while the latest statis-
tics indicate 1,192. If sand bars and coral
RXWFURSVZHUHLQFOXGHGWKH¿JXUHZRXOG
have been close to 2,000. Obtaining an
DFFXUDWH¿JXUHLVIXUWKHUFRPSOLFDWHGE\
the fact that islands appear or get washed
out. Some combine, others split in two
and occasionally islets emerge from the
coral reefs. A 1955 storm created three
new islands in Shaviyani Atoll, while oth-
ers have slowly eroded. Around 1960, for
instance, the fairly large island of Feyd-
hoo Finolhu in Male’ Atoll almost van-
ished through a combination of natural
erosion and inhabitants taking away sand.
It was later rebuilt. Similarly, the Decem-
ber 2004 tsunami split the island of Kal-
hufahalafushi in Thaa atoll in two.
To compound matters, as yet there is no
agreement on what exactly constitutes an
island: what, for instance, is the status of
a large sand spit? Yet all this is part of the
mystique of travelling through the Mal-
dives, where you may come across an is-
land which has no name, is not shown on
any map and has no human footprint on
its shores. Many more show signs of past
settlement, and some desert islands are
used regularly by neighbouring island-
HUVIRUFROOHFWLQJ¿UHZRRGFRFRQXWVDQG
even for cultivation. Also, some islands
(like the island of Kuda Bandos, near the
capital) are often used as a destination for
weekend / holiday breaks.
So as a surveyor, we need to be able to
¿QGDZD\WRPDSWKHVHG\QDPLFHQYLURQ-
PHQWVDQG¿QGPHWKRGVWRUHSUHVHQWWKHVH
changes in such a way that it becomes
simple and understandable for the user. In
concept, it’s simple. All we need is to refer
to one point as a reference level which is
known as Datum and keep recording the
changes at given intervals. But in prac-
tice, it is a bit complicated. When measur-
ing the height of the island, especially in
coastal areas, permanent reference points
have to be established. This can only be
done in inhabited islands or resorts where
permanent structures like harbours, jet-
ties, villas and bungalows exist. In remote
and uninhabited islands, due to lack of
any permanent structures and thick vege-
tation, it becomes very cumbersome to es-
tablish these markers. In Maldives, these
constraints have created huge challenges
!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))74
to surveyors for a very long time and con- !(
tinues to do so. Use of aerial photographs
have been a common method to measure
the changes in the shoreline, but more im-
portantly this method also require ground
control points for correction, alignment
and quality control.
Today we use high precision GPS to map
the coastal areas by deriving coordinates
in XYZ using Real Time Kinematic
(RTK) techniques. This not only allows
completion of mapping in less time but
also assists in analysing the spatial data
using powerful Geographical Information
Systems (GIS).
Town planners, engineers and architects
have great ideas to develop a property !&
or an island. Yet they do require a map
to commence any venture. How can one
be aware of an island or a sand bank un-
less it is marked on a map? Or how can
an architect determine the size, shape and
number of rooms in developing a resort?
How about the depths in the lagoon where
the over-water villa will be constructed?
All these decisions require a proper sur-
vey. Unfortunately, many developers fail
to recognize this and tend to skip the sur-
veying component hoping to save money.
But in-fact, what they don’t know is that
without a proper survey, architects, engi-
neers and planners will not be able to do
their job properly. This is where a survey-
or comes handy.
“
I was surprised to
see the Admiralty
Charts for the
Maldives, through
which we passed !'
in the dark, were
printed in England
in 1839
”
1 - Mapping Maldives is a tough job. Surveyors from Water
Solutions Pvt ltd. undertaking a large scale mapping project in
Gaafu Dhaalu Madaveli region. During this project, the team had
to walk on the seagrass covered lagoon for hours crossing three
inhabited islands, most of the time carrying heavy equipment.
2 - A surveyor using differential GPS to map an area.
3 - A surveyor undertaking a beach profile in an island to be
developed in to a resort.
4 - Soneva fushi (foreground), Eydhafushi island (middle) and
Maaddoo island (far end) in Baa atoll
5 - A hydrographic survey being carried out by a surveyor from
Water Solutions Pvt.Ltd.
6 - The December 2004 tsunami split the island of Kalhufa-
halafushi in Thaa atoll in two.
Photos Credits:
1,3 by Riya
2,4,5,6 by Amooo
www.escalemaldives.com | 81
456756848)))498:94=);*
 Features
The main market for the surveying and
mapping industry in the Maldives is de-
veloping large scale Topographic Maps
of 1:1000 and 1:500 scales. In simple
terms, a topographic map is a represen-
tation of the land and its features. When
topographic maps are developed, it is im-
portant to be able to compare it with old
maps for changes to landscape. This is es-
pecially relevant to determine the changes
in vegetation and urban areas. Most of our
islands have not been mapped in a large
scale at 1:1000, which creates problems
for surveyors. It is essential to establish a
reference network on the island in order
to map the island.
Most countries would use a National Co-
ordinate System as US State Plane 1983
for USA and Ordinance Survey National
Grid for the UK. Maldives does not have
a National Mapping agency to regulate
mapping nor a National Coordinate Sys-
tem has been established. This creates
FRQÀLFWV LQ DOLJQLQJ GLIIHUHQW PDSV GXH
to different coordinate systems and map
projections.
7KH ¿QDO SURVSHFW RI PDSSLQJ WKDW ,
would like to highlight is Hydro-graphic
or sea bed mapping. The British admiral-
W\RI¿FHFKDUWHGWKH0DOGLYHVWRGHYHORS
admiralty charts in the 19th century and
these charts are still used in navigation al-
though some southern and central regions
have been updated in recent years. These
are small scale charts covering large ar-
eas. Recently, due to development of
more resorts and reclamation projects, a
number of hydrograhic surveys have been
!"
82| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue
!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))76
undertaken by companies like Water So- !*
lutions (www.water-solutions.biz). Most
importantly, the private and public sector
VWDQGVWRJDLQHQRUPRXVEHQH¿WVDQGFRVW
reduction from highly detail and accurate
bathymetries.
I have been working as a surveyor for the
past few years and each and every map-
ping project that I undertook has been a
challenge. The development of modern
survey equipments like Air-borne Lasers,
Laser scanners, high resolution satellite
images Multibeam Sonar would increase
!)
precision and save a lot of time.
Mapping this tiny nation is a tough job,
EXW EHLQJ D VXUYH\RU DGGLWLRQDO EHQH¿WV
I receive are the opportunities to visit dif-
ferent islands and the thrill and enjoyment
found along the way. With every survey,
I learn something new, meet new people
and also get to visit and learn about new
places.
7 - Surveyors from Water Solutions checking a map before a
survey.
8 - Use of differential GPS to map an island by Water Solutions.
9 - Water Solutions surveyors in the field.
Photos credits:
7,8 by Amooo
9 by AJ
456756848)))498:96=);*
 BOOKS ON MALDIVES

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Ma.Shah, Dhidhi Golhi,
Male’, Maldives
Tel: (960) 3341643,
Fax: (960) 3331643
www.atoll-images.com
Email: info@atoll-images.com
Visit our shop or call 7903073
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;ŽƉƉŽƐŝƚĞ:ĞƩLJEŽϴͿ

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 Features

84| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))7< 456756848)))498:9=8);*
 What kind of water villas?
Text by: Amooo

W
ater villas, as we all know, are at the top in luxury accommodation in
Maldives. They are unique, expensive and provide a different kind of
experience for the holiday makers. Everything about a water villa is
about water. They are constructed over water and are surrounded by water.
When you wake up, you see the ocean and in some villas, even while taking
a shower or answering the call of nature, you see nothing but water.

www.escalemaldives.com | 85

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 Features

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86| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

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7 - Double story water villa at Cinnamon
Island Alidhoo
Photo Credits
1,5,6,7 by Amooo
2,3 by Coco Palm Bodu Hithi
4 - Courtesy of Soneva Gili Resort
www.escalemaldives.com | 87
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8,9,11 - A batch of over-water labour accommodations in a resort
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88| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

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II Dive sites for the

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Text & Photos by: Amooo

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QUICK FACTS

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www.escalemaldives.com | 97

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 Scuba Diving

Exploring the mystery of

the Maldivian Queen Text & Photos by: Amooo

M
aldives was once ruled by a woman, Sultana KHADEEJA REHENDHI KABAIDHI. In the history of Maldives,
only very few women ruled this island nation. This was hundreds of year ago in 1342 AD. In the new mil-
lennium, a new queen ruled the Maldives until 29 June 2007. Her name was Nooraanee Queen and unlike
Sultana Khadeeja, she was ruling the Maldivian seas, not the land.

100| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))477 456356747)))48468<=);*

!#
1 - View of the wreck from east to west showing the stern
2 - The badly damaged viewing deck hanging.
!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))474
!"
Nooraanee Queen was a famous live-
aboard yacht, the largest luxury cruise
of its kind ever built in the Maldives.
Of course today there are much larger
vessels. Engineered in 1999, Nooranee
4XHHQZDVRQHRIWKHODUJHVWDQG¿Q-
est liveaboards in Maldives. She was
135 feet long and ruled the atolls, most
notably Male’, Ari and Vaavu atoll. With
state of the art equipment and engine,
this liveaboard vessel provided superla-
tive facilities to her passengers. In her
heyday, she was ranked as the number
one liveaboards in Maldives and the
largest. With the capacity for a crew of
22, Nooranee Queen was designed to
provide accommodation to around 40
passengers in 20 fully air-conditioned
cabins, including six deluxe double
rooms, three superior double rooms, one
superior single and one superior triple
room. Each of her cabin had satellite
television, music system, telephone and
en-suite bathroom with hot water shower
in addition to a top class kitchen, restau-
rant serving international dishes, coffee
shop, two fully stocked bars and two sun
decks. In addition, water sports activi-
www.escalemaldives.com | 101
456356747)))484=876);*
 Scuba Diving
!$
!%
3 - The glory days. The queen in her heyday was
among the top liveaboards in Maldives.
4 - A well-deserved buffet dinner being enjoyed by
guests after a full day of cruising the atolls.
QUICK FACTS
5 - The exposed engine room with the two genera-
tors .
6 - View of the wreck from the port side.
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102| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue
!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))476
ties and even PADI diving courses were
offered to passengers on board. Truly
EH¿WWLQJWKH³4XHHQ´WLWOH
Sadly today, this famous Queen lies at
the bottom of the sea at 24 metres and
just 300 metres west of Guraidhoo in
Guraidhoo lagoon, south Male’ atoll.
This was her last berthing place and
KHU¿QDOUHVWLQJJURXQG7KHYHVVHOZDV
FRPSOHWHO\GHVWUR\HGDIWHUFDWFKLQJ¿UH
which quickly spread across the entire
vessel, leaving nothing salvage.
June 29, 2007 was a typical day for
the Queen. She was ready to welcome
a large group of tourists the following
day for another epic tour of the atolls.
The crew was busy preparing the vessel
for guests. According to Abdul Latheef,
WKHFDSWDLQDWDURXQGSPWKH¿UH
alarms went off and they discovered the
¿UH7KHEOD]HTXLFNO\VSUHDGDFURVVWKH
entire vessel. The crew did their best to
FRQWDLQWKH¿UHDQGLQWKHLUHIIRUWXVHG
HLJKW¿UHH[WLQJXLVKHUVEXWQRQHFRXOG
save the queen, recalls the captain. She
ZDVHQJXOIHGLQÀDPHVZLWKLQPLQXWHV
Fortunately, the queen had two diving
dhoni’s (local name for small boats) and
one rescue speedboat besides her, which
always stays with her no matter where
she is. These vessels were used to evacu-
ate everyone on board. Unfortunately
one crew member died but fortunately
the two diving dhonis and rescue boat
along with the rest of the crew survived
this ordeal. The badly burned dead body
was later recovered by Maldives police.
None of the surviving crew members
could salvage anything; except the cloths
they were wearing. Today, beneath the
blue lagoon, she is just another wreck,
perhaps the latest addition to the list
of wrecks in Maldives. Many divers
wouldn’t know about this wreck as this
was sunk very recently and none of the
diving books nor guides currently on the
market feature this wreck. Only very few
liveaboards have become shipwrecks in
Maldives. Most wrecks in Maldives are
FDUJRVKLSV¿VKLQJYHVVHOVDQGVPDOO
dhoni’s. Nooraanee Queen will remain
there for a very very long time. Unlike
other Queens, her graceful aging attracts
more visitors and will continue to do so
in the years to come.
456356747)))484=87:);*
 !& For experienced divers, this may not be
a wreck worthwhile diving, but it surely
does have an interesting story behind her.
For people who had spent time with her,
it will be a memorable dive to see her at
the bottom of the seabed, looking com-
pletely opposite of what she was during
her days of ruling the Maldivian waters.
A friend of mine told me about her and
instantly I had the craving to go and visit
her although I am married. I wanted to
bring her back to life, perhaps not the
way she used to be, but through a story.
Although there is nothing much to see
LQWHUPVRIPDULQHOLIHLW¶VDQDPD]LQJ
experience to see the amount of destruc-
tion and damage. I was curious because
she has been down there for only a short
period of time and that she has been
such a famous and talked about Queen
in recent years. Although famous, I have
never even seen a photo of this beautiful
queen before the dive. I wonder what the
subjects of the Queen would feel when
they see her at 24 metres beneath the
lagoon.

7KHZUHFNLVQRWGLI¿FXOWWRDFFHVVDQG
with good visibility; it is even visible
from the surface. She lies with her bow
facing west and starboard towards north
in an upright position. If the visibility
is not good, then you will need a good
dive guide familiar with the location as
RWKHUZLVHYLVLELOLW\FDQPDNHLWGLI¿FXOW
to pinpoint the exact location. Most
importantly, the location is a famous
berthing point for safari vessels and
chances are that there will always be at
least one safari vessel docked nearby.
Therefore before diving, make sure you
have surface marker buoys and a surface
!' support boat or a dinghy.

A typical dive would be a straight

descent as the wreck lies away from the
reef slope. Depending on the currents,
the dive can begin either from the bow or
stern and as it is not very deep, it can be
circled and inspected and still come up
with enough air. Most notable features of
the dive include the three generators in
the engine room which are all exposed
resulting from the entire destruction of
the top two decks and a toilet seat, which
would otherwise be accessible through
a staircase. According to the captain, the
owners recovered the two main engines a
week after the incident, but they were too

www.escalemaldives.com | 103

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))47= 456356747)))484=864);*
 Scuba Diving

damaged to be salvaged. There are also !(

partially burnt dive tanks, plates, kettles,
jugs and I am sure there will be plenty
more to explore beneath the lower deck.
One note of caution though is that div-
ers shouldn’t attempt to enter the lower
deck unless they are properly trained on
such manoeuvres. If anyone has seen a
photo of this queen while she was alive,
LWZLOORQO\EHVHFRQGVEHIRUHUHDOL]LQJ
the amount of destruction caused by the
¿UH7KHHQWLUHWRSWZRGHFNVKDYHEHHQ
completely burnt. The entire structure
above the hull seems to have been
GHVWUR\HGE\WKH¿UH,WKDVQRWEHHQ
underwater long enough for any coral
JURZWKEXWGXULQJP\¿UVWGLYHKHUH
IHZVSHFLHVRI¿VKHVZHUHREVHUYHGDQG
algae has already started growing on the
wreck. There are broken pieces of wood,
sun deck and windows lying all around
the wreck. Towards half way along the
length, you could see debris from broken
ceramic plates, tea cups and even a rusty
kettle indicating the dining and kitchen
area. The wreck has a thick layer of silt
from the ashes and forms a thick lining
on the exposed deck. Good buoyancy
control is therefore a must to maintain
good visibility, especially when you dive
over the wreck. Towards the stern, lies
the exposed generators and the entire
engine room itself is badly damaged and
exposed. There are so much debris cov-
ered under a layer of silt, it is very hard
to make out which is what. There are
all kinds of debris from electrical wires,
metal and wood scrap, broken windows,
glass, tables, engines, dive tanks and
much more in this area.

The most dramatic view of the wreck is

seen from the east facing the stern. To
see the wreck from this angle, one needs
to dive slightly east from the stern and
then approach the wreck from east to-
wards west. You can still see the staircase
to the upper deck and the sun deck hang-
ing from the wreck. This used to be at the
back of the vessel.

Nooranee Queen is a wreck that has just

begun the journey in to becoming a true
ZUHFN,QWLPHFRUDOVZLOOJURZDQG¿VK-
es will make this their home. It is very
likely that in future many divers will
include this in their list of wrecks to dive
in Maldives. But even before that, she
!)
7 - The bow of the wreck.
8 - View of the bow from the lower deck.
9 - Part of the engine room showing debris of all types.
10 - Location of the wreck.

104| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))479 456356747)))484=8=3);*
 has already ruled the atolls and won the
hearts of many people and surely she will
be talked about for many years to come.
Perhaps, Nooraanee Queen is on course
to rule the waters around her, just like
she ruled the atolls entertaining people
from all works of life. Who knows?

During the interview with the former

captain, he highlighted the importance of
proper safety measures to prevent such
incidences. According to the captain,
proper training on safety procedures and
¿UHGULOOVVKRXOGQHYHUEHLJQRUHGDQG
XQGHUHVWLPDWHG+HHPSKDVL]HGWKHQHHG
to train the crew in proper safety proce-
GXUHVDQG¿UHGULOOVDQGWRGRLWUHJXODUO\
so that the crew can handle and manage
such disasters. He insists that the safety
procedures and drills should be conduct-
ed regularly on all vessels and they must
be up to International Maritime Organi-
]DWLRQ¶V,02VWDQGDUGV7KHFDSWDLQ
hopes that owners and operators of other
vessel will take this advice seriously.

Nooraanee Queen is certainly not the

best wreck to dive, but she has her place
in our history and for travelers and peo-
ple who loved her and had been with her,
it will certainly be a wreck worthwhile to
visit, even if once. The good news is that
she is gracefully aging in the clear waters
of Guraidhoo lagoon. Soon she will rule
the seas and awaits to entertain YOU.
!*

89:;<=>??
)??:;;@AA&B9AA@

www.escalemaldives.com | 105

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dĞů͗н;ϵϲϬͿϯϯϰϭϲϰϯ͖&Ădž͗н;ϵϲϬͿϯϯϯϭϲϰϯ͖
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 Scuba Diving

108| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))473 456356747)))484987:);*
 Wreck Hunters
Dream Destination
Text & Photos by: Amooo

!"#$%&'"'&()$*+",&($#&(")-&"(.-//*&'

www.escalemaldives.com | 109

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))472 456356747)))4849846);*
 Scuba Diving

7KLVLVGH¿QLWHO\QRW\RXUDYHUDJH
dream destination. It combines natural #5$&,'5(()$%
beauty and a collection of strategically
located wrecks around her, making this
destination a heaven for Wreck Div-
ers. This is a very small and beautiful
island on the north-west rim of south
Male’ atoll formed on a large coral reef.
A very popular tourist destination until
September 2008. In my opinion, this is
a perfect island. Currently undergoing
a geographical overhaul, she is just 25
minutes boat ride away from the capital
Male’ and the international airport. This
makes the island a very popular and eas-
ily accessible destination. It is also home
to one of the most beautiful house reefs
in South Male’ atoll. The house reef is
practically at arms length from the beach
with bountiful diving spots.

That’s probably too much to digest, but

we are talking about Bolifushi. Bolifushi
Island Resort is located in South Male’
atoll about 12 km South West of Male.
This island may be undergoing a geo-
graphical metamorphosis, but the trea-
sures beneath the sea are not changing
nor going away, especially those that are
around Bolifushi. They are there to stay
for a long time. The island is fortunate to
be located close to six (6) wrecks making
it heaven for wreck hunters. Two of these
wrecks are on her own house reef, the
other two not more than 150 metres from
the shore. The furthest is just 800 metres
away, reachable in a small dinghy boat in
less than 3 minutes. That is literally close !#
enough to swim, but I wouldn’t advice
that. paradise, simply because it is very easy
to access them from the island. You
Wreck diving is an interesting fun activ- can simply be based on the island and
LW\EHFDXVHVKLSVRQWKHVHDÀRRUSURYLGH explore all these fascinating underwater
a unique diving experience. Divers structures without having to travel far.
have always been fascinated to explore Around Bolifushi, there is a good mix of
ZUHFNV5HJDUGOHVVRIWKHLUVL]HRUKLVWR- wrecks from small wrecks to large cargo
ry, they provide a different kind of diving ships. Some of these wrecks have been
experience. In Maldives, wreck diving is deliberately sunk within few hundred
very popular as well since it is different metres from the beach. Some of them can
from diving at a reef in our clear waters. be accessed directly from the beach itself
8QOLNHWKH3DFL¿FDOPRVWDOOZUHFNVLQ while others require a short boat ride. So,
0DOGLYHVDUHHLWKHUDFDUJRVKLSD¿VK- think about this island before you plan
LQJERDWDVDIDULRUD¿VKLQJ'KRQL<RX your next diving holiday in Maldives or
ZLOO¿QGZUHFNVDOPRVWLQHYHU\DWROODQG when planning to explore most wrecks
LWLVQRWGLI¿FXOWWR¿QGDZUHFNIRU\RXU within a short time.
next dive regardless of where you are in
Maldives. From north to south, they are The Schooner - Wreck one (1)
scattered all over the Maldives. So what
does a shipwreck offer for a diver? Many 7KH¿UVWZUHFNRQWKHOLVWLVDVFKRRQHU
things, in short. They can provide numer- The beauty of this wreck is that you can
ous new diving experiences that you will access it from the beach and its only
never experience in a reef dive. 150 metres from the shore. This is ap-
!"
For wreck divers, Bolifushi is an ideal proximately a 60 feet long yacht sunk in

110| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))447 456356747)))4849842);*
 the early 1990’s. It is home to many large
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Legend meters from Bolifushi.
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Ship wrecks Wreck 5 (26 m)
good.
1 - A diver exploring the schooner
Reef 2 - View of the stern
0 500m !" 3 - Map of wrecks around Bolifushi

www.escalemaldives.com | 111

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The speedboat - Wreck two (2)

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and slightly slanted and resting on its
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a good place to practice photography
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112| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

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!"#$%$&%'(()>ĂƌŐĞƐĐŚŽŽůƐŽĨ
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4, 5, 6 -The Speedboat wreck. Despite its small size, its an
interesting piece of wreck when you see it underwater. Many
types of fish makes this wreck their home.
7 - Colosseum is an interesting object to visit and see. Divers
will not be disappointed after a dive to the Colosseum.
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the Dhoni wreck PHWUHVDQGWKHVWHUQDWPHWUHV7KH
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perfectly clear and safe for beginners as ,FDQWDNHVKRWVZKLOHUHVWLQJP\NQHHV
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www.escalemaldives.com | 113
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 Scuba Diving

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ZLWK\RXUFDPHUDRUDQ\WKLQJVLPLODU ZUHFNLVDOVRQRWYHU\ROGDVDUHVXOW 8 -The Colosseum, the bow rests at just 8 metres.

\RXFDQDOZD\VTXLFNO\JHWWRWKHLVODQG WKHUHLVYHU\OLPLWHGFRUDOJURZWKRQLW Facing page: Photos of the Colosseum. The wreck is surrounded
by schools of friendly bat fish.
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114| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

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 www.escalemaldives.com | 115

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The yacht - Wreck four (4)

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DVWKH\ZLOOEHYHU\FXULRXVWRNQRZLWV 9 -Colourful softcorals on the yacht
10 - A school of remoras approaching a diver.
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yacht.
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116| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

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12 - The wreck with its bow pointing at the surface. !"#$%$&%'(()'ůĂƐƐĮƐŚ͕

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www.escalemaldives.com | 117

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 Travel Diary

EXPLORING
South Male' Atoll
D
etail account of a two day diving adventure
to explore the underwater beauty of South
Male’ atoll.
Text by Amooo

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118| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

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 Photo by: Amooo

www.escalemaldives.com | 119

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 Travel Diary

DAY ONE

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120| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

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SOUTH MALE’ ATOLL OVERVIEW

South Male’ atoll is geographically a separate atoll, but considered part

of Male’ atoll. Being close to Male’ and Male’ International airport, this
atoll provides great opportuities for divers and holiday makers alike. The
southern tip of the atoll can be reached from Male’ via a speed boat in just
about an hour. The atoll has many tourist resorts and numerous dive sites.
It is also believed that there are numerous unexplored dive sites in this atoll.
For holiday makers living in Male’, south Male’ atoll provides a great way to
experience these dives sites, especially during the weekends.

There are only three inhabited islands, namely Gulhi, Guraidhoo and Maa-
fushi. Each of these islands are famous throughout the Maldives as each of
them has something unique to offer. Maafushi houses the famous prison,
Guraidhoo is Home for People with Special Needs” while Gulhi has a fa-
mous shipyard.
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www.escalemaldives.com | 121

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 Travel Diary

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Divers listening to the dive briefing just before a dive.

8 - Kandooma dive brief map indicating the location of trigger
fish attack
9 - A diver posing for a shot with a shy nemo fish

Photos credits
7,8 by Amooo
9 by Dr.Norman Quinn

!' !(

'hZ/,KK/^>E THE ISLAND

Geography
The Southern most inhabited island in Male’ Atoll (and south Male’
atoll), situated about 14 miles south of Male’. The island has a natural
deep lagoon adequate for a harbour. This is a naturally beautiful reef,
which is deep turquoise, and is a popular unofficial marina for the
safari yachts.
Land Area
1800 feet long and 1070 feet wide this island is a total 1.9 million
square feet in area. The fertility of the soil decreased dramatically after
the tsunami rendered the island almost a desert. The land occupancy
for this island is at 100% with only the coconut grove remaining.
A very popular destination for the tourists in nearby resorts. Tourists visit
Guraidhoo almost daily for souvenir shopping and island hopping. The
island consists of a proper Health facility. The famous “Home for People
with Special Needs” is based in Guraidhoo. Tourism is the economic
mainstay for the locals. Important other landmarks include the Island Of-
fice, Island Court, and School.
Guraidhoo Must Do’s
While in Guraidhoo do check out the numerous coffee shops and sou-
venir shops around. If you get a chance, try and check out the coconut
groves, the only remaining woods and if you are even more adventurous,
try walking to the small uninhabited island, “Lhosfushi”, located just few
metres south-east of the island. This small uninhabited island can be
reached on foot.

122| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

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11 - A school of jack fish at Kandooma thila
12 - Divers on a coffee break during surface interval
13 - Kandooma thila
Photos Credits
10,12,13 by Amooo
11 by Dr.Norman Quinn
www.escalemaldives.com | 123
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124| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue
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Tel: +(960) 3306693; Fax: +(960) 3331643;

HP +(960) 796 1643
Web: www.escalemaldives.com,
Email: reservations@escalemaldives.com

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 WIN ! WIN ! WIN !

WIN an all inclusive holiday

package to Coco Palm
Bodu Hithi resort
for two person for two days.
Bring out the real adventure in you and take the YES ITS FREE !
challenge. Escale Maldives has placed a board on the
seafloor, somewhere in Maldives with Escale Maldives
printed on it. Lying at just 12 (twelve) meters
beside some corals, it is waiting to be discovered. Find it
and win a free holiday to the luxury rCoco Palm
Bodu Hithi Resort in north Male’ atoll
Clue: Type the coordinates in Google Earth search bar.

Find me please.
I'm waiting to be
discovered at 12 m
underwater.

4° 6'48.55"N
73°26'5.21"E

Terms & Conditions: Free holiday begins from Male’ only and are non transferable and there is no cash alternative. Escale Maldives reserve the right to substitute the prize for one of greater or equal value. Return transfer
provided from Male’. Accommodation and all meals included, extras not included. Employees, relatives and agents of Escale Maldives, Water Solutions, Atoll images & Island projects are ineligible to enter. Competition open
for locals and foreigners starting from 1st march 2010. Once found, winner must bring the board to Escale Maldives office in Male’. Package subjected to availability of rooms in the resort. Winner must travel within three (3)
months of winning. Escale Maldives cannot be held responsible for any injury caused during the search diving. Remember to get proper diving certification from an approved institution before undertaking any scuba diving
and always follow safe diving protocols and never dive alone.

Escale Maldives, Ma. Shah, Dhidhi Goalhi, Male’, Maldives. Tel: +(960) 3306693; Fax: +(960) 3331643; HP: +(960) 796 1643 Web: www.escalemaldives.com, Email: reservations@escalemaldives.com

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 Explore some of the best
MOSQUES IN MALE’
Text by: Amooo

M
ale’ is a small city, so if you have plenty
of time to explore yourself, it is per-
haps very interesting to do it on a bike
or just do a walking tour. Of course, taxis are
also available. In this issue, we have focused
on a guided tour to explore some of the unique
mosques in a way that you should be able to
do it by yourself without any assistance.

Photo by: Hamid

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 City Breaks

!#

Legend
ATM Café Places of interest Specialty shop

Bakery Government building Private building Supermarket /

Minimart
Bank Hotel / guest house Restaurant
Traffic light
Bookshop Mosque School

!"

130| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

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 !$ MOSQUE TOUR

Begin your promenade from the 2I¿FLDO-HWW\X. As

you cross the Jumhooree Maidhan (Republic Square)
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would see a white sandy road in front of you (Ibrahimee
Magu).

Walk ahead until you come across the majestic

,VODPLF&HQWUHYonto your right. Observe the marble

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to the round-about and continue to your left keeping
the Sultan Park onto your right. You are now on
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place around \ has many tombstones of important

people and their tombs. If you have sought prior
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it is mostly made out of wood and coral with Arabic
calligraphy on the panels. Permission is not given to
non-muslims

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Friday mosque with the minaret onto your right and

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you come across the oldest Mosque in the Maldives^.
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work. It is very quiet and peaceful inside.

Once you come out of the mosque continue on the

same direction and turn to your left with the Sheesha

motorcycle centre _onto your left. Continue until

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!(
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and re-arranged in Male’. Observe the well arranged
EORFNVE\VNLOIXOPDVRQVJLYLQJWKHPRVTXHLWVROG
charm. This mosque is called Kalhuvakaru Miskiiy.

This ends your mosque tour.

1 - Tour route map

2,5,6 - The compound of Hukuru Miskiiy with its numerous
historic carved grave stones
3 - The crowd outside Islamic Centre during the Friday prayer
4 - The minaret at Hukuru Miskiiy compound

Photo credits
1,5,6 by Hamid
3 by Riya
4 by Amooo

www.escalemaldives.com | 131

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 Agenda

Development updates
Lily Beach!"#$!%&&'($)!*+&,!-$%.#!/$0123!4!56%! 04
dŽŬLJŽƵƌŶĞdžƚŚŽůŝĚĂLJƚŽĂŶLJŽĨƚŚĞƐĞƌĞƐŽƌƚƐ͕ƉůĞĂƐĞĞŵĂŝůƌĞƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƐΛĞƐĐĂůĞŵĂůĚŝǀĞƐ͘ĐŽŵ

ŽĸĐŝĂůůLJŽƉĞŶĞĚŽŶƚŚĞϮϴƚŚŽĨDĂƌĐŚϮϬϬϵ͘
dŚƌĞĞĚĂLJƐƉƌŝŽƌƚŽƚŚĞƉƌŽŵŝƐĞĚŽƉĞŶŝŶŐĚĂƚĞ͊
dŚĞŶĞǁůLJƵƉŐƌĂĚĞĚƌĞƐŽƌƚďŽĂƐƚŵŽĚĞƌŶůƵdžƵƌLJ
ĂŶĚŶĞǁĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂůĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐĨŽƌŐƵĞƐƚƐƐƵĐŚĂƐĂ
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ŚŽƵƐĞƌĞĞĨŝƐĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĞĚĂƐĂƐŶŽƌŬĞůůĞƌƐŚĞĂǀĞŶ
ǁŝƚŚŚƵŶĚƌĞĚƐŽĨĐŽƌĂůƐĂŶĚĮƐŚůŝĨĞ͘

01 Photo courtesy of Constance Halaveli Resort

Constance Halaveli Resort 9%&%7$&+!2$0123!

ŚĂƐƌĞŽƉĞŶĞĚĂŌĞƌĂŵĂũŽƌƵƉŐƌĂĚŝŶŐ͘dŚĞŶĞǁůLJ
ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚƌĞƐŽƌƚŚĂƐƚŚĞůŽŶŐĞƐƚƌƵŶŶŝŶŐǁĂƚĞƌ
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03 ,ŽƚĞůŽŶƐƚĂŶĐĞ͘>ŽĐĂƚĞĚŝŶEŽƌƚŚͲƌŝĂƚŽůů͕ƚŚŝƐŝƐ
Ă&ŝǀĞ^ƚĂƌZĞƐŽƌƚǁŚŝĐŚďŽĂƐƚƐƉĂĐŝŽƵƐƌŽŽŵƐǁŝƚŚ
ƉƌŝǀĂƚĞƉŽŽůƐĂŶĚǁŝƚŚĂǀĞƌLJďĞĂƵƟĨƵůŚŽƵƐĞƌĞĞĨ͘
dŚĞƌĞƐŽƌƚŽƉĞŶĞĚŝŶƉƌŝůϮϬϬϵ͘dŚĞŝƐůĂŶĚŝƐϮϱ
ŵŝŶƵƚĞƐĂǁĂLJĨƌŽŵDĂůĞ͛ďLJƐĞĂƉůĂŶĞĂŶĚϭŚϭϱ
ŵŝŶƵƚĞƐďLJƐƉĞĞĚďŽĂƚ͘
12
Photo courtesy of Lily Beach Resort
Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Mal-
Thulhaagiri 'ŽŽĚŶĞǁƐĨŽƌdŚƵůŚĂĂŐŝƌŝůŽǀĞƌƐ͘ dives>ŽĐĂƚĞĚŝŶ^ŽƵƚŚƌŝƚŽůůŽŶƚŚĞŝƐůĂŶĚ
EĞǁǁĂƚĞƌǀŝůůĂƐĂŶĚĂƐƉĂŚĂƐďĞĞŶĂĚĚĞĚƚŽ ŽĨDĂĐĐŚĂĨƵƐŚŝ͕ƚŚĞƌĞƐŽƌƚďĞŐĂŶŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶĂůŝŶ
ĞŶŚĂŶĐĞƚŚĞŐƵĞƐƚƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐĂŶĚĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐ͘dŚĞƌĞ' EŽǀĞŵďĞƌϮϬϬϵ͘dŚĞƌĞƐŽƌƚǁŝůůĚĞůŝǀĞƌĂƵŶŝƋƵĞ
ĐĞŶƚůLJƵƉŐƌĂĚĞĚƌĞƐŽƌƚŽƉĞŶĞĚŝŶ:ƵůLJϮϬϬϵǁŝƚŚĂŶ ƉƌĞŵŝƵŵϰƐƚĂƌƌĞƐŽƌƚĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ͘&ĞĂƚƵƌŝŶŐϭϭϮ
02 ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂůƐĞƚŽĨtĂƚĞƌsŝůůĂƐĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚŝŶĂƐŝŵŝůĂƌ ƐƵŝƚĞƐΘǀŝůůĂƐ͕ƚŚĞŚŽƚĞůŽīĞƌƐĚŝǀŝŶŐĞŶƚŚƵƐŝĂƐƚƐ
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04 06 ƌĞƐŽƌƚĐĂŶŚŽƐƚŵŽƌĞŐƵĞƐƚƐ͘ ĞdžĐĞůůĞŶƚŚŽƵƐĞƌĞĞĨĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞǁŝƚŚĂĚĞĚŝĐĂƚĞĚ
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10 ƚŽƉĚŝǀĞƐƉŽƚƐŝŶƚŚĞDĂůĚŝǀĞƐ͘
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Photo courtesy of Centara Hotels & Resorts

Photo by Amooo Bolifushi redevelopment (Jumeirah Mal-

dives Resort) ŽůŝĨƵƐŚŝŝƐůĂŶĚŝŶ^ŽƵƚŚDĂůĞ͛ĂƚŽůů
ŝƐĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJƵŶĚĞƌƌĞĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ͘dŚĞŝƐůĂŶĚǁŝůů
ďĞƚƌĂŶƐĨŽƌŵĞĚŝŶƚŽĂůƵdžƵƌLJĮǀĞƐƚĂƌƌĞƐŽƌƚĨƌŽŵ
ŝƚƐƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐƐƚĂƚƵƐŽĨĂŵŝĚĚůĞĐůĂƐƐƌĞƐŽƌƚ͘DĂũŽƌ
03 ĐŚĂŶŐĞƐĂƌĞĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐŵŽƌĞŽǀĞƌͲǁĂƚĞƌ
ǀŝůůĂƐĂŶĚĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂůŶĞǁĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐĂŶĚƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ͘
KŶĐĞĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞĚ͕ƚŚĞƌĞƐŽƌƚǁŝůůŽīĞƌŐƵĞƐƚƐƐƵƉĞƌ'
ůĂƟǀĞĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐĂŶĚƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ͘
09
07
06

Photo by Amooo
IrufushiKŶϮŶĚ:ƵůLJϮϬϬϵ͕WƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚDŽŚĂŵĞĚ
08 EĂƐŚĞĞĚŝŶĂƵŐƵƌĂƚĞĚ,ŝůƚŽŶDĂůĚŝǀĞƐ/ƌƵĨƵƐŚŝ
ZĞƐŽƌƚĂŶĚ^ƉĂŝŶ^ŽƵƚŚDŝůĂĚŚƵŶŵĂĚƵůƵĂƚŽůů͘
/ƌƵĨƵƐŚŝƌĞƐŽƌƚŝƐŽŶĞŽĨƚŚĞŵŽƐƚďĞĂƵƟĨƵůŝƐůĂŶĚƐ
ŝŶƚŚĞDĂůĚŝǀĞƐĂŶĚĂŵŽŶŐƚŚĞĮƌƐƚƚŽďĞŽƉĞŶĞĚ
ŝŶEŽŽŶƵĂƚŽůů͘ Photo by Amooo

132| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))2>3 253653727)))2832826);*
 Alila Villas Hadahaa ŽƉĞŶĞĚŝŶ:ƵůLJϮϬϬϵ͘dŚŝƐ
ƵůƚƌĂͲƉƌĞŵŝƵŵƌĞƐŽƌƚŝƐƚŚĞĮƌƐƚƚŽŽƉĞŶŝŶƚŚĞ
ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůLJƵŶƚŽƵĐŚĞĚ'ĂĂĨƵůŝĨƵ;EŽƌƚŚ,ƵǀĂĚ'
ŚŽŽͿĂƚŽůů͘dŚĞƌĞƐŽƌƚŚĂƐďĞĞŶĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚǁŝƚŚĂ
ďĂůĂŶĐĞĚĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂůĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĂƟŽŶƐǁŝƚŚŝŶ'
ŶŽǀĂƟǀĞĐŽŶƚĞŵƉŽƌĂƌLJĚĞƐŝŐŶ͕ƉƌŽĚƵĐŝŶŐĂƌĞƐŽƌƚ
ƚŚĂƚŬĞĞƉƐƚŽ'ƌĞĞŶ'ůŽďĞ͛ƐƌŝŐŽƌŽƵƐ͚ƵŝůĚŝŶŐ͕
WůĂŶŶŝŶŐĂŶĚĞƐŝŐŶ^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚ͛ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬƐ͘ĞŝŶŐ
ƚŚĞĮƌƐƚƌĞƐŽƌƚƚŽŽƉĞŶŝŶ'ĂĂĨƵůŝĨƵĂƚŽůů͕ǀŝƐŝƚŽƌƐ
ƚŽ,ĂĚĂŚĂĂǁŝůůŐĞƚƚŽĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞƚŚĞƵŶƚŽƵĐŚĞĚ
ƵŶĚĞƌǁĂƚĞƌĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚŽĨƚŚĞĂƚŽůů͘
07
New protected area declared!:(!3#$!1..%0+1(!
ŽĨtŽƌůĚŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂLJϱƚŚ:ƵŶĞϮϬϬϵDŝŶŝƐƚĞƌ
10 ĨŽƌŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚDƌ͘DŽŚĂŵĞĚƐůĂŵĚĞĐůĂƌĞĚ
ƚŚƌĞĞŶĞǁƉƌŽƚĞĐƚĞĚĂƌĞĂƐŝŶƚŚĞDĂůĚŝǀĞƐ͘ĂĂ
ƚŽůůŐĂĨĂƌƵƌĞĂ͕ĂĂƚŽůů,ĂŶŝĨĂƌƵƌĞĂĂŶĚ
ůŝĨŚĂĂůƚŽůůDĂĂŵŝŐŝůŝƌĞĂǁĞƌĞĚĞĐůĂƌĞĚ
ƉƌŽƚĞĐƚĞĚĚƵƌŝŶŐƚŚĞĐĞƌĞŵŽŶLJŚĞůĚƚŽĂŶŶŽƵŶĐĞ
ƚŚĞĚĞĐůĂƌĂƟŽŶ͘^ƉĞĂŬŝŶŐĂƚƚŚĞĐĞƌĞŵŽŶLJ͕ƚŚĞ
DŝŶŝƐƚĞƌŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚĞĚƚŚĞŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶĐĞŽĨĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂ'
ƟŽŶĂŶĚŝŵŵĞĚŝĂƚĞĂĐƟŽŶ͘
12
Photo: Digital Globe

Constance Moofushi Resort DŽŽĨƵƐŚŝ/ƐůĂŶĚ

ŝŶůŝĨƚŽůůŝƐĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJƵŶĚĞƌƌĞĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ͘dŚĞ
ƌĞƐŽƌƚŝƐĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚďLJŽŶƐƚĂŶĐĞ,ŽƚĞůƐĂŶĚŝƐ
ƐĐŚĞĚƵůĞĚƚŽďĞŽƉĞŶĞĚĞŶĚŽĨϮϬϭϬ͘dŚĞŶĞǁůLJ
ƵƉŐƌĂĚĞĚƌĞƐŽƌƚǁŝůůŚĂǀĞĂďƌĂŶĚŶĞǁƐƉĂĂŶĚ
ŵŽƌĞďĞĚĐĂƉĂĐŝƚLJ͕ŽĨǁŚŝĐŚŵĂũŽƌŝƚLJǁŝůůďĞŽǀĞƌͲ
ǁĂƚĞƌ͘ Photo: Digital Globe

Photo courtesy of Alila Hotels
08
Photo courtesy of Shangri-La
Athurugaa redevelopmentƚŚƵƌƵŐĂĂŝƐůĂŶĚ
ŝŶůŝĨĂƚŽůůŝƐĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJƵŶĚĞƌƌĞĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚĂŶĚ
ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚƚŽďĞŽƉĞŶĞĚƐŽŵĞƟŵĞƐŝŶĞĂƌůLJϮϬϭϬ͘
dŚĞŶĞǁůLJƌĞĨƵƌďŝƐŚĞĚƌĞƐŽƌƚǁŝůůŚĂǀĞŽǀĞƌͲǁĂƚĞƌ
ǀŝůůĂƐĂŵŽŶŐŽƚŚĞƌƐ͘ƚŚƵƌƵŐĂĂŝƐƉŽƉƵůĂƌĨŽƌŝƚƐ
ďĞĂƵƟĨƵůŚŽƵƐĞƌĞĞĨ͘
11
Hot events
Underwater cabinet meeting DĞŵďĞƌƐŽĨƚŚĞ
DĂůĚŝǀĞƐ͛ĂďŝŶĞƚĚŽŶŶĞĚƐĐƵďĂŐĞĂƌĂŶĚƵƐĞĚ
ŚĂŶĚƐŝŐŶĂůƐŽŶKĐƚŽďĞƌϭϳ͕ϮϬϬϵĂƚĂŶƵŶĚĞƌǁĂƚĞƌ
ŵĞĞƟŶŐƐƚĂŐĞĚƚŽŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚƚŚĞƚŚƌĞĂƚŽĨŐůŽďĂů
ǁĂƌŵŝŶŐƚŽƚŚĞůŽǁĞƐƚͲůLJŝŶŐŶĂƟŽŶŽŶĞĂƌƚŚ͘WƌĞƐŝ'
ĚĞŶƚDŽŚĂŵŵĞĚEĂƐŚĞĞĚĂŶĚϭϯŽƚŚĞƌŐŽǀĞƌŶ'
ŵĞŶƚŽĸĐŝĂůƐƐƵďŵĞƌŐĞĚĂŶĚƚŽŽŬƚŚĞŝƌƐĞĂƚƐĂƚĂ
ƚĂďůĞŽŶƚŚĞƐĞĂŇŽŽƌͶϮϬĨĞĞƚďĞůŽǁƚŚĞƐƵƌĨĂĐĞ
ŽĨĂůĂŐŽŽŶŽī'ŝƌŝĨƵƐŚŝ͕ĂŶŝƐůĂŶĚƵƐƵĂůůLJƵƐĞĚĨŽƌ
ŵŝůŝƚĂƌLJƚƌĂŝŶŝŶŐ͘tŝƚŚĂďĂĐŬĚƌŽƉŽĨĐŽƌĂůƐ͕ƚŚĞ
ŵĞĞƟŶŐǁĂƐĂďŝĚƚŽĚƌĂǁĂƩĞŶƟŽŶƚŽĨĞĂƌƐƚŚĂƚ
ƌŝƐŝŶŐƐĞĂůĞǀĞůƐĐĂƵƐĞĚďLJƚŚĞŵĞůƟŶŐŽĨƉŽůĂƌŝĐĞ
ĐĂƉƐĐŽƵůĚƐǁĂŵƉƚŚŝƐ/ŶĚŝĂŶKĐĞĂŶĂƌĐŚŝƉĞůĂŐŽ
ǁŝƚŚŝŶĂĐĞŶƚƵƌLJ͘
!

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa!+(!3#$!

DĂůĚŝǀĞƐǁŝůůŽīĞƌŐƵĞƐƚƐƚŚĞĨƵŶŽƉƟŽŶŽĨƐƚĂLJŝŶŐ
ŝŶĂůƵdžƵƌLJƚƌĞĞŚŽƵƐĞǀŝůůĂŝŶĂĚĚŝƟŽŶƚŽďĞĂĐŚĂŶĚ
ŽǀĞƌͲǁĂƚĞƌǀŝůůĂƐ͘dŚĞƌĞƐŽƌƚŽƉĞŶĞĚŝŶŵŝĚϮϬϬϵ͘
WĞƌĐŚĞĚŽŶƐƟůƚƐƚŚƌĞĞŵĞƚƌĞƐĂďŽǀĞƚŚĞŐƌŽƵŶĚ
ĂŶĚĨĞĂƚƵƌŝŶŐĂŶĞůĞǀĂƚĞĚŝŶĮŶŝƚLJƉŽŽů͕ƚŚĞϭϲƚƌĞĞ
ŚŽƵƐĞǀŝůůĂƐǁŝůůŽīĞƌŐƵĞƐƚƐǀŝĞǁƐŽĨƚŚĞƐƵƌĮŶŐ
ǁĂǀĞƐŽĨƚŚĞ/ŶĚŝĂŶKĐĞĂŶ͘
Robinson Club MaldivesŽŶƚŚĞŝƐůĂŶĚŽĨ
&ƵŶĂŵƵĚƵĂŝŶ'ĂĂĨƵůŝĨƚŽůůŽƉĞŶĞĚŽŶϭϵƚŚ
ĞĐĞŵďĞƌϮϬϬϵ͘ĞŝŶŐƚŚĞϮŶĚƌĞƐŽƌƚƚŽŽƉĞŶ
ŝŶ,ƵǀĂĚŚŽŽĂƚŽůů͕ŐƵĞƐƚƐǀŝƐŝƟŶŐƚŚĞƌĞƐŽƌƚǁŝůů
ŚĂǀĞƚŚĞŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚLJƚŽĚŝƐĐŽǀĞƌƚŚĞƵŶƚŽƵĐŚĞĚ
ĐŽƌĂůƌĞĞĨƐũƵƐƚϮϬƚŽϮϬϬŵĞƚƌĞƐĂǁĂLJ͘dŚĞƌĞƐŽƌƚ͛Ɛ
ǁŚŝƚĞƐĂŶĚLJďĞĂĐŚĞƐĂƌĞŝĚĞĂůĨŽƌƌĞůĂdžŝŶŐĂŶĚ
ƚŚĞƌĞƐŽƌƚŽīĞƌƐǀĂƌŝŽƵƐǁĂƚĞƌƐƉŽƌƚƐĂŶĚŽƚŚĞƌ
ĞŶƚĞƌƚĂŝŶŵĞŶƚĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͘
09
Photo: Digital Globe
Environment update
0DOGLYHV%DQ6KDUNÀVKLQJdŚĞDŝŶŝƐƚƌLJŽĨ
&ŝƐŚĞƌŝĞƐĂŶĚŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĞŽĸĐŝĂůůLJĂŶŶŽƵŶĐĞĚƚŚĞ
ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĨƵůƉĂƐƐĂŐĞŽĨƚŚĞƌĞŐƵůĂƟŽŶƌĞŐĂƌĚŝŶŐƚŚĞ
ďĂŶŶŝŶŐŽĨƐŚĂƌŬĮƐŚĞƌŝĞƐ͘dŚĞƌĞŐƵůĂƟŽŶ͕ǁŚŝĐŚ
ĐĂŵĞŝŶƚŽĞīĞĐƚĨƌŽŵDĂƌĐŚϭ͕ϮϬϬϵ͕ŝŵƉŽƐĞƐĂ
Photo courtesy of President’s Office.
ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞďĂŶŽŶĮƐŚŝŶŐĨŽƌĂŶLJƐƉĞĐŝĞƐŽĨƐŚĂƌŬƐ www.presidencymaldives.gov.mv
ǁŝƚŚŝŶƚǁĞůǀĞŵŝůĞƐĨƌŽŵƚŚĞĂƚŽůůƌŝŵŽĨĂůůĂƚŽůůƐ
ŽĨƚŚĞDĂůĚŝǀĞƐ͘&ŽƌŵĞƌůLJ͕ƚŚĞŵŽƌĂƚŽƌŝƵŵǁĂƐ
ůŝŵŝƚĞĚƚŽŽŶůLJƐĞǀĞŶƚŽƵƌŝƐŵĂƚŽůůƐďƵƚŐŝǀĞŶ
ƚŚĞƌĞĐĞŶƚĞdžƉĂŶƐŝŽŶŽĨƚŚĞƐĞĐƚŽƌ͕ƚŚŝƐŚĂƐďĞĞŶ
ĞdžƚĞŶĚĞĚƚŽƚŚĞĞŶƟƌĞDĂůĚŝǀĞƐ͘ƌ͘/ďƌĂŚŝŵŝĚŝ͕
DŝŶŝƐƚĞƌŽĨ&ŝƐŚĞƌŝĞƐĂŶĚŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĞĂůƐŽĚĞĐůĂƌĞĚ
ƉůĂŶƐƚŽŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂďĂŶŽŶĂůůĞdžƉŽƌƚŽĨƐŚĂƌŬ
ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐĐŽŵŵĞŶĐŝŶŐǁŝƚŚŝŶϭLJĞĂƌĨƌŽŵŶŽǁ͘
;ƐŽƵƌĐĞ͗DĂƌŝŶĞZĞƐĞĂƌĐŚĞŶƚƌĞ͕!
ŚƩƉ͗ͬͬǁǁǁ͘ŵƌĐ͘ŐŽǀ͘ŵǀͿ

Photo courtesy of President’s Office.

www.presidencymaldives.gov.mv

Photo courtesy ROBINSON Club Maldives Photo courtesy of Ecocare

www.escalemaldives.com | 133

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))2>> 253653727)))2832897);*
 Agenda
4*++)4$2'--154.,3$1,7$-'>$-9.,3$1&+14$.,$71,3+&$'%$ Annular eclipse ŶĂŶŶƵůĂƌƐŽůĂƌĞĐůŝƉƐĞŽĐ'

Hot events continued.. ďĞŝŶŐƐǁĂŵƉĞĚ͘tĞŵƵƐƚƵŶŝƚĞŝŶĂŐůŽďĂůĞīŽƌƚ

By Mohamed Thoriq Hamid,
Divers Association of Maldives
350 dive dŚĞǀƵůŶĞƌĂďŝůŝƚLJŽĨDĂůĚŝǀĞƐƚŽĐůŝŵĂƚĞ
ĐŚĂŶŐĞŝƐŚŽƚŶĞǁƐ͘,ŽǁĞǀĞƌƵŶƟůĂĨĞǁŵŽŶƚŚƐ
ďĂĐŬƚŚĞƋƵĞƐƟŽŶŽĨǁŚĂƚDĂůĚŝǀĞƐĐĂŶĚŽƚŽ
ĐŽŵďĂƚĐůŝŵĂƚĞĐŚĂŶŐĞǁĂƐĂŵĂũŽƌƋƵĞƐƟŽŶ͘:ƵƐƚ
ůŝŬĞŽƚŚĞƌǀƵůŶĞƌĂďůĞŶĂƟŽŶƐ͕ĞŵŝƐƐŝŽŶŽĨĐĂƌďŽŶ
ŝŶƚŽƚŚĞĂƚŵŽƐƉŚĞƌĞĨƌŽŵDĂůĚŝǀĞƐ͕ƚŚĞŵĂŝŶ
ĐƵůƉƌŝƚĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟŶŐƚŽĐůŝŵĂƚĞĐŚĂŶŐĞ͕ŝƐĂůŵŽƐƚ
ŶŽŶͲĞdžŝƐƚĞŶƚ͘,ŽǁĐĂŶĂƐŵĂůů͕ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŝŶŐŝƐůĂŶĚ
ŶĂƟŽŶ͕ǁŝƚŚĂƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶũƵƐƚŽǀĞƌϯϬϬ͕ϬϬϬ͕ŵĂŬĞ
ƚŚĞŝƌǀŽŝĐĞƐďĞŚĞĂƌĚ͍
dŚĂƚŝƐǁŚĂƚDĂůĚŝǀĞƐĚŝĚŽŶϭϳƚŚKĐƚŽďĞƌϮϬϬϵ
ĂŶĚĨŽƌĂƐĞĐŽŶĚƟŵĞŽŶϮϰƚŚEŽǀĞŵďĞƌϮϬϬϵ͘
>ĞƚƚŚĞŝƌǀŽŝĐĞƐďĞŚĞĂƌĚʹŝŶĂďŝŐǁĂLJ͘ŝǀĞƌƐ
ƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶŽĨDĂůĚŝǀĞƐƚĞĂŵĞĚƵƉǁŝƚŚƚŚĞϯϱϬ
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ƌĂůůLJƚŽĐŽŵŵĞŵŽƌĂƚĞƚŚĞϯϱϬŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂůĚĂLJ
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ĚƵƌŝŶŐƚŚĞĚŝǀĞŵĂƌĂƚŚŽŶ͘
dŚĞŝĚĞĂďĞŚŝŶĚƚŚĞƐĞĞǀĞŶƚƐǁĂƐƚŽƵƌŐĞƚŚĞ
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ƐƵƌǀŝǀĂůŝƐŶŽƚŶĞŐŽƟĂďůĞ͘ Photo by Meemu Zaviyani & Maeed
Photo: Ecocare
350 display at night, Divers lined up underwater in front of the
President’s office to display the 350 using underwater lights.
Photo by Azzuu

KŶϮϳƚŚEŽǀĞŵďĞƌ͕ĂŐƌŽƵƉŽĨϭϱϬƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂŶƚƐ
ƚŽŽŬƚŚĞĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƚŽĐŽǀĞƌϯϱŬŵŽĨůĂŐŽŽŶďLJ
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ĞǀĞƌƚŽďĞŚĞůĚŝŶDĂůĚŝǀĞƐ͘
ŝƐůĂŶĚƐŝŶƚŚĞĂƚŽůů͘KĸĐŝĂůƐĨƌŽŵƚŚĞƚǁŽŵĂŝŶ
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Photo: Walkmaldives.com.mv

134| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

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Maps of Maldives Dangerous

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The Complete Guide to the Biology, Injuries & Treatment
Atolls and Islands of Maldives

Complete
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Ab
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Maldives
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A Photographic Journey over
the Atolls & Islands of Maldives

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Book reviews

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Year: 2007
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atolls and islands of Maldives”.
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book also provides statistics and detail information on
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PDS(DFKPDSKDVYHUWLFDODQGKRUL]RQWDOJULGDQG
the islands are indexed in alphabetical order with grid
reference which makes searching any island very easy.
7KHERRNFRQWDLQVDOOWKHXSFRPLQJUHVRUWVDLUSRUWV
and newly leased agricultural islands in addition to
WRQVRIRWKHUXVHIXOLQIRUPDWLRQVXFKDVLVODQGSKRWRV
ATM locations and Bank of Maldives branch loca-
WLRQVWKURXJKRXWWKH0DOGLYHV,QVKRUWWKLVZLOOEHDQ
indispensable reference book for anyone. To purchase
copies contact info@atoll-images.com or visit any of
the Novelty Bookshop branches in Male’.

Title: ³'DQJHURXV0DULQH$QLPDOV%LRORJ\,QMXULHV 7UHDWPHQW´

Published Year: 2009
Whats it about?:
Size: $SDSHUEDFN
No of pages: 84
7KLVFRQFLVHERRN'$1*(52860$5,1($1,0$/6KDVWZRDLPV)LUVWLW
provides information for medical doctors about the wide range of injuries which can
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WUHDWPHQWDUHJLYHQ6HFRQGO\VZLPPHUVVQRUNHOHUVDQGGLYHUVZLOO¿QGLQIRUPDWLRQ
DERXWWKHELRORJ\RIGDQJHURXVYHQRPRXVDQGSRLVRQRXVPDULQHDQLPDOV7KLVNQRZO-
edge helps to avoid contact with potentially harmful organisms. Numerous underwater
pictures show animals that can be harmful. Their preferred habitat and the type of
SRWHQWLDOULVNVDUHGHVFULEHGLQGHWDLO,QDGGLWLRQGLIIHUHQWNLQGVRIVHDIRRGSRLVRQLQJ
are covered as well. The booklet is small enough to be a helpful travelling companion
IRUKROLGD\PDNHUVDQGLWLVYROXPLQRXVHQRXJKWRSURYLGHTXLFNPHGLFDOLQIRUPDWLRQ
WKHFDVHRIDQHPHUJHQF\7KHERRNLVSXEOLVKHGPDUNHWHGDQGGLVWULEXWHGE\Atoll Im-
ages. To purchase copiesFRQWDFWinfo@atoll-images.com or visit our showroom.

136| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))2>4 253653727)))2833873);*
 Title:$ERYH0DOGLYHV$SKRWRJUDSKLFMRXUQH\RYHUWKH
atolls and islands of Maldives
Publisher: $WROO,PDJHVDWROOLPDJHVFRP
Year: 2009
Size: PPE\PPKDUGFRYHU
No of pages: 96
Whats it about?: A new concept featuring satellite photos of
the islands of Maldives. This book will be useful for many
SHRSOHDQGJURXSVQDPHO\JRYHUQPHQWDJHQFLHVSODQQHUV
SULYDWHVHFWRUUHVRUWRZQHUVDQGGHYHORSHUVSRWHQWLDOUHVRUW
RZQHUVWRXURSHUDWRUVWRXULVWVGLYHUVVWXGHQWVPDULQHEL-
RORJLVWVJHRJUDSKHUVDUFKLWHFWVHQYLURQPHQWDOLVWVDQGRWK-
ers alike. The book has been designed to provide an insight
LQWRWKHQDWXUDOEHDXW\RI0DOGLYHVLQFOXGLQJUHHIVGHVHUW
LVODQGVUHVRUWVDQGLQKDELWHGLVODQGVIURPDERYH0RUHWKDQ
96 satellite photos of different islands are illustrated. The
book is marketed and distributed by Atoll Images.

0RVWERRNRQ0DOGLYHVIRFXVDOOWKHDWWHQWLRQRQWKHUHVRUWV
but this book is different. Appreciating the real beauty of
0DOGLYHVWKLVERRNDLPVWRSURYLGHWKHYLHZHUWKHUHDO
picture of Maldives from above. Most visitors to Maldives
stay in resorts and do not get to see the real beauty of the
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LVODQGVDQGWKHEOHQGLQJFRORXUVIURPDWROOODJRRQWRUHHIV
VDQGEDQNVDQGPXFKPRUH,I\RXFDQYLVLWWKHVHLVODQGV
LWVJUHDWEXWVHHLQJWKHPIURPDERYHLVMXVWXQEHOHLYDEOH
This book is strongly recommended for people who love
Maldives and geography of small islands in particular. To
purchase copies contact atoll images at
info@atoll-images.com.

9KVJ'UECNG/CNFKXGUGXGT[FC[KUCPGYCFXGPVWTG/CMGVJCVVQOCP[CFXGPVWTGU

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 Fun zone

How much do you know about MALDIVES?

!"#$$%#"&'()**+, (-#.#'/&,0./1/!2./#0
To complete the crossword, all you need to do is read the magazine. Identify the following island.
Clue: All answers come from the articles in this issue. Clue: This is an uninhabited island and not a resort.

0)34,"$'5)/*

With so many islands and reefs, Maldives is fascinating

when it comes to numbers. See if you can guess the right
answer.

1 - Number of inhabited islands in Maldives.

a- 312 b- 297 c- 197 d- 500

2 - Number of Islands with a land area in excess of one

ACROSS square kilometre.
2 A type of water plant considered a nuisance in Maldives. a- 23 b- 33 c- 43 d- 50
6 Local name for a famous channel in South Male’ atoll popular among
divers. 3 - Population density of Maldives per sq km.
$W\SHRIDUWL¿FLDOVWUXFWXUHXVHGWRDLGFRUDOJURZWKLQDUHHI a- 1200 b- 1000 c- 1500 d- 850
9 The common name for island hotels in Maldives.
13 Local name for boat. 4 - Number of natural geographic atolls.
14 Type of accommodation that is usually considered superior to beach a- 26 b- 20 c- 18 d- 32
villas.
15 Maldivian Script. 5 - Surface area of the largest atoll in Maldives in sq km.
17 A type of device used in surveying and navigation. a- 2399 b- 5438 c- 3788 d- 2344
21 The only island in Maldives that is also considered an atoll.
22 Famous dive spot in South Male’ atoll for watching sharks.
6 - Number of distinct coral reefs greater than 1 ha in area.
23 A protected species considered among the big 7 of Maldives.
a- 4334 b- 2900 c- 3500 d- 2041
7\SHRI¿VKWKDWDOPRVWKDVDWULDQJXODUVKDSH
25 Branch of surveying science that is extremely important to Maldives.
1XPEHURIVSHFLHVRIUHHI¿VKLGHQWL¿HGLQ0DOGLYHV
26 Closest island to Velassaru in South Male’ atoll.
a- 3000 b- more than1200 c- 2500 d- more than 5000
DOWN
1 An island having the shape of a lip.
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4 Man made machine extensively used in the Maldives.
5 Type of a coral resembling the branches of a tree.
7 Popular delicacy in Maldives also considered among the big 7 of 20$%,"$'6)$,'2'3/""#"7
Maldives.
10 One of the oldest mosques in Maldives.
11 Monsoon that coincides with European winter.
12 Popular tropical fruit grown widely in Maldives.
16 A large inhabited island close to Hanifaru reef in Baa atoll.
18 Local name for the Buddhist ruins in Kaashidhoo island.
19 Shark’s best friend.
20 A small uninhabited island in Lhaviyani atoll, south of a famous diving
channel

20$%,"$'6)$,'2'3/""#"7
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)0021 naht erom-b( - 7

138| DISCOVER MALDIVES | 2010 issue

!"#$%&'()*+,-"&'#)."/+,)'-"01"/--)))2>6 253653727)))283387=);*
 sail your own safari
walk on your own island
swim in your own lagoon

Voyages Maldives is one of the leading Travel and Tour companies in the
Maldives, providing all tourism related services. With 30 years of invaluable
experience, half a million customers in 2009, 32 international agency
representations & 7 sea safaris, Voyages is one of the largest & most reputable
agencies in the Maldives.

While on any of the 7 Voyages Safaris, you have an endless variety of choices, as
to what you wish to do or where you wish to go. There is the option of snorkeling,
sailing, diving, fishing, surfing and much more. A day on an uninhabited island or
a fishing village or even both! The option is all yours, whether it be Night Fishing,
Beach Barbeque or a game of beach volley ball on a Robinson Crusoe Island.

Moreover, we offer attractive resort packages from a broad variety of exquisite

Voyages Maldives
island resorts for holiday seekers. We provide proficient assistance in resort
‘Narugis’ Chandhanee Magu
bookings to all our customers in making their holiday programs to suit their wishes
PO Box 2019
from over 80 world class resorts.
Male’ 20191, Maldives
Phone: +960 332 2019
Thus, the preferred way of experiencing the Most Beautiful Islands in the World -
Fax: +960 332 5336
is with Voyages Maldives
info@voyagesmaldives.com

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