The lovely Maldive Islands offer many engrossing attractions for the visitor. When selecting Maldives luxury resorts an outstanding choice would be the W Retreat & Spa Maldives. This excellent accommodation is well-reputed for its well-appointed rooms and courteous service, assuring a satisfying stay.
The Maldives is a paradise for nature lovers, as this tropical archipelago features an abundance of marine life that will capture their interest. These islands are noted for their coral reefs and the local ocean waters contain two kinds of coral; the hard corals that possess limestone skeletons and the soft corals which exist as solitary creatures. Amongst these picturesque coral reefs you will notice creatures like moray eels, starfish, octopus, hermit crabs, lobsters and shrimp as well as feather stars, sponges and clams.
Naturally you will find an amazing multitude of fish varieties in the Maldivian waters. Existing in almost every imaginable colour and size these fish species include the highly eye-catching varieties that are prized as aquarium fish. Local varieties include such highlights as angelfish, butterfly fish, clownfish, Napolean wrasse, Moorish Idol, triggerfish, parrotfish and Oriental sweetlip just to name a few. You will also find larger fish like the hawkfish, grouper and barracuda.
Divers will also encounter sharks in Maldivian waters, such as the zebra shark, hammerhead shark, grey reef shark and the enormous whale shark, the world’s largest species of fish. Another kind of marine life to be found in Maldivian waters are the intriguing rays, distinctively shaped graceful creatures that seem to fly through the waters. You will notice varieties like the eagle ray, stingray and the huge manta ray which often measure as much as 20 to 25 feet in width.
Another variety of marine life which is part of the ecosystem of the Maldives is its distinctive turtle varieties. These species include the hawksbill turtle, loggerhead turtle, Olive Ridley and green turtle as well as the leatherback turtle which may be found in deep waters.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.