The Maldives with its prime location in the Indian Ocean is naturally abundant in marine life. The waters that surround the islands contain a bewildering variety of marine life, from picturesque coral reefs to immense whales. The sheer variety and richness of marine life in these waters have enthralled many a visitor.
The network of coral reefs that surround the islands have been likened to an underwater city, where the coral structures and aquatic plants provide a suitable environment for marine life to flourish, with over 700 species of fish making their home in the waters, many of them colourful and exotic varieties.
The reefs in the Maldives abound in fish, sea anemones, sea turtles, eels and octopus. Some of the fish varieties to be seen include Skipjack (sometimes called Maldives fish), Butterfly fish, Dogtooth Tuna, Fusiliers and Sweetlips. This variety, with schools of as many as 10,000 to 100,000 individual fish to be seen, along with such creatures as eagle rays and manta rays make these waters an underwater photographer’s dream. The large and impressive manta rays grow up to a length of 5 meters and feed on plankton and small fish.
For those visitors desiring to observe leviathans of the deep such as whales, sharks and whale sharks, excursions to the open sea can be arranged. Shark varieties inhabiting the waters of the Maldives include the Nurse Shark, Silver-tip Shark, Grey Reef Shark, Black-tip Shark and White-tip Shark.
One of the distinctive features of the Maldivian waters is the sea turtles to be seen here. The waters are exceptionally rich in the hawksbill turtle, a fascinating species that has attracted a great deal of attention among conservationists.
Various species of eels are to be found in the waters of the Maldives, creating great interest among those who value marine life. Moray eels in particular are frequently seen around the Maldives.
The period from December to April is generally considered the best time to experience the Maldives’ marine life, whereas to view whale sharks and manta rays, the ideal time is from July to November.
When selecting a Maldives island resort, an obvious choice is the Kurumathi Island Resort. One of the attractive Maldives resorts, this establishment offers fine accommodations and attentive hospitality to ensure a memorable stay.
