The beautiful Maldives archipelago situated in the Indian Ocean is a paradise filled with unlimited wonders for you to explore and discover. Out of these, the marine life of Maldives is of utmost significance as the islands are home to several ecosystems.
There are a number of marine tourist attractions in Maldives that you can dive and explore during your holiday at a premier Maldivian resort like the Maalifushi by COMO Maldives . There are 1,192 coral islands grouped around the 26 atolls that make up the Maldives nation. These coral islands are not only home to some of the most exotic of marine life, but they are a colorful spectacle themselves. At these kaleidoscopic underwater ecosystems like the HP and Banana reefs, you will be able to see colorful schools of fish belonging to over a 1000 species, such the highly decorated lionfish, the whimsical-looking puffer fish and the giant but humble whale shark.
Maldives, home to over 20 species of whales and dolphins, is one of the world’s top locations to see these popular marine animals. Always dreamt of swimming with friendly dolphins? Well here’s your chance as the acrobatic spinner dolphins are common in Maldives in their tens and thousands. The spinner dolphin’s convenient daily schedule of feeding offshore at night, coming into the atolls in the early morning, and leaving again for the open ocean in the late afternoon makes it easier to spot them.
Sea turtles are one of the treasures of the ocean as they are recognized as an endangered species. During your holiday in the Maldives you can see this noble beast for yourself as the critically endangered hawksbill turtle and the giant leatherback turtle lays eggs on Maldivian beaches. At the number of turtle sanctuaries set up to conserve these magnificent creatures, you can take part in feeding the turtles and monitor hatchlings.
Manta Rays are also a type of marine life you must see during your Maldivian holiday as the island nation is a one of the top Manta hotspots of the world. Known as the ‘Ghost of the Ocean’ the Manta Ray can grow up to 18 ft in size! One of the best places you can see this giant in Maldives is at the Manta Point, a diving area where you can enjoy seeing large numbers of manta rays being fed and cleaned by wrasses.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.