5 Unknown Facts About Maldives – A Few Secrets About the Tropical Paradise

A large part of the Maldives public image is built around the sea. It shouldn't come as a major surprise then that in 2009 the Maldivian government held a cabinet meeting completely underwater. In this astonishing event, suits and ties were replaces with snorkels and oxygen tanks – it was a truly remarkable sight. 13 government officials decked in their scuba gear were present, and the conference was held around 20 feet below the water's surface. The idea behind this act was to generate awareness about environmental pollution – especially concerning our oceans. The event concluded with officials signing a document that called on a number of other countries to try and reduce their CO2 emissions. The whole event was certainly an attention-grabbing way to send across an important message.

When people picture a vacation in the Maldives, they often imagine a serene scene of themselves wiling away the time by the beach. Perhaps they are relaxing at a Maldives over water villa, such as the Hard Rock Hotel Maldives, watching the endless motion of the waves. Now, while there's definitely opportunity for rest and relaxation here, don't miss out on all the exciting adventures to be had out here. Specifically, exploring the deserted islands that are all around the Maldives – it can be your very own Robinson Crusoe experience. In fact, it might surprise you to know that of the 1190 islands that make up the Maldives, around 800 are completely uninhabited!

Scuba diving is a popular water sport enjoyed by those who frequent the Maldives. There are plenty of amazing diving spots to choose from around the islands and it affords you the opportunity to come face-to-face with ana array of fascinating marine life. What you might not be expecting however, is to run into the world's largest fish during your dive. The colossal whale shark can measure up to 10 metres on average, with exceptionally sized individuals sometimes exceeding lengths of over 18 metres! Despite their size, these are gentle animals that prefer filter feeding on small microscopic creatures as opposed to large prey.

A white sand beaches of the Maldives is the perfect location to catch some sun and enjoy the gentle sea breeze. However, it might surprise you to know that the sand beneath your feet isn't the typical kind you find at most beaches. Here in the Maldives, sand isn't made up of quartz as usual. Instead, it is a massive amalgamation of tiny bits of crushed coral!

The coconut tree is one of the most enduring images associated with the Maldives. It is also recognised as the country's national tree. Coconut occupy an important place in the culture and traditions of the Maldives and is often the basis of many traditional dishes and medicine.