Although political gatherings hardly make a destination unique from all others, the fact that a Maldivian cabinet meeting took place underwater does distinguish the country from similar beach hubs. The hallow event took centre stage in 2009 when the Maldivian government decided to host a cabinet meeting in the heart of the sea. The parliamentarians donned wet suits and scuba diving gear to replace the suits and ties and carried oxygen tanks on their back. The event made quite a splash in media circles, as was the intent of the local government, as this meeting was staged to bring awareness to the cost of global warming on low-altitude nations.