Maldives Weather and Climate The scattered atolls and islands of the Maldives bestride the equator in the Indian Ocean, a few hundred miles south of the Indian mainland and Sri Lanka. As a result the weather is routinely hot and sunny, and the temperature range changes little throughout the year - an average of about 30 degrees Celsius during the day, and a balmy 25 degrees at night. This makes the Maldives an excellent destination for a sunshine-filled holiday at any time of year. Although the average temperatures show little change, conditions on the islands are affected by the major seasonal monsoon winds that determine the weather patterns for the whole of the Indian Ocean region. In the Maldives these are known as the north-east monsoon - the dry season, which usually runs from January to March - and the south-west monsoon, or wet season, which runs from May to November. The transition between the monsoons varies from year to year, but usually occur in April and December. These are the inter-monsoonal periods, when thunderstorms and strong winds are common.The seasonal changes in the monsoon winds are driven by temperature differences between the waters of the Indian Ocean and the landmass of the Eurasian continent. During the northern winter the sun heats the sea more than the land, resulting in a cold high-pressure region over the north of India and generally dry, cool north-east winds over the Maldives. This dry season corresponds with the tourist peak season for the Maldives, and so accommodation at the most popular resorts is harder to find at this time of year and it is best to book well in advance. In the northern Summer the situation is reversed, and warm, wet winds blow across the Maldives from the south-west, carrying rain towards the Indian mainland. The rainfall on the islands is significantly higher during the south-west monsoon, particularly on the islands of the southernmost atolls, and strong winds and sharp storms are more common. However, even in the wet season the islands of the Maldives enjoy an average of eight sunshine hours a day, and most rain storms form in the afternoons and are over in just an hour or so. Some under-sung benefits of the wet season in the Maldives include dramatic cloud formations and thunderstorms often seen passing on the horizon, and spectacular ocean sunsets. The occasional thunderstorm over the resort islands can provide a welcome respite from the heat of the day, and is a perfect opportunity for reading or reading in the luxury of the resort villas, lounges and restaurants, or even for walking in the rain through the lush tropical forest of the island. A swim in the warm sea during a spell of rain is also an exhilarating experience. The seasonal changes in the weather bring corresponding changes in the oceans. The microscopic organisms that form the basis of the food chain in the tropical seas around the Maldives bloom in the sunnier dry season and tend to reduce the water visibility for diving - although it remains remarkably clear by the standards of many other world-class diving locations. Offshore storms can also cloud the waters, but in general the visibility is better in the wet season and so this time of year is favoured by scuba divers.
Category: Maldives
Situated in the Indian Ocean the Islands of the Maldives are known throughout the world for the pictorial paradise that they are. The Maldives are are one of the main holiday destinations for Honeymooners after there wedding to escape to a dreamy paradise, with secluded accommodation scattered throughout the islands, overlooking the breathtaking Indian Ocean.The pearly white beaches lead on to the turquoise seas where the coral reefs are regarded as some of the best in the world and one of the main attractions of the islands. The Maldives, an island state which includes a cluster of 26 atolls located in the Indian Ocean, where roughly 1200 coral island are situated. The vast majority of these islands are quite small with most being less than 1km sq( 1/2 sq mile. It is nearly 700 kilometers from Sri Lanka in south-west. The nation’s name might be representing for the "Fort" or "Mountain atoll", or it may signify "a thousand islands.". Subsequent the foreword of Islam in the year 1153, this islands afterward turn out to be a Portuguese in the year 1558, next to that by Dutch in the year 1654, and lastly by British in the year 1796. In 1965, Maldives confirmed its self-government from Britain, and in the year1968 the Sultanate was changed by a democracy. Read More Maldives consist of 26 natural and beautiful islands. These 25 islands are further divided in 20 administrative islands and one city. The smallest island of Maldives is Gnaviyani Island and the largest island is Gaafu Alif. Gaafu Alif is also the world’s largest island and it is located in south of One and a Half Degree Channel. The most northern Island of Maldives is Haa Alif and Seenu Atoll is the most southern Island. Turquoise lagoons, coral reefs swarm along, with a stunning range of marine flora, Palm fringed land mass with shining white seashores and fauna and leading a variety of waves are the main attractions which pull the travelers again and again towards them. The weather of the Maldives is warm most of the year making the Maldives an ideal location for spending winter vacation is good option. Daily there is small difference in the air temperature by an average of maximum 90F and the minimum at 79F. In the Maldives there are two monsoon spell: from November to April there is northeast and from the last part of May to October there is southwest. Every Island is managed through an island Chief selected by the President. And all Island chiefs administer directed through the president. The main bodies’ jointly accountable for the President for Island Administration are Ministry of Island Administration and its Southern and Northern area Offices, Atoll and Island Offices. The head of administrative of all islands is selected via the President. The progress in the sector of tourism offered a chief enhancement to the country in the fledging of customary cottage business for example as coir rope making, lacquer work, handicraft and mat weaving. The new industry which appears recently in Maldives are printing, manufacturing of PVC pipes, aerated water bottling, marine engine maintenance, brick production, and garment manufacturing. Politics in Maldives acquires position in a structure of a presidential republic, whereby the President is the chief of administration. The government of Maldives is responsible for the implementation of the Executive authority. In Maldives President is selected on five-year term by the process of a secret ballot of the parliament. The unicameral parliament of Maldives is created of 50 members serving for the nation on the basis of five-year. In Maldives two male members are selected directly and appointed by universal suffrage from each atoll. The eight members are selected and appointed by the president.
Category: Maldives
Landing at the main international airport in the Maldives is an exhilarating introduction to the islands. Hundreds of atoll islands and undersea coral banks are clearly visible from the aircraft as it starts to descend, and many flight pass over the high-rise towers and port of the remarkable island city of Male just a few minutes before landing. The airport itself occupies the whole of Hulhulé island, just two miles north of Male. The runway spans the length of the small island - giving it almost the appearance of an aircraft carrier when seen from the air. The airport is small, friendly and efficient. In 2010 it was renamed the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, after the president of the Maldives who commissioned its construction in the 1960s, but it is more commonly known as Male airport or Hulhulé airport. The immigration process is handled smoothly so tourists can get quickly on their way to their resorts, and most visitors to the Maldives are given a free 30-day visa on arrival. The Maldives are predominantly Muslim, and it is illegal to bring any type of alcohol into the country - although there are no restrictions about serving alcohol at the resorts and in the restaurants of the capital. There is a coffee shop and lounge outside the Arrivals terminal where visitors can wait for the transfers to their resorts, while departing visitors can take advantage of restaurants and duty-free shops in the departure lounge - where alcohol is available, as well as the usual souvenirs, cigarettes, perfumes and cosmetics. Although there are no visa fees for most visitors, a USD $12 departure tax is charged to every airline passenger leaving the Maldives, and this must be paid at the airport if it is not already included in the ticket charges. A post office, a 24-hour healthcare service, and a children's playground are also available in the airport buildings, as well as foreign exchange services, internet access, and free showers. Most foreign holidaymakers who have pre-booked their holiday accomodation will be met by resort representatives in the arrivals area, for a short shuttle ride to the speedboat port or seaplane terminal elsewhere on the island. Speedboats and ferry services are also available to take visitors into Male, about a 15-minute journey - and many visitors choose to spend a few hours in the city if they have time to spare before catching a departing flight. More than 25 airlines fly into Male airport, connecting the Maldives with more than 30 cities around the world, including London, Berlin, Rome, Doha, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Many short-haul flights to the Maldives from the Middle East, Sri Lanka and the nearer cities of the Indian mainland allow travellers to combine a luxurious stay in the islands with other exotic destinations. Domestic flights and seaplane services also carry visitors to four domestic airports within the Maldives, at Addu, Laamu, Haa Dhaalu, and Gaafu Fhaalu atolls. The former military airport on the southern island of Gan in Addu Atoll is being upgraded to serve international flights, but so far just one charter airline flies into Gan, from Hong Kong and Seoul.
Category: Maldives
Maldives, Diving The Maldives have become famous as much for the marine life under the water, as they are for beach-life above. Thanks to their location far from the mainland, the waters around the islands are renowned for the abundance and variety of fish species. The lagoons include coral gardens and pinnacles teeming with schools of reef fish and other life, and deeper waters that are the haunts of zebra sharks, hammerheads manta rays, and whale sharks. The bright sunshine, clear water, and living colours are perfect for underwater photography. Most resorts in the Maldives have a scuba diving facility and there are many specialist resorts offering dive training and advanced diving tours, as well as live-aboard boats that cruise among the archipelago's best dive sites for several weeks at a time. Scuba diving runs all year round, but the months from December to March have the best water visibility of up to 40 metres. Plankton blooms in the hottest months from April to June, attracting large pelagics such as manta rays and whale sharks. From June until August the Maldives have their wet season which reduces visibility and may restrict access to some dive sites. The flow of the tides through the many atolls and islands of the Maldives creates significant currents, and so most boat dives here take the form of rapid drift-dives through the channels and lagoons formed by the corals reefs. These channels are filled with life and nutrients, and predators such as sharks and barracudas can often be seen cruising the currents and hunting nearby the divers, as well as sea turtles and giant Napoleon wrasse. Colourful frogfish lurk along the walls and caverns, and the reefs are home to many unique nudibranch species. Diving from the shore is also possible, and each resort has mapped out its nearby "house reef" for divers and snorkellers. The atoll lagoons harbour many pinnacles of rock reaching almost to the surface, known locally as "Thilas". Water from the ocean floor rises along the slopes of the thilas, and they are crowned with hard and soft corals, sponges and fans. Many thilas also serve as cleaning stations for larger animals like manta rays who may circle slowly nearby attended by schools of cleaner wrasse.Ari Atoll is the second-largest atoll in the Maldives, and is considered one of the best for diving. Resorts on the islands of the atoll will be able to reach many of the major dive sites here in a half-day boat trip, and can organise longer trips to the further sites. Ari has several thilas known as good spots to see mantas, and sites such as Maamigili and Gangehi Maavaru, where whale sharks are seen in season. Rasdhoo Atoll to the north-east of Ari is famous for its school of hammerhead sharks.Because of the strong currents, divers in the Maldives must pay close attention to their depth at all times. All dive operators require the use of dive computers, and most will offer them for hire. Divers also need to carry and know how to use a signal-marker buoy to summon the dive boat at the end of their drift dive. There are hyperbaric chambers are located on North Male atoll and Rasdhoo Atoll. Nitrox is rarely available.
Category: Maldives

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