Maldives Is For Scuba Divers [video]

The Maldives has awesome diving and free diving sites.

The Maldives is an island country  and archipelago in the Indian Ocean. It consists of a series of 26 atolls.

Maldivian waters are home to several ecosystems, but are most noted for their variety of colourful coral reefs, home to 1100 species of fish, 5 species of sea turtles, 21 species of whales and dolphins, 187 species of corals, 400 species of molluscs, and 83 species of echinoderms. Many crustacean species are there as well: 120 copepod, 15 amphipod as well as over 145 crab and 48 shrimp species.[71]

Among the many marine families represented are Pufferfish, Fusiliers, Jackfish, Lionfish, Oriental Sweetlips, reef sharks, Groupers, Eels, Snappers, Bannerfish, Batfish, Humphead Wrasse, Spotted Eagle Rays, Scorpionfish, Lobsters, Nudibranches, Angelfish, Butterflyfish, Squirrelfish, Soldierfish, Glassfish, Surgeonfish, Unicornfish, Triggerfish, Napoleon wrasses, and Barracudas.[72]

These coral reefs are home to a variety of marine ecosystems that vary from planktonic organisms to whale sharks. Sponges have gained importance as five species have displayed anti-tumor and anti-cancer properties.[73]

In 1998, sea-temperature warming of as much as 5 °C (9.0 °F) due to a single El Niño phenomenon event caused coral bleaching, killing ⅔ of the nation’s coral reefs.[74]

In an effort to induce the regrowth of the reefs, scientists placed electrified cones anywhere from 20–60 feet (6.1–18.3 m) below the surface to provide a substrate for larval coral attachment. In 2004, scientists witnessed corals regenerating. Corals began to eject pink-orange eggs and sperm. The growth of these electrified corals was five times faster than ordinary corals.[74] Scientist Azeez Hakim stated:

Read more details here on Wikipedia.com

Watch the following video of diving and free diving the Ari Atoll in the Maldives.  This video was filmed with a GoPro Hero3 Black Edition by Nicolas Thiou,

Click here to find quick facts and details for planning your diving adventure in the Maldives by liveaboard or dive resort.

A selection of 35 liveaboards in the Maldives or 42 Travel PADI selected resorts with top notch dive operators on site or walking distance away from the resort.

Images Source: YouTube Clips