Most of the Maldives is located underwater, in fact, 99.9 percent of the are is underwater so it's no wonder that the Maldives are a diver's paradise. While there are many small islets that make up the country of Maldives, the area has no natural land that extends more than 2.3 meters above sea level so expect to spend much of your Maldives vacation either in the water—or just above it.

The Maldives is made up of 26 small islets located in the Indian Ocean southwest of Sri Lanka. The country is the flattest country in all of the world with much of the land being underwater for the majority of the time. Though there's only a tenth of a percent of land in the country, this doesn't mean that Maldives is not a tropical haven for tourists, nor that there aren't hotels in the area—they are just built above the water!

The principle industry in the Maldives is tourism so everything is taken care of for those visiting the area. From free visas that are issued upon arrival to the Maldives to making sure that there's always plenty of beer at the resorts, Maldives thrives on tourism and ensures that visitors are encompassed with pleasure and convenience while visiting the country. You won't find alcoholic beverages anywhere else in the Maldives (not at the grocers or in any stores) as, aside from the resorts which cater to tourists, the rest of the country is dry.

Maldives Weather and Best Time to Visit

If you're looking for tropical sunshine—visit Maldives! While some of the months may be more suited to the sun than others, Maldives is most always a tropical paradise worth visiting pretty much any time of the year. The most popular season to visit Maldives is during the winter months from December through April when the weather is sunniest and the warmest.

You may face rain and clouds throughout the months of May through November but this doesn't mean Maldives will be fully rained out during these months either. The weather tends to be in the upper 80s Fahrenheit throughout the year so no matter when you visit Maldives you'll be warm. If you're planning on diving or snorkeling in the area, the visibility of the water is best on the western side of Maldives during the May through November season and during the remaining months you'll find the eastern side of the islets more well suited to a dive.

Experience Maldives

A visit to Maldives is sure to be both exciting and unforgettable. Many choose to island hop while in the Maldives and that's no problem. Charter boats are easily hired from the ferry counter at each individual resort and can take you from island to island throughout the Maldives. If you choose to travel beyond the tourist zone then a travel permit may be required, check with your resort concierge for more information as well as to find out where island hopping is permitted throughout the Maldives without a travel permit.

Maldives is a popular spot for diving and pretty much anywhere that you stay will keep you close to a good dive. Also popular in the area is surfing. If you're not surfing or diving, snorkeling, swimming and enjoying the sun are next up on the must do list. There's always plenty of sun, sand and sea to enjoy in the Maldives so consider spending much of your vacation soaking up the sun and swimming in the lush turquoise waters while in Maldives.

Dolphin watching and fishing are also popular in the Maldives. Since the area is made up of 99 percent sea, you can expect to find many opportunities to fish. Game fishers can expect to catch Dorado, tuna, shark and marlin as well as barracuda and jackfish in the Maldives.

Most resorts feature spa services that are another great way to spend a vacation in the Maldives. If you're here to relax, consider a day or even a week long getaway at the spa. Very few Maldives hotels or resorts do not have a spa so chances are no matter where you stay you'll have a spa on site to keep you relaxed, refreshed and rejuvenated throughout your Maldives vacation.