Maldives

The Maldive Islands rise up out of the Indian Ocean and are nearly 900 kilometres long. Made up of 19 major islands and more than 1,000 smaller islands, they form a barrier which stretches from north to south, halfway between India and Africa. Rich in history, the islands were for centuries a refuge for sailors as well as being of importance both strategically and commercially. In 1957 they became famous as the base for the oceanographer Hans Hess and his laboratory ship Xarifa. Today the beauty and the wildlife of the islands attract both naturalists and divers from all over the world. This book includes photographs of the underwater world of this ocean paradise.