Villivaru & Biyadoo Islands
Republic of the Maldives

The words "tropical paradise" can only begin to convey the beauty and serenity of these exotic islands. Located in the pristine waters of the eastern Indian Ocean the Republic of the Maldives is a country of 1,100 islands with only about 15% inhabited. The highest natural land point in this country is less than ten feet above sea level. The islands cluster to form rings in the ocean around submerged, ancient volcanic mountains. The middle of these rings are typically around 200 meters deep. Most islands are host to coconut palms, tropical flowers, pure white sand beaches, lagoons, and coral reefs. There location makes them about as far from Arizona as you can go, literally on the opposite side of the world. Getting there from AquaTouch required a 10 hour flight to London. Then another 11 hours from London, across the Mediterranean, down through Saudi Arabia, on to the Arabian Sea, and eventually landing on the coral rock runway of the Maldives airport.

Our journey in March took us by speed boat from the airport past the capital island of Male' southward about 45 minutes to the islands of Villivaru and Biyadoo. Boat is only means of transportation between islands save for the occasional seaplane which is used mostly to ferry tourists to the outer atolls. Boats are a traditional dhoni design with some variations. This design has the captain steering the rudder with his foot or leg at the back of the boat.

Below are some of the images that we took on this expedition to the coral reefs of the Maldives. They help to illustrate the tropical flavor and rich marine fauna that flourish there. Fortunately we found no evidence of damage to the reefs from the December 2004 tsunami. Some island communities did suffer though. We wish the kind people of the Maldives a quick recovery. 

Life in the lagoons, above and below water.

Coral communities on the back-reefs and reef-crests.

Inhabitants of the Fore Reef Slopes and outer reef areas