Overwater bungalows

Sunset

Beach

Snorkelling

Undersea restaurant at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

If the first thing you want to do when you wake up in the morning is jump into the clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean, then head to the Maldives while you still can.

Comprising of 1,190 coral islands, the Maldives stretches 820 kilometres north to south and 120 kilometres east to west. Its population of over 340,000 inhabit only 280 of its islands, with over 87 of them exclusive resort islands.

Historically, the Maldives was a popular stop-over destination on the busy trade routes and was renowned for its precious cowry shells, a small white beach shell which was used as currency in nearby countries. The Maldives is now a republic and an international gem, playing an important role in advocating the security of small nations and the protection of the environment, most recently banning the killing of sharks in its waters.

It is this pristine environment which helps draws in over 700,000 tourists every year, its abundance of trevally, dogtooth tuna, butterfly fish, sweetlips and fusiliers making scuba diving and snorkelling the most popular activities amongst visitors.

It also means the Maldives is never short of fresh seafood, with lobster, scallops, octopus, squid and tuna bound to find its way onto a plate, locals often cooking with curries, coconut and other exotic spices.

And with resorts such as Banyan Tree, Huvafen Fushi and Kurumba claiming an island each, travellers will always be able to retreat back to a luxurious and secluded bungalow or room and watch the legendary sunset of the Maldives.

Unfortunately, the Maldives is now sinking due to rising sea levels and oceanologists predict that the majority of its islands will be engulfed by the ocean in less than 100 years. In 2007, the United Nation's warned that an increase in sea levels of just 7 to 24 inches would make the Maldives almost uninhabitable by 2100.