Can you imagine living in a house built over the sea? Or waking up in the morning, walking to the balcony and diving into the sea? It is like a dream, right? Not really, you can live this dream in Maldives.
A tropical nation located in the Indian Ocean, Maldives comprises 26 atolls which are made of over 1000 islands, some of which are uninhabited. Believed to have been formed by undersea volcanic eruptions, most of the islands are no higher than 6 feet from the sea level. Maldives is expected to get submerged with the rise in global temperatures and consequential rise in sea levels. In fact, during the 2004 Tsunami, over 20 islands were submerged forever.
Famous for its white sandy beaches, crystal clear blue lagoons and extensive coral reefs, Maldives is simply exotic and in my view, a must visit destination. And please do it before it disappears from the face of the earth, which could be as early as 2045 as per some estimates. If reports are to be believed, the Government of Maldives is actively looking at purchasing islands elsewhere to resettle its citizens, as and when sea levels start rising.
What to do in Maldives
Male is the gateway to Maldives but there are hardly any places to see in Male. The city is spread over 2 sq. kms, and a half day walking tour is adequate to cover key sights-National museum, Grand Friday Mosque, Republic square, Sultan park, fish market, strolling along the seafront and so on. You can also try the whale submarine that goes upto a depth of ~100ft.
If you find the islands to be expensive, one option is to stay in Male which has much cheaper accommodation options and spend on activities such scuba diving, snorkelling and other water based activities. You can also book on a cruise ship(these are smaller ships) for say a week and travel through various atolls, and you will opportunities for snorkeling, diving, fishing etc.
Seafront in Male, Maldives 
Official residence of the President of Maldives, Male 
Aerial view of Male, Maldives
But Maldives is all about its islands. There are over 125 resorts, with many under construction to cater to the needs of increasing tourist traffic. At this rate, it is possible there will no island left uninhabited in a few tears. Within each atoll, the islands are so small that there is normally place for only 1 resort; this is what makes Maldives unique. A typical resort will have a combination of land and water villas/rooms. While there are budget resorts, there are plenty of luxury resorts.
While the resorts can be expensive, I think a minimum stay of 4 nights should be preferred.
Commute to resort from Male
Overall, there are 3 ways to get to a resort – by speedboat (mainly resorts near the airport), by domestic flight plus boat and seaplane plus boat. A few of them are connected by both domestic flights and seaplane.
The choice of resorts is not easy. While you can stay put in one resort, you can also indulge in resort hopping. Most resorts offer similar facilities and therefore, I preferred to stay in one resort. Also, seaplane travel is a bit unique, so do try it even though it is more expensive than speedboats or domestic flights.
Living in a resort is as close as one can get to a perfect holiday. I went to a resort located on an island small enough to be able walk fully around in an hour.
The seaplane ride was short but very enjoyable.
