The Best Marine Habitat
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Asiaweek
Pictures.
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Marco
Polo referred to the Maldives as the Flower of the Indies. It's
an apt description. In fact, some enthusiasts go so far as to
advise scuba novices: Make it one of the later sites you try because
few other marine habitats in Asia bear comparison.
The Maldives comprises 1,192 tiny islands southwest of India,
none of which are much more than three meters above sea level.
With crystal-clear waters, the archipelago forms an ecosystem
that hosts an exceptional marine community, from hard coral to
fantastically patterned nudibranches. Dolphins and manta rays
regularly patrol its waters. Even the odd killer whale or two.
Its beaches are an important nesting site for five of the world's
seven species of green sea turtles. "You can pretty much see anything
you've ever wanted to see underwater at the Maldives," says Steve
White of Action Asia magazine. "It has really got it all
drift dives, ocean walls and tons of fish, sharks and other marine
life."
The locals are very protective of their natural environment. In
1995, officials banned the fishing of turtles; and three years
later, they restricted shark fishing in tourist zones. After all,
the lively underwater activity and psychedelic gardens attract
visitors from around the globe, some 60% of whom come exclusively
to dive. (Besides banning destructive practices as cyanide fishing,
the authories regularly organize clean-up operations and educational
campaigns.)
In the past couple of years, rising ocean temperatures, exacerbated
by severe El NiNo effects, have produced flows of water too warm
for the sensitive reefs. This led to widespread "bleaching," which
occurs when stressed coral lose the symbiotic algae that are the
source of their color. The reefs have largely bounced back
for now. Global warming could inflict permanent damage.
Rated one of the top 10 marine habitats in the world (the only
one within Asia) by CyberDiver, the Maldives is still an embarrassment
of riches. Under the category "best dive sites," the archipelago
is described with the telling phrase, "too many to list." Let's
keep it that way.
By Maria Cheng
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