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The warmth of the Maldivian people, luxurious resorts that cater to every need, and a diversely enchanting and vivid underwater world are but a few attractions that travelers get to relish when visiting this beautiful island chain.
However, to visit the Maldives and not explore is its myriad marine life is an opportunity missed. From sharks and rays to an abundance of distinct organisms, the waters here are aflush with sights that will leave you in awe our planet’s almost-hidden wonders.
While exploring the bustling natural activities that continue underwater during the day and the night, divers and snorkelers in the Maldives get to witness some of the most colorful corals in the world. An essential part of the aquatic ecosystem, the Maldives has 5% of the world’s coral reefs, and to observe their brilliance is an experience not easily forgotten.
What are Corals?
Corals are sea animals that look like tiny tubes and primarily grow in shallow waters. Individual coral polyps feed on small organisms and plankton using their tentacles, resulting in the secretion of calcium-carbonate that then forms a coral reef’s skeleton base.
Corals typically live in a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae, that stick to the corals to get sunlight and provide them with nourishment in return. The vibrant colors that one sees on corals are the zooxanthellae, which, when dying or removed, leave a bare white skeleton behind.
Over the past years, climate change has significantly impacted coral reefs worldwide, including in the Maldives. As the water temperatures rise, corals let go of the zooxanthellae, leading to “coral bleaching”, which in turn has a calamitous effect on the life that depends on these “rainforests of the sea”.
Blue corals and tropical fishes on a colorful coral reef in the Maldives waters
Corals in the Maldives
Coral reefs in the Maldives are an integral part of the island nation, supporting both its tourism and fisheries industries. A rough estimate states that close to 200 species of corals support over 700 species of fish and other marine organisms. Several fish live in coral reefs, whereas some of the bigger fish visit the reefs for food.
When diving for the first time, swimmers find that the seabed resembles an alien-like world with various corals that look and feel different from each other. In the Maldives, one typically comes across hard corals that grow in large groups, increasing slowly over the years.
Amongst these are massive corals with a yellowish color and a sizeable boulder-like appearance. The brain coral is a popular one of these and resembles the brain’s outer shell in design.
Branching corals, as the name suggests, are like shrubs. Most susceptible to coral bleaching, you are likely to come across broken pieces of a branching coral on the beach.
On the other hand, blue corals have a greenish exterior but a blue interior because they take in iron from the water.
An anomaly in the coral world is the mushroom coral that does not stay in colonies, choosing instead to spend a life on its own.
Diver met sweetlip fish hiding under coral in the Ari atoll waters, Maldives
Coral and marine conservation
Since 1995, the Maldivian government has made a conscious move towards protecting its reefs. By placing restrictions and taking specific steps, they have been able to maintain the corals, although uncontrollable weather and natural forces still pose a danger to them.
Besides limiting fishing and disallowing removal of corals, the government has also put a stop to coral mining, done previously as the coral stone was used to build houses in the Maldives.
Moreover, resorts in the Maldives are taking their own initiative to save their surrounding environment. Soneva Fushi, for example, is the first resort in the country to recycle plastic on the island itself.
Then there is Anantara and Gili Lankanfushi, two resorts with a coral nursery and regeneration program. Not only are in-house marine biologist on these islands, slowly repairing the corals that were affected by El Niño, but they also allow guests to plant new corals and then follow up on their progress over time.
It takes very little to appreciate corals in the Maldives, with most resorts having fantastic house reefs or diving options nearby. However, travelers must take extra care when participating in water activities to keep the sanctity of Maldives’ coral reefs intact.
