 The Maldives is home to diverse marine life and showcases some of the rare marine species. It is an extravaganza to experience. The Maldives is rightly described as “a treasure trove of marine life”. The abundance of marine life in the Maldives is an experience altogether, and another happy reason to visit the country. The island not only has a diverse marine life but an extravagant water life including scuba diving, blue ocean safaris etc. which make the experience worth experiencing.
The abundance of marine life can be mainly attributed to the ideal growing conditions for the coral reefs. The coral reefs in essence sustain the aquatic life in Maldives. Thousands of fishes and other marine life flourish in and around the underwater gardens of these corals.
About 70 different species of coral reefs - the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the world - in almost every color adorn the waters surrounding the Maldives Island. They not only act as a natural barrier against the tropical storms, floods and tsunamis but also serve as a habitat for more than 700 species of fishes and other aqua marine life which form the populace here including Molluscs, Groupers, Reef Sharks and the Scorpion Fish, Trevally’s, Tuna, Jacks, Dogtooth Tuna, Butterfly fish, Sweetlips, Wahoo and Fusiliers form part of the marine life in Maldives. Mating octopus and the endangered giant Napoleon Wrasse are other underwater attractions in this extravagant land.
The clear waters and abundance of various species of fishes and beautiful aquatic plants has thus made Maldives popular as a diving destination with divers from all around the world. Scuba divers-both young and old- visit the country every year, spellbound by the magnetic appeal of the colourful water world. And won’t they be? The waters o ffer a visibility of up to 60 meters - a rarity in the world of divers. This combined with the veritable mine of aquatic life makes Maldives a dream destination of divers from around the world.
Tourism agencies and resorts in Maldives offer diving tours and offer many courses of different durations. After attending these courses, even those with no previous diving experience can enjoy the exhilaration derived from viewing marine life in its own backyard. Resorts have been opened in the atolls around the capital, Male, and diving is permitted only in these resorts.
The best of the diving sites are around the reefs of the atolls, which have complex formations. The circular reefs enclose a lagoon, shallow enough to see down to the ocean bed. The irregular and submerged reefs also known as ‘thilas’ are the best dive sites. Located in the middle of the channel, these thilas rise to about 10 meters of the surface from the atoll floor
Some of the most important and interesting diving sites are the Guaridoo Corner (lots of friendly Napoleon Fishes can be sighted there), Cocoa Corner (Sharks, Rays and other marine life abound here) and the Maldive Victory (a wreck sitting upright in the water and surrounded by coral reefs and a profusion of marine life).
Large pelagic or fishes that live in open water are found in the lagoons where the tides move in and out huge amounts of water. Sharks, turtles, anemones, schools of sweetlips, eels, octopus and rays abound in the waters of the Indian Ocean. In the late summer and during the fall, mantas and whale sharks make for a very impressive and interesting sight.
Some of the interesting fish species that entices divers to Maldives are Honeycomb Moray - a fish with a long, tapering tail, dark blotches surrounded by a yellow network formed in the shape of a honeycomb, which also give this species its name. Then there is the Powder-blue Surgeonfish which inhabits the clear water reefs and always amuses the divers because it never swims alone and is always found in large and dense schools.
The Whale Shark forms the most spectacular sight underwater. Its flat head, small eyes and a large mouth, makes it distinguishable from the rest. Usually found near the surface, the Whale Shark leaves the divers awe stuck by its huge length and the white belly.
Saddled Pufferfish, Squaretail Coral Grouper, White-lined lionfish, Clown Triggerfish are but just a few examples of the diverse marine life, which makes Maldives a magnet for the water lovers. 
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