Maldives is any tourists' dream come true. This pristine tropical island with swaying palm trees, pure white beaches and sparkling turquoise lagoons lure tourists from all over the world. It is the ultimate getaway for those who like basking in the sun, frolicking in the sand and chilling out. The last Paradise also lures scuba divers, who are enticed by the fabulous coral reefs and the wealth of marine life.

The Maldives Islands stretch from the south western tip of India all the way to the Equator. One of the most extensive countries in the world, the 1,196 islands in 26 distinct coral atolls, cover a large area of 90,000 square kilometers (about 36,000 square miles) of the Indian Ocean. But of all this area, less than 0.5 per cent is island and of these some 200 islands are inhabited.

The pace of life in Maldives is relaxed and laid back. Until the arrival of tourism, fishing was the main occupation in this nation of seafarers. Maldives is blessed with the most beautiful scenery, graceful coconut palms leaning over crystal-clear lagoons, coral reefs with some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the world and lots of sunshine. The heady cocktail of all these beckon tourists to Maldives.