The picture perfect white sands of the Maldives’ atolls are the stuff postcards are made of.  But it’s what’s under the waves that makes the Maldives what it is … quite literally.  Over the millenia, corals built an impressive formation of 1,192 tiny coral islands grouped in 26 atolls.  The corals have also built an underwater haven for over 2,000 species of reef fish.

The first video by Derek Emmett showcases the Maldive’s beauty (both topside and underwater) with an emphasis on the impressive schools of manta rays that “fly” these waters.

Our second video highlights the biological richness of fish species at the Maldives.  From tiny gobies to giant whale sharks, the Maldives is truly a fish lover’s paradise.

Interesting factoid: The Maldives is the lowest-lying country in the world, as some of the footage in our third video shows.  The average ground level is a mere 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, with its highest point measuring only 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in)!  Alas, this distinction poses a threat to the atolls because of rising sea levels.

The Destination Reefs video series showcases the diversity of coral reefs around the world.  Through these high quality videos, Advanced Aquarist hopes we can all gain a greater appreciation of reef life beyond our glass boxes.