In the southernmost reaches of the Maldives, the hard coral grows proudly and fish hardly recognise divers. Shore-based holidays there will become more accessible over time, but for now a high-end approach may be needed, says willing volunteer Zac Macaulay more...

The Maldives cover a lot of ocean, but liveaboards allow divers to reach magical parts such as Huvadhoo, says David Nicholson. Shame about the shark-finning, though. Pictures by Andy Barker more...

Think of a tropical reef dive as you would a walk in the park, suggests TV gardener David Domoney. The seascape may be more animal than plant, but we can still enjoy the spectacle of the 'Atlantis Flower Show' more...

Well away from the crowds, mv Sheena is well-placed to explore the more southerly atolls of the Maldives. John Liddiard reports from the cleaning station more...

As the Maldives opens new areas to tourism, Tim Ecott explores the remote dive sites of Noonu Atoll. Photos by Koen Zuurbier more...

If you like exciting diving, you'll like the Maldives. Here are 99 things you should know about these unique islands, put together by many-times visitor John Bantin more...

Shortly before the Boxing Day Tsunami, Miranda Krestovnikoff visited the Maldives to fulfil a long-held ambition - to dive with manta rays. In purely diving terms the natural disaster has had little effect on this popular destination, and following Miranda's story we bring you a report from Gavin Parsons, who made a post-tsunami visit in mid-January. more...

How can a diver justify returning again and again to the Maldives? Easily, says John Bantin, kicking off this month's Maldives Special more...

The Maldives didn't suffer the human cost inflicted elsewhere by the Boxing Day Tsunami. Gavin Parsons went to investigate what happened there under water, and found signs of coral improvement rather than decline more...

Bathalaa Maaga Kan Thila - if you think those four words are difficult to remember, go and dive the site and, promises Christian Routin, you'll never forget it - he reckons it exemplifies all that's best in Maldivian diving. As a former divemaster there, he offers the professional's view more...

Hang-out of celebrities whose names are only whispered, you too can dive from this luxurious Maldivian island if you want to splash out. Monty Halls wangles another tough assignment more...

Its hard coral might have taken a hammering, but the Maldives still boasts the wealth of marine life that makes this one of the world's premier diving attractions, says John Bantin more...

If you want to dive with the big beasts, what better way to do it than from a big beast of a liveaboard with every refinement money can buy? Nigel Eaton enjoys the high life aboard Four Seasons Explorer more...

A liveaboard holiday is the only way to go in the Maldives, as far as Cris Little is concerned more...

Why worry, when you have personal assistants to defog your mask for you before a dive, and swaddle you in a bathrobe after it? Such molly-coddling can't compensate for below-par diving, of course, but when you're in the Maldives' Ari Atoll, who needs to compensate? John Bantin reports more...

The Maldivean flag flies at half-mast to commemorate the tsunami. But did it leave its mark on the reefs? Gavin Parsons finds out. more...