I This stunning country consists of 26 atolls (ring-shaped reef, island, or chain of islands formed of coral) and over 1,000 islands that rise from the Indian Ocean. It is the beauty of these islands, and their many resorts, that has made the Maldives one of the world's most popular tropical destinations. We arrived at the capital city of Malé, a tiny 1.7 square kilometre city with a population of more than 105,000 people, which is one of the world’s most densely populated islands. The warm tropical breeze hits you as soon as you step out of the airport. We found the speedboat that would take us to our resort at the big jetty in front of the airport, among a taxi rank of boats. It was a bumpy ride, but scenic nonetheless. The luxurious resorts of the Maldives are part of what make it famous. There is accommodation to suit all budgets, but, I highly recommend splurging on one of the famous overwater bungalows. We arrived at our resort to one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen — you could dive straight into one of the most world-renowned diving sites from our bedroom. Once we had settled in, we went down to the bar to relax and view the incredible sunset over the Indian Ocean, and then tucked into a delicious seafood dinner. We headed back to our bungalow after the sun had set and admired dozens of tuna swimming in the water below, illuminated by the soft lights installed beneath our room. I will never forget waking up the following morning with the fresh sea breeze blowing through our bungalow and the sun rising over the ocean. I recall having butterflies in my stomach and thinking to myself, “Is this real life?” I put on my bikini and headed to breakfast. I will never forget inhaling the pure air, feeling the soft white sand between my toes, and taking in the pristine reef so clearly visible through the turquoise waters of the Maldives. DESTINATION 15