Maldives

The Maldives is a chain of low-lying coral atolls strung across the equator, offering luminous lagoons, reef-fringed anchorages and day-sailing between sandbanks. For the cruising sailor, this is a destination of contrasts: serene passages inside atoll lagoons and boisterous ocean swells in the channels; simple village jetties and high-end resort moorings. Understanding the monsoons, the reef passes and the formalities is key. Get those right and you will unlock a unique cruising ground of clear-water anchorages, reliable trade winds in season and world-class snorkelling with manta rays and whale sharks.