Maldives The Underwater Kingdom

Photographs of marine wildlife found around the coast of the Maldives, Indian Ocean

The coral reefs surrounding the Indian Ocean islands of the Maldives have some of the most spectacular coral reefs on the planet. From brightly coloured reefs and fish to great swarms of manta and mighty whale sharks, the ocean surrounding the Maldives certainly is a watery treasure trove of life.

Scubazoo, a team of British dive photographers working across the islands, were so concerned about the potential impact of climate change to this fragile environment, they documented the sea life in all its glory for a book - Maldives: The Underwater Kingdom. Above, a humphead or Napoleon wrasse off the coast of South Ari Atoll. 

Despite coral bleaching, which occurs as water temperatures increases, causing the corals to be bleached white and die - the Maldives still remains one of the best places in the world to dive and spot sea life 

A coral grouper being cleaned by a clear cleaner shrimp 

Several manta rays feeding near Baa Atoll 

The eye of a redlip parrotfish in Baa Atoll 

A juvenile hawksbill turtle takes its first swimming strokes after being released as part of the breeding programme in North Male Atoll 

A blackfoot anemonefish in an anemone near Alila Gaafu Atol 

A view of South Ari Atoll 

A school of spotted eagle rays silhouetted against the surface swimming near South Ari Atoll 

A juvenile hawksbill turtle takes its first swimming strokes after being released as part of the breeding programme in North Male Atoll 

A silhouette of a diver and a school of bigeye trevallies off the coast of Vaavu Atoll 

A glorious flatworm swimming near Baa Atoll 

A juvenile yellow boxfish seen near South Ari Atoll 

Maldives: The Underwater Kingdom published by Scubazoo