#maldives

#maldives

The remains of four Italian divers who died deep inside an underwater cave earlier this month while diving in the Maldives were repatriated early Saturday, a Maldivian government spokesperson said. The four coffins arrived at Milan's Malpensa Airport in the middle of the day. The bodies were taken to a morgue and autopsies were due to begin on Monday, according to Italian news agency LaPresse.

Initial teams had already dived to identify and mark the entrance to the cave system where the Italians disappeared. The cause of the deaths remains under investigation. The recreational diving limit in the Maldives is 30 metres.

Divers in the Maldives have resumed their search for the bodies of four Italian scuba divers who drowned while exploring a deep underwater cave. Due to rough weather on Friday, Maldivian authorities had temporarily suspended the high-risk operation to recover the bodies of the divers who, according to Italy's foreign ministry, had apparently died while attempting to explore caves at a depth of 50 metres (164ft). Mohamed Hussain Shareef, the Maldives presidential spokesperson, said eight divers took part in Friday's search, working in pairs, with a plan to continue the mission on Saturday.

The documentary, titled Aisha, featured an anonymized interview with a woman who claimed she had had a sexual relationship with Muizzu. The woman, a 22-year-old single mother, said the affair took place last year, shortly after she joined the President's Office as an administrator.

Visiting only one island limits the experience in the Maldives, as the archipelago consists of nearly 1,200 islands, many of which are uninhabited. Island-hopping is essential to fully appreciate the beauty and diversity of the region.

The Maison has long shone a light on exquisite art. Toward the end of the 19th century, the Maison commissioned Czech artist Alphonse Mucha to create its first advertisement, the first such collaboration between a Champagne house and an artist. Since 2008, 12 contemporary artists have been entrusted with Ruinart's Carte Blanche to reimagine not just the Maison's legacy, but also its long-standing pledge to sustainability.

The Maldives began implementing a smoking ban on anyone born after January 2007, becoming the only country with a generational prohibition on tobacco, according to its health ministry. The move, which was initiated by the president, Mohamed Muizzu, earlier this year and came into effect on 1 November, will protect public health and promote a tobacco-free generation, the ministry said.

The "Level 2" advisory, which was re-published Oct. 7 with an updated summery, alerts travelers they should be aware of potential terrorism in the island country. "There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in the Maldives," the State Department warned, adding American travelers should "stay aware of your surroundings" and "avoid demonstrations and crowds." The State Department added it was possible attacks may occur around tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets, malls, and around local government facilities.

In June 2011, Baa Atoll in the Maldives became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve along with the likes of Komodo Island in Indonesia and the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. The atoll is home to one of the largest groups of coral reefs in the Indian Ocean (it's the seventh largest in the world) and supports over 1,200 species of fish and 250 species of coral.

To create a definitive guide to the best hotels in the Maldives is no easy feat. The archipelagic country sets the standard when it comes to superior island living. It's where overwater stays come as standard, privacy is a given and natural beauty is all around. The calibre is sky high. Boutique stays and lo-fi boltholes are a rarity. Instead, world-class hotels are spread out on their own private islands, nestling state-of-the-art spas and multiple restaurants amongst lush jungles, pristine beaches and house reefs.

The architecture of Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives is conceived not as a statement of form, but as a stage for nature.