Between June 26 and July 2, 2006, me and my wife spent our honeymoon on one of the Maldive Islands. Located in the heart of the Indian Ocean, with the Equator on the southern edge of the Maldives Archipelago, the Republic of Maldives comprises some 1190 islands spread over 26 atolls.

The locals have recognised the importance of tourism to the welfare of the country, yet the tourism infrastructure has developed with complete respect to the environment - no beach is artificial and all resort buildings have been erected carefully between the tropical palm trees. Unspoilt islands, lagoons with turquïise waters and an astonishing reef underwater life with scores of tropical fish and colourful corals set up a scenery of paradise on earth, a very popular destination to honeymooners and divers.

The gallery is divided into three subgalleries, each one with a distinctive character. I photographed Maldives from the sea plane which flew us from Male' International Airport to our resort island; from sea level - apparently no ground level is higher than 2 meters above sea level; and under the water while snorkelling.