HISTORY AND CULTURE

Inside the Reef Cave That Nearly Took My Life

Inside the Reef Cave That Nearly Took My Life

Crystal-clear waters reveal the dramatic coral formations along the reef front of

Against the Wind: A Vedi Voyage Remembered

Against the Wind: A Vedi Voyage Remembered

Artistic interpretation of a traditional Maldivian vedi battling monsoon seas during a

Guardians of the Deep and the Shark Myths of the Maldives

Guardians of the Deep and the Shark Myths of the Maldives

Midjourney illustration of a traditional tiger shark hunt in the Maldives. By

The Whispering Keyvai and the Spirit Landscapes of the Maldives

The Whispering Keyvai and the Spirit Landscapes of the Maldives

Layers of green in the heart of the island. From the towering

Aerial view of a pristine white sand beach and turquoise lagoon in the Maldives, showcasing the clear underwater world.

Why 2026 Could Be the Luckiest Year to Discover the Maldives

Yasir Salih

In the heart of the Indian Ocean, where the turquoise waters of

Group photograph from the official launch of the Maldives My Islands website at Gnaviyani Atoll School, showing students, educators, contributors, and community members gathered for the event.

Preserving Maldivian History: A Digital Archive of Island Traditions

Yasir Salih

In 1984, beneath the salt spray and sun of Fuvahmulah, a journey

Close-up detail of a Tiger Shark (Femunu miyaru) showing its unique patterns at the Tiger Zoo in Fuvahmulah.

Fuvahmulah’s Tiger Zoo Where the Ocean Revealed Its Guardians

Yasir Salih

The stories of the Maldives are rich in every sense. Though its

A historical black and white illustration of a traditional Maldivian island village with thatched-roof houses and coconut palms.

How the Maldivian Island House Became a Blueprint for Survival

Yasir Salih

By the time the afternoon light softens across a Maldivian island, shadows

Black-and-white photograph of a street in Malé showing residents walking between walled homes and trees in the early twentieth century.

Recording a Living Culture

Yasir Salih

Early Encounters That Documented Maldivian Society When the first scientific expeditions reached

Aerial view of Addu Atoll in the Maldives, showing the dense tropical greenery, white sandbanks, and the transition from shallow reef flats to deep lagoon water.

The Dhivehi Language: How Local Names Reveal Maldivian Sea Secrets

Yasir Salih

How Maldivian words shaped the science of coral reefs Long before scientists

Historical map of Indian Ocean trade routes showing monsoon wind patterns connecting Arabia, India, East Africa, and Southeast Asia.

The Maldives at the Crossroads of the Indian Ocean

Yasir Salih

For centuries, the Maldives have been portrayed as remote—tiny islands scattered across

Illustrated sperm whale swimming through deep blue ocean water, rendered in a painterly style.

The Bodumas and the Sperm Whale in Maldivian Culture

Yasir Salih

By the time a wooden sailing vessel slipped beyond the coral rim