Situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean the coral reefs of the Maldivian archipelago represent one of the richest ecosystems on the planet. Comprised of 26 Atolls and roughly 1200 islands the Maldives supports a huge abundance and diversity of marine animal and plant life. For millions of years corals have grown here, forming the reefs with their hard limestone skeletons, they are the foundation and building blocks of everything that we see existing here today. Without the coral reefs and islands which they create the Maldives would cease to exist. It is therefore vital that the coral reefs in the Maldives and around the world are protected for the benefit of the environment and for future human generations.