CORAL REEFS, ISLANDS SAVED TSUNAMI-HIT MALDIVES FROM FURTHER DAMAGE: EXPERTS

Channel NewsAsia, March 13, 2005

MALDIVES : Many television viewers have seen for themselves the
destructive power caused by the Asian tsunami.

But what kind of damage did it cause to the underwater ecology in places
like the Maldives?

These scuba divers are about to find out if what they have read and seen
in the brochures are true.

Holidaymakers flock to the Maldives because of its natural beauty and so
far they have not been disappointed by what they have seen on land.

Laura Richards, a tourist from England, said: "It's paradise, it's
heavenly, I have not been anywhere else in the world that has got such a
'wow' factor. When you arrive, or when you are on the island, it's
fantastic."

The Maldives is not just a haven for beach-goers. It is also a paradise
for scuba divers, but what was the impact of the tsunami on the marine
life?

Seeing is believing. The coral reefs are intact and the fish are hanging
around.

That was a pretty good dive in my book, the marine life was abundant and
simply breath-taking."

Kamil Niedzielski, Scuba Instructor of Euro Divers, said: "Directly after
the tsunami, we were afraid how the reef looks like, because it was
connected with very strong current.

"We were diving a few days after the tsunami, we could see that actually
nothing happened to the reef, because very often in Maldives, we have very
strong currents. Our reefs are used to this. Of course it is extremely
strong current, but very little damage if any was done. I cannot see any
difference."

If the tsunami could destroy concrete buildings on land, what could have
possibly saved the underwater coral reefs?

Azeez Hakeem, Director of Conservation at Banyan Tree, Vabbinfaru, said:
"Maldives is made up of several reefs in different directions and
different atolls. So when the tsunami came, it must have hit different
reefs.

"The force must have been broken at a certain point, and when it reached
certain islands, the force was reduced. These reefs must have saved us
because what we find is that most of the islands that are facing the
eastern side, those really blocked the full impact of it, while most on
the western side, were protected by these reefs. This is what I believe."

The locals said the usual heavy storms caused even more damage to the
reefs.

There was also an added bonus for those brave enough to take the initial
plunge after the tsunami.

Kamil Niedzielski added: "My first impression during the first few dives
was that we have more sharks than we had before, but it was only for a few
days."

Whether or not you see more fish underwater, it seems the natural beauty
and attraction of the Maldives are still there for everyone to discover. -
CNA