A total of 26 coral atolls stretching all the way to the equator comprise Maldives. Within these atolls are 1,200 islands, out of which only about 200 are inhabited. Of these inhabited islands, about 100 are resorts. But no island is ever the same here. Some are known to be best for snorkeling, others are more suitable as jump off points to nearby dive sites. Some are virtually treeless, while some possess shifting and moveable beaches.

Some islands reportedly move up and down their reefs due to weather conditions and natural tectonic action. There’s even that issue about these islands being in danger of getting submerged by rising sea levels, due to global warming. It doesn’t help that it’s the world’s lowest country, with even its highest natural point being the lowest in the world.

But asianTraveler and veteran lensman Don Oco did not go to Maldives out of fear of needing to see it before it disappears. He went to photograph the place just for the sheer pleasure of showing travelers how beautiful the islands are. Whether or not the predictions on the islands come true, at least one man has already done his share in immortalizing the views.