Beautiful Places across The World: 2012

5/19/2012

Maldives Marine Life http://www.maldivesdivetravel.com

MALDIVES MARINE LIFE

The Maldives are known for their huge variety of marine life. For all scuba and marine life enthusiast?s we have put together this growing list of fish in the Maldives.

Angelfish

Residing in the coastal reefs of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans is a fish family known as the angelfish group ( Pomacanthidae ). This group of marine species is adored by scuba divers and marine life enthusiasts from all over the world due to their vibrant colors and laterally compressed bodies. Angelfish... Read more about the Angelfish

Barracuda

The barracuda , of the Sphyraena genus, is a-ray finned fish known for its large size and fearsome appearance. The barracuda is a fierce-looking solitary predator that lives in tropical salt waters all around the world. Barracuda Habitat The barracuda fish tends to inhabit tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide, such as the... Read more about the Barracuda

Blue Lined Snapper

The blue-lined snapper ( Lutjanus Kasmira ), which is sometimes referred to as the blue-stripe snapper belongs to the snapper family of Lutjanidae. The blue-lined snapper is a common marine species found in the Indo-Pacific waters. It features a bright yellow body with about four to six horizontal blue stripes. Blue-Lined Snapper... Read more about the Blue
Lined Snapper

Butterflyfish

The Butterflyfish ( Chaetodon benetti ) is a marine species belonging to the Chaetodontidae family. It is a reef-dwelling fish that is distinguished by its attractive, bright coloration. There are many different species of Butterflyfish occuring in Indo-Pacific waters, from East Africa to the Pitcairn Islands, north to Japan and south to... Read more about the Butterflyfish

Clownfish

Clownfish , or Orange fish, are fishes from the subfamily Amphiprioninae of the Pomacentridae family. There are plenty of different species of Clownfish that can be found in warm waters around the world, including the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The Maldives are home to a number of Clownfish varieties. The Clownfish is... Read more about the Clownfish

Eagle Ray

The eagle rays are a group of cartilaginous fish that are part of the family of Myliobatidae . Eagle rays are basically large species of rays that unlike many ray species, tend to live in the open ocean rather than on the bottom of the sea. The Genus name of this type of fish is Aetobatus which is a word derived from the Greek... Read more about the Eagle Ray

Grey Reef Shark

The grey reef shark ( Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos ) is a species of the requiem shark. It is one of the most common reef sharks in the Indo-Pacific. Mainly because they tend to actively expel most other shark species from favoured habitats; which are of course the coral reefs. Grey Reef Sharks are agile and fast swimming... Read more about the Grey Reef Shark

Long Nose Hawkfish

The long nose hawkfish ( Oxycirrhites Typus ) is one of the most popular types of hawkfish. It is found primarily in Indo-Pacific waters, among other places, and especially in shallow water close to black corals and rocks. Long nose hawkfish are often solitary fish yet strongly territorial with one male presiding over a group of 2 to... Read more about the Long Nose Hawkfish

Manta Ray

The manta ray , ( Manata Birostris ), also known as the Pacific Manta, Devilfish, or just Manta, is the largest species of ray in the world; manta rays are commonly found with fin spans of over 17 feet, while the largest Manta Ray on record measured an enormous 25 feet across. The manta ray is one of the most popular animals to see while... Read more about the Manta Ray

Moorish Idol

The majestic Zanclus Cornutus , more famously known as the moorish idol , is one of the most popular fish among saltwater aquarium enthusiasts all over the world. The only member of the Zanclidae family, the moorish idol is commonly sighted in the exotic Indo-Pacific waters. The moorish idol is often mistaken for a butterfly fish, due... Read more about the Moorish Idol

Napoleon Wrasse

The Napoleon Wrasse ( Cheilinus undulatus ) is a marine fish that is mainly found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean living on the slopes of the coral reefs. The napoleon wrasse is also known as the Humphead Wrasse or the Maori Wrasse and many people simply refer to it as the Napoleonfish. The Napoleon Wrasse is the largest living member of... Read more about the Napoleon Wrasse

Oriental Sweetlip

Oriental Sweetlip The oriental sweetlip ( Plectorhinchus Orientalis or Vittatus ) is a reef-dwelling creature, family of the Haemulidae, and one of the most common types of fish found around the islands of the Maldives. It is a fish that undergoes a drastic change in colour from childhood to adulthood and is therefore appealing to... Read more about the Oriental Sweetlip

Parrotfish

The parrotfish is a subgroup of the Labridae family and one of the most important groups of herbivorous fishes found on coral reefs all over the world. They are interesting multicolored fish; for example at night time they cover themselves in a mucous cocoon that protects them from predators; and have many responsibilities when it... Read more about the Parrotfish

Stingray

The stingray , from the family of rays Dasyatidae , is a shark-related fish that has cartilage rather than bones. They commonly inhabit coastal tropical and subtropical marine waters throughout the world. Their name comes from the barbed stinger on their tail, their principal characteristic, which is used mainly in self-defence.... Read more about the Stingray

Triggerfish

The triggerfish species includes various, usually brightly-coloured fish that make up the family of the Balistidae . Triggerfish are a very visually attractive species, and they tend to be marked with lines and spots and can be found in Indo-Pacific waters as well as the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Triggerfish... Read more about the Triggerfish

Whale Shark

The whale shark ( Rhincodon typus ) is the largest of all fish species alive today. A filter-feeder, the whale shark feeds mainly on plankton and can grow to lengths of 40 feet, and can weigh up to 47,000 pounds. The whale shark is a distinctive fish, dark in colour with white spotted patterns on its back and is a favourite... Read more about the Whale Shark

Zebra Shark

The zebra shark ( Stegostoma Fasciatum ) is a species of carpet shark. It is a nocturnal animal that spends most of the day resting motionless on the sea floor until night time comes and the shark goes out hunting for food. Zebra sharks are strong and agile swimmers that propel themselves with eel-like wave movements of the body and... Read more about the Zebra Shark

5/14/2012

Agios Nikolaos Hotel Reviews » Daios Cove Resort Hotel. Luxury straight from the Gods - from The Travel Editor .com

Admittedly it was 4.30am and I might not have been functioning at full speed, but when the taxi dropped me off at the Daios Cove reception, I swear I was staring at an angel.

Hang on a minute I thought, perhaps the taxi crashed on the way and this is what the gates of heaven really look like. She was standing right at the end of a glass enclosed walkway dressed entirely in white behind a counter that was bathed in a yellow glow and smiling straight at me. Wow.

It transpired of course, that everyone gets greeted this way no matter what time of the day or night they arrive. A quick check in (keeping the formalities to a minimum) a welcome drink and a whisk up one floor to check out the stunning view over the bay before you get transported to your room. My view was a little more stunning than usual I suspect given the sun was just beginning to coming up and the entire bay was bathed in new dawn red. It really was a magnificent moment.

Having recovered from the shock of my potential demise, (albeit the angelic downside didn't seem all that bad) the room turned out to be equally heavenly. A large contemporary space with plenty of comfortable furniture and a breathtaking view through the floor to ceiling patio doors of my private infinity pool above the huge expanse of Cretan sea below. The huge bed was wrapped in crisp cotton linen and a choice of pillows, whilst the luxury open plan bathroom included a bath as well as a separate rain forest shower room.

The Daios Cove resort hotel is a brand new luxury property built high up on the side of a spectacular piece of Cretan coastline just 40 minutes east from the capital Heraklion and close to both Elounda and Agios Nikolaos.

The trade off for having such a spectacular view and a private secluded beach front is the distance and elevation you have to negotiate to get from your room to the rest of the property. This has been resolved via a series of funiculars that transport you across the various levels of the estate or taking one of the numerous chauffeured golf carts available 24 hours a day. Of course, if you fancy the exercise, you could just walk, and then you'll be guilt free to indulge yourself eating a plentiful buffet feast in the main restaurant or sample Cretan specialities in the Taverna which holds lively Greek theme nights once or twice a week. The Ocean Club, Daios Cove's signature fine dining restaurant delivers up an excellent menu of classic Italian dishes given a contemporary twist.

I seemed to be on a permanent high throughout my stay at Daios Cove; that fabulous view followed me wherever I went, and at night, eating out on the terraces, I could still hear the sound of the waves rolling in around the bay. Relaxing as all this was, experiencing the hotel's giant spa with its Germaine De Capuccini treatments and its state of the art facilities (including my particular favourite, a walk through shower where you experience numerous kinds of water therapies as you make your way through it) left both my Ying and my Yang somewhere in Zen dreamland.

Everything here has been thoughtfully designed and delivered, from the exquisite public rooms, to the consistent smile and acknowledgement you get from every member of staff.

There is a level of luxury and sophistication at Daios Cove that will be hard to match anywhere on Crete... and for me, as long as they keep employing angelic receptionists, I will be a very happy man indeed.

Vathi , Agios Nikolaos, Greece