Basically, it was a really fun departure. We request and receive a block altitude clearance on the HF from Colombo radio for levels between 180 and 240 with the intent of finding a non-icing flight level. Breaking out south of Sri Lanka, the Indian Ocean is a beautiful sight. Atoll formation is an interesting process. These islands all start as volcanoes.
Coral grows in the shallow oceans surrounding the volcano.
Over time, the volcano is eroded and to some extent sinks under its own weight leaving just a coral atoll which continues to grow even as the volcano continues to sink. Eventually, the coral reefs themselves disappear as the sea floor itself gradually descends into the ocean trenches. In the Maldives, the central volcanoes are gone. Only atoll reef segments are left. Inside the marker, we're greeted by the sight of an airport that looks like no other.