A 66-metre former Maldivian tuna freighter has become one of the newest wreck dives in the Maldives after being deliberately sunk in Noonu Atoll and converted into the centrepiece of an ambitious artificial reef project.
The vessel, which spent decades transporting tuna between Maldivian islands and processing facilities, now rests between 10 and 24 metres, making it accessible to a broad range of recreational divers. The wreck was intentionally sunk in 2024, although the project hit an unusual setback when trapped air caused the vessel to settle upside down. A local recovery team later righted the ship, creating the dive site that officially opened this month.
What makes this launch different from many purpose-sunk wrecks is the long-term conservation component.
Under a programme called “Wreck to Reef,” marine biologists and resort dive staff plan to monitor coral growth, biodiversity and habitat development around the structure. Divers will also be able to participate in coral-planting activities designed to accelerate colonisation of the steel hull.
Early observations already report reef sharks, rays, turtles, schooling fish and both hard and soft coral beginning to establish themselves on the wreck. While such claims should always be viewed cautiously during the first years of any artificial reef project, the site offers a rare opportunity to observe the ecological evolution of a new habitat from its earliest stages.
For wreck enthusiasts, the attraction is obvious: a large, intact vessel in warm tropical water. For marine conservationists, the more interesting question is whether the site develops into a genuinely productive reef ecosystem over the coming decade.
That may ultimately determine whether this becomes merely another resort dive attraction—or one of the Maldives’ most successful artificial reef experiments.
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