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Vaavu shipwreck flips upside down in bad weather

Images and videos circulating on social media show the wreck, now flipped upside down. Hevana Maldives, a guest house in Keyodhoo, shared videos on Instagram that reveal the ship’s hull partially submerged and the mast severely damaged.

Malika Shahid
08 January 2025, MVT 15:45
Vaavu atolls famous shipwreck flipped upside down -- Photo: Hevana Maldives
Malika Shahid
08 January 2025, MVT 15:45

The recent torrential rains in the Maldives have caused extensive damage to the famous shipwreck in Vaavu atoll, a popular local tourist attraction near Keyodhoo.

Images and videos circulating on social media show the wreck, now flipped upside down. Hevana Maldives, a guest house in Keyodhoo, shared videos on Instagram that reveal the ship’s hull partially submerged and the mast severely damaged.

Vaavu atolls famous shipwreck flipped upside down -- Photo: Hevana Maldives

It is believed that the strong ocean currents during the recent bad weather were responsible for the ship flipping. Parts of the ship’s hull, previously underwater, are now visible above the waterline. People have claimed that the shipwreck may no longer be visible during high tide.

No official statements have been released so far by the Vaavu Atoll Council, which maintains the area where the shipwreck is located.

The incident has saddened many, with social media users expressing their emotions about the shipwreck’s current state.

Popular TikToker Jen Darling, a Canadian who operates an excursion center in Fulidhoo, shared videos of the wreck on her Instagram.

"I feel so sad about this... When I came to Vaavu eight years ago, there were no corals growing. Last year the corals died after a bleaching event. and now this," she said on her Instagram story.

Underwater footage shared by Jen highlights further damage, including the separation of the ship’s engine section and the breaking of the stern.

The shipwreck, a popular site of local tourism, attracted tourists daily from Vaavu atoll and Kaafu atoll, islands and resorts.

Many excursion packages offered by guest houses and resorts featured dives near the wreck, which had become an attraction for divers and snorkelers.

The shipwreck was first discovered 10 years ago by two fishermen from Felidhoo. While the fishermen had tried to bring the Indonesian ship to island without it sinking completely, their efforts had been unsuccessful. The ship had been docked near the island but later drifted and ran aground in the lagoon south of Keyodhoo. Over the years, local guest house divers planted corals around the wreck and transformed it into a tourist destination.

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