Vaavu shipwreck drifts away from Keyodhoo lagoon

The famous shipwreck in Vaavu atoll, a popular attraction among tourists and locals is now adrift.

The vessel, which capsized near Keyodhoo lagoon, has floated off the reef and is currently drifting northwest through the atoll, carried by ocean currents. It is expected to continue toward the Alihuras sea, according to Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

MNDF has urged seafarers to exercise caution, particularly at night, when navigating the sea area around Vaavu atoll.

The shipwreck was a key highlight of Vaavu atoll’s local tourism scene. Tourists from nearby islands, guesthouses and resorts regularly visited the site for sightseeing and diving excursions.

It also featured prominently in tour packages and promotional material for the atoll’s guesthouses.

The wooden vessel, which lay just outside the jurisdiction of Keyodhoo island, was maintained by the Vaavu Atoll Council. It had become an iconic structure, with much of its hull visible above sea level until it sustained significant damage during heavy rainfall in January.

Since then, the ship had flipped upside down, exposing the underside and diminishing its once picturesque appearance.