Maldive Victory, Maldives | Diving Spot, How To Reach

Maldive Victory, Maldives Overview

If one were to describe the Maldive Victory in a single sentence, it would be "there is always something destructive in something beautiful". The Maldive Victory is a famed wreck diving spot with picturesque resorts encompassing it.

Situated between the gorgeous islands of Male and Hulhule, the position of the wreck is marked by a buoy, which acts as a reference point for the dive boats to moor at. The tragic shipwreck has given rise to a wonderful marvel of nature, where a plethora of aquatic animals, including spiny mackerels, fusiliers, turtles, batfish, groupers, and barracudas, have found their homes. With brightly coloured coral reefs ornate in the depths of the sea, the Maldive Victory is one of the most extraordinary diving sites in the entire nation. The area is now a marine reserve.

The iconic Maldive Victory formerly used to be a cargo ship, which drove up to a reef in the North Male Atoll of the beautiful island nation of Maldives in 1981, and sank. Constructed a decade before its unfortunate crash, the Maldive Victory was a colossal freighter with a capacity of 3500 tonnes. With a length of 110 metres and a width of 13 metres, it adorned the sea with its grandeur. Within a few years after the mishap, the ship was discovered by a few dive operators who transformed it into a splendid dive site.

History of Maldive Victory

On the 13th of February, 1981, the gigantic cargo ship, carrying cement sacks, spare parts, and other consumable goods for the resorts in the Maldives, was on its way to the Male Port. However, owing to its high speed, it sailed past the port and crashed into the reef that surrounded the neighbouring island of Hulhule. Devoid of bulkheads at the time, the ten-year-old ship faced its fate while sinking to the seabed. Fortunately, no one was injured, and all the valuable items were salvaged within a year of the crash. At present, only the hardened cement sacks remain in the ship. The wreck of the Maldive Victory is located to the western side of the Hulhule Airport terminal. The deceptively strong currents between the two islands make it mandatory for divers to descend and ascend with the aid of a rope.

The Maldive Victory is one of the unique tourist spots which have a rich and tragic past attached to them. However, the smorgasbord of animals, aquatic plants, and wonderful corals are sure to take your breath away.

How To Reach Maldive Victory

The Maldive Victory is situated at the southwest part of Hulhule, and is in close proximity to the capital city of Maldives, Male. From both these islands, a boat ride takes about 15 to 20 minutes.