Maritime Marvel: Exploring the Fascinating Legacy of M.V. Maldives Victory

The ship settled upright and slightly tilted to the right, with her chains on the port side set free in a last attempt by her crew to rescue her. Unfortunately, the impact when the ship collided into the reef of the airport opened the hull, causing the vessel to take on water. Despite the efforts of her crew, the battle was lost, and the ship sank to a depth of 45 meters below the Male’ International Airport.

The salvage operation of the M.V. Maldives Victory was considered one of the most efficient during that time, carried out by both local divers and expatriates. The wreck was completely transformed to be environmentally and hazard-free within a few months’ time. The furious currents that rushed through the channel sandblasted the old paint on the ship, allowing the salt to slowly eat away at the metal. Monsoon after monsoon brought coral lava, and an artificial reef was formed. This has since become an international hit among divers worldwide and has generated an incredible amount of money for the tourism industry since 1981.

Diving on the M.V. Maldives Victory is a demanding experience, with a maximum bottom time of 20 minutes on an air profile and no deco. Nitrox could extend the dive to a hassle-free no-deco dive of 45 to 50 minutes’ total bottom time, but outgoing currents can make it challenging.

The bridge, wheelhouse, and cargo compartments are the most interesting parts of the wreck. Marine life on the wreck includes occasional giant barracuda, dogtooth tuna, giant travellys with jacks, and lots of nudibranchs. Night dives are especially stunning, revealing a complete opposite scenario with giant Napoleon wrasse sleeping in some of the holds or in the bridge crowded with parrotfishes and mostly the display of corals in full bloom on the wheelhouse.

The Maldives Victory wreck faced further damage during the construction of the Sinamale’ bridge in 2016. The construction resulted in the destruction of two wings of the wreck’s wheelhouse, and substantial damage to three decks below the wheelhouse, including the captain’s cabin. This damage was most likely caused by anchoring during the construction process of The Sinamale Bridge.

The M.V. Maldives Victory remains intact, but its heavy metal decay and other damages have taken a toll on the wreck. Some of the masts that once stood straight have given way, and the coral still blooms, but the sedimentation that storms into it from the airport’s lagoon covers the coral polyps, preventing them from regenerating. As per Article 4 of the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act of Maldives (Act No: 4/93), the Maldives Victory, along with 71 other sites, has been declared a protected area.

However, due to the wreck’s condition, it is recommended to avoid wreck penetration dives in certain compartments. With each passing day, the wreck is getting weaker, and it is essential to preserve it. On a lighter note, we celebrate the 42nd birthday of the Maldives Victory, albeit belatedly. Despite the damages it has suffered, the wreck continues to attract divers from around the world and remains one of the most popular dive sites in the Maldives.

Credits: Images by Mohamed Seeneen, DiveOceanus