The iconic shipwreck in Vaavu Atoll has broken off the shallow lagoon and is drifting away at sea, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) coastguard said urging caution for vessels travelling in the area.
MNDF said the shipwreck is expected to drift along the channel between Vaavu Atoll and Meemu Atoll and urged vessels travelling around the area to be wary especially during dark.
The origins of the Vaavu Shipwreck remain shrouded in mystery. What is known, however, is that the vessel succumbed to the relentless forces of nature during a massive storm in 2015, coming to rest at a dramatic 140-degree angle in the shallow waters of Kuda Lagoon.
Unlike deeper wrecks reserved for experienced divers, this shipwreck is a snorkeler’s dream as its bow emerging from the waters offers a striking visual from the surface.
The shipwreck attracts dozens of tourists and locals every day and was renowned one the top snorkelling sites in the Maldives.