Two rundown planes have been submerged at the lagoon of K. Kudagiri to create dive sites.
Housing Development Corporation (HDC) – that manages the picnic island – said these dive sites are developed catering to the picnic-goers visiting the island.
Planes being submerged to create the dive site. (Photo: HDC)
The two planes submerged to the future dive site include two old Dornier aircraft, which included the Dornier 228, one of the first aircraft purchased by Air Maldives. The new site is dubbed ‘The Dhoonier Wreck’ which according to HDC, “merges aviation history with the blues of the Maldives”.
HDC also added the site is named after the Dhivehi word ‘Dhooni’ (translation: bird).
Beneath the waves of Kudagiri now lies the Dornier 228, one of the first aircraft purchased by Air Maldives. The Dhoonier Wreck merges aviation history with the blues of the Maldives.Named after the Dhivehi word Dhooni (bird), the Kudagiri Dhoonier Wreck is set to become an… pic.twitter.com/WeUQLTlulg
— Housing Development Corporation (@hdcmaldives) March 15, 2025
HDC is developing the site in collaboration with the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) and the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC).
Weights were used to submerged the planes. (Photo: HDC)
Photos and videos of the planes being submerged to the lagoon were shared by HDC, which showed weights were used to pull down the planes under water. Both planes were transported to the site on board an MTCC barge. Both the Managing Director of MTCC, DCP (retired) Ahmed Saudhee and the Minister of Tourism, Ibrahim Thoriq participated in the event.
Kudagiri was developed as a designated picnic island for Greater Male’ area residents.