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The damaged shipwreck at Keyodhoo: strong currents have tipped it upside down in the water. Image: Screenshots Instagram / Hevana Maldives

Popular tourist attraction in the Maldives badly damaged

The famous shipwreck at Keyodhoo in the Vaavu Atoll, a magnet for divers and snorkellers, has been severely damaged by strong currents and storms. The wreck, which has become one of the most popular attractions in the Maldives over the years, could soon disappear completely at high tide.

Heavy rains and strong currents have caused significant damage to the famous shipwreck at Keyodhoo in the Vaavu Atoll in the Maldives – a popular attraction for divers and snorkellers.

Pictures and videos on social media show the wreck now lying upside down in the water. Parts of the hull that were previously hidden underwater are now visible, while the mast is badly damaged. According to reports, the wreck could completely disappear under water at high tide in the future.

Tourism industry and travellers are shocked

The strong ocean currents caused by bad weather are said to be responsible for the capsizing of the Indonesian shipwreck. In social media comments, tourism professionals and travellers to the Maldives express their dismay.

Canadian Tiktoker Jen Darling, who runs a visitor centre on Fulidhoo Island, shared her thoughts in an Instagram post: «Eight years ago, there were no corals here. They died last year after a bleaching event, and now this is happening. It's just sad.»

The wreck, which was discovered by two fishermen ten years ago, had become a magnet for tourists over the years. Originally, the ship was to be salvaged, but it drifted and finally ran aground south of Keyodhoo.

Local diving centres transformed it into an underwater attraction by planting corals. However, the recent damage raises the question of whether it will continue to be preserved as a tourist highlight.

So far, there have been no official statements from the Vaavu Atoll Council, which manages the region. However, the events are a major blow to local tourism, as many guesthouses and resorts offered daily excursions to this special place. Whether the wreck can be saved remains uncertain.

(TN)