DIVE SITE
SHIPYARD

With the kind permission of iDive Maldives

Two storage vessels caught fire while being towed in the process of being deposited in the 1980s. Both ships were almost vertical on the reef of a channel, resting on a sandy bottom at about 30m. One of them remains in its initial position, but the second one fell on the bottom during a violent storm. It is very easy to spot the site due to one boat's bow, which is visible from the surface. The wrecks are still in a good condition and now host a rich fauna. Skipjack 1 offers good explorations from the surface, and is suitable for snorkelers. Skipjack 2, the second boat, lies on its port site parallel to the reef at more than 20m.
The reef of the channel presents beautiful overhangs where divers will be able to spot stingrays, moray eels and nurse sharks.

The water entry can be performed anywhere on the site, but divers will need to make a current check prior to entering. As the site is in a channel, the current is almost always present and can be strong sometimes. During incoming currents, divers should enter further to the west of the bow tip, and during outgoing currents, a whirlpool can appear close to the western ship. Divers will need to spend minimal time at the surface.

Most of the time, divers will have enough time to explore both ships. The dive usually starts close to the bottom at 25-30m. In order to find the vessel that lies on the bottom, Skipjack 2, prefer following the reef instead of trying a vertical descent.
When getting close to the non-decompression limit, divers can then gradually ascend while visiting the Shipjack1, which has many swim-throughs. At the end of the dive, divers can ascent and perform the safety stop along the wreck or a little farther away where they will be able to encounter schools of batfish. An SMB will be needed to facilitate the recovery by the dhoni.

As the two ships are in a channel, the exploration can sometimes be difficult if the current is too strong. During rough conditions, it is recommended to visit only Skipjack 1, where divers will be protected from the current.

The ships have a lot of passages and dive-throughs that should be avoided if the conditions are rough, in order not to damage the wrecks. This site is accessible throughout the year and is suitable for divers with experience at 20-30 meters.