MAMANUTHA PRINCESS - Kadavu & Great Astrolabe Reef

The Mamanutha Princess isn't your typical grand wreck, but we love it for its unusual story and the way it’s settled into the reef. This 12-meter motor vessel caught fire near Sheraton in '93, burned to the waterline, then drifted clear across to Malamala before finally sinking. You can really feel that history here. Today, she rests at a shallow 21 meters, fully colonised. It’s more of an artificial reef than a traditional wreck exploration, but the sheer volume of critters is what makes it. Expect to spend your dive poking around the burned-out hull, spotting octopus tucked into crevices and moray eels peeking from beneath plates of rusted steel. We’ve seen juvenile reef sharks circling the perimeter and schools of fusiliers using the structure for shelter. It’s an easy dive, perfect for photographers looking for macro subjects or anyone who enjoys a relaxed exploration of a well-established wreck. Go early to avoid other boats if you can; the light through the shallow water really brings out the colours of the corals growing on the hull.

Location

Kadavu & Great Astrolabe Reef, Fiji, Central & South Pacific

Coordinates

-17.760216, 177.312880

Type

wreck

Maximum Depth

21m

Marine Protected Area: Great Astrolobe Lagoon