Hembadhoo Wreck - North Malé Atoll
Hembadhoo Wreck isn’t one of those wrecks that takes ages to find, then you get there and it's just a few ribs sticking out of the sand. We like this one because it's a properly intact vessel, lying on its starboard side, absolutely covered in growth. The fishing trawler is about 30 meters long, and you can swim right along the deck, peeking into the wheelhouse. Our favourite part is the way the light filters through the structure. You get these shafts of sunlight cutting through the gloom, highlighting the schools of glassfish that swirl around the mast. Look closely and you'll spot moray eels tucked into every crevice and scorpionfish blending into the rusted metal. It's a relaxed dive, usually with mild currents, making it great for photographers or anyone who wants to take their time exploring a real character wreck. We’d suggest going in the late morning, the light penetration is just lovely then.
- Location
- North Malé Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- 4.455266, 73.410820
- Type
- wreck
Marine Protected Area: K. Boduhithi Thila
Best Time to Dive in North Malé Atoll
The warmest water temperatures in North Malé Atoll occur in April, averaging 30.9°C. The coolest conditions are in January at 28.6°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.6°C
- February: 28.9°C
- March: 29.8°C
- April: 30.9°C
- May: 30.1°C
- June: 29.6°C
- July: 29.6°C
- August: 29.6°C
- September: 29.4°C
- October: 29.2°C
- November: 29.3°C
- December: 29.0°C
Nearby Dive Sites in North Malé Atoll
- 5 Palms, Thulusdhoo - 18m
- Abaandance Faru - 21m (reef)
- Ahmedbe Thila - 24m (pinnacle)
- Airport Beyru - 25m
- Akirifushi - 5-20m (reef)
- Akirifushi Kandu - 25m (drift)
- Ali Giri (pinnacle)
- Amin Faru - 21m (reef)
- Amingiri Sandbank Reef - 17m (reef)
- Amra - 26m
- Anemone Thila - 19m (pinnacle)
- Anniela Thila - 20m (pinnacle)
- Asdhoo Wreck - 21m (wreck)
- Asdu House Reef (reef)
- Back Faru
Nearest Dive Centres to Hembadhoo Wreck
- Agua Zone
- Amba Dive Maldives - ["PADI"]
- Amphibuzz Dive
- ATD Conte Max and Duke of York - ["PADI"]
- Best Dives Centara Mirage Lagoon - ["PADI"]
- Best Dives Olhahali - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in North Malé Atoll
Home to 101 recorded species including 42 reef fish, 41 hard corals, 5 sea snails & nudibranchs, 4 seagrass & algae, 3 sharks & rays, 2 sea cucumbers.
Notable Species
- Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) - Reef Fish
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Staghorn coral (Acropora valida) - Hard Corals
- Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) - Sharks & Rays
- Staghorn coral (Acropora austera) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora secale) - Hard Corals
- Table coral (Acropora clathrata) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora lutkeni) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora nasuta) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora aculeus) - Hard Corals
- Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- Coral Blenny (Istiblennius edentulus) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora tenuis) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora paniculata) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora solitaryensis) - Hard Corals
- Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora cytherea) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora donei) - Hard Corals
Recommended Packing List for Hembadhoo Wreck
Based on average water temperature of 29.5°C, currents 10 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 30°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories