Admiral 3 - South Malé Atoll

Admiral 3 isn’t the oldest wreck in the Maldives, but we love its accessible depth and the way it’s become a living reef. This is a purposeful sinking, a 30-meter steel vessel put down years ago to create an artificial reef. You’ll find it sitting upright on a sandy bottom at 23 meters, making it an ideal first wreck dive. The ship itself is largely intact. You can swim through the cargo hold, which is now home to schools of glassfish that shimmer like a liquid curtain. Look out for the resident moray eels peeking from crevices and the occasional turtle resting on the deck. Our favourite part? The entire superstructure is draped in soft corals, purple and orange, swaying gently in the mild currents. Visibility here is usually excellent, often 20 meters or more, which makes for some great wide-angle shots of the wreck against the blue. It’s a perfect dive for beginners wanting to experience a proper wreck, and for photographers looking for a colourful, easily navigable subject.

Location
South Malé Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
3.907800, 73.353000
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
23m
Difficulty
Beginner

Wreck History - Admiral 3

Vessel Type
unknown
Cause
unknown

Much like its nearby counterpart "Admiral 1," the history of the wreck known as "Admiral 3" is not one of naval combat but of purposeful reef creation. This vessel, likely a former fishing boat or small coastal freighter, was deliberately sunk in the South Malé Atoll to foster a new underwater ecosystem for divers to enjoy. Lying on a sandy bottom at 23 meters, it has been thoroughly reclaimed by the ocean. The structure, though small, acts as a magnet for life in the open water. Divers can expect to find lionfish hunting in its shadows, anemones with resident clownfish clinging to its rails, and a variety of reef fish that now call this sunken vessel home. Its unknown past only adds to the charm of discovering the new life that thrives upon it.

Marine Protected Area: K.Guraidhoo Kan'duolhi

Best Time to Dive in South Malé Atoll

The warmest water temperatures in South Malé Atoll occur in April, averaging 30.4°C. The coolest conditions are in January at 28.5°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 28.5°C
  • February: 28.8°C
  • March: 29.4°C
  • April: 30.4°C
  • May: 30.1°C
  • June: 29.6°C
  • July: 29.7°C
  • August: 29.6°C
  • September: 29.4°C
  • October: 29.3°C
  • November: 29.3°C
  • December: 29.0°C

Nearby Dive Sites in South Malé Atoll

Nearest Dive Centres to Admiral 3

Marine Life in South Malé Atoll

Home to 106 recorded species including 44 reef fish, 41 hard corals, 6 sea snails & nudibranchs, 4 seagrass & algae, 3 sharks & rays, 2 other.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Admiral 3

Based on average water temperature of 29.4°C, currents 19 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°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