Kudhi Maa Wreck - South Malé Atoll
The Kudhi Maa Wreck is a real treat, tucked away in South Malé Atoll. This isn't some ancient galleon, it’s a deliberately sunk cargo vessel, perfect for divers. We love that it’s sitting upright and mostly intact, inviting you to explore its open cargo holds, which are now completely overgrown with a mix of colourful soft corals and thick formations of staghorn and table corals. Our favourite part is dropping down into the holds, where shafts of light cut through the water, revealing clouds of glassfish swirling around the rusted metal. Keep an eye out in the blue, because blacktip reef sharks often cruise past, and we’ve even had whale shark sightings here – rare, but it happens. For photographers, the contrast of the dark wreck against the bright corals is fantastic, especially mid-morning. It’s a pretty easy dive, suitable for most levels, with average currents making for relaxed exploration of a wreck that’s truly become part of the reef.
- Location
- South Malé Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- 3.590797, 72.882744
- Type
- wreck
Marine Protected Area: Aa.Kudarah Thila
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
- Adam Faru - 5-20m (reef)
- Admiral 1 - 24m (wreck)
- Admiral 3 - 23m (wreck)
- Alikoe Giri - 16m (pinnacle)
- Alimas Faru (reef)
- Ali Tila (pinnacle)
- Anna Giri - 25m (pinnacle)
- Appa Thila - 21m (pinnacle)
- Aquarium (reef)
- Banana reef (reef)
- Banner Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- Biyadoo Housereef (reef)
- Biyadoo Kuda Giri (pinnacle)
- Black Coral Faru - 15-35m (reef)
- Boahura Express - 25m (drift)
Nearest Dive Centres to Kudhi Maa Wreck
- Aquafanatics - ["PADI"]
- Aqua Quest - ["PADI"]
- Ayala Bubbles
- Best Dives Hathaafinolhu - ["PADI"]
- Dive Center
- DivePoint Guraidhoo - SSI, internationally recognized Diving Agency
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
- Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) - Reef Fish
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Staghorn coral (Acropora valida) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora austera) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora secale) - Hard Corals
- Table coral (Acropora clathrata) - Hard Corals
- Lineated Butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
- Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) - Sharks & Rays
- Staghorn coral (Acropora lutkeni) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora nasuta) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora aculeus) - Hard Corals
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- Crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) - Starfish
- Coral Blenny (Istiblennius edentulus) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora tenuis) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora paniculata) - Hard Corals
- Tuna (Thunnus alalunga) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora solitaryensis) - Hard Corals
Recommended Packing List for Kudhi Maa Wreck
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