LAGANBANK - Vaavu Atoll
The Laganbank sits upright, pretty much intact, and is one of our favourite shallow wrecks in Vaavu Atoll. We’re talking easy diving, usually calm conditions, and a decent penetration for those who know their way around an overhead environment. You’ll find the bridge and engine room still have plenty to explore, though watch for silting if a few divers are making their way through. We often see giant moray eels peeking out from the darker corners, and the schools of glassfish shimmer like liquid silver inside the cargo holds, sometimes so dense they block out the ambient light. This is a site we’d recommend for anyone looking for a relaxed dive with plenty of structure, or for photographers wanting to play with natural light filtering through the deck openings. It’s certainly not a deep, dramatic wreck, but its accessibility and the sheer volume of resident fish make it a standout for us.
- Location
- Vaavu Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- 2.115000, 73.573330
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 0m
Marine Protected Area: L. Maabaidhoo Koaru adhi Fushi Kan'du Sarahahdhu
Best Time to Dive in Vaavu Atoll
The warmest water temperatures in Vaavu Atoll occur in April, averaging 30.5°C. The coolest conditions are in January at 28.7°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.7°C
- February: 28.9°C
- March: 29.4°C
- April: 30.5°C
- May: 30.1°C
- June: 29.9°C
- July: 29.8°C
- August: 29.9°C
- September: 29.8°C
- October: 29.3°C
- November: 29.3°C
- December: 29.2°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Vaavu Atoll
- Alimatha Circus - 10-30m (channel)
- Alimatha Jetty - 8-18m (reef)
- Boulder Spot - 19m
- Broken rock (reef)
- Coral Ridge - 17m (reef)
- Deep Boulder Thila - 22m (pinnacle)
- Deep Thila - 29m (pinnacle)
- Devana Kandu (drift)
- Dhidhoo corner (out reef) (reef)
- Dhigurah Arches (cave)
- DiveOceanus - 5-20m (reef)
- Farikede Faru
- Fish Bank - 10-25m (pinnacle)
- Fish Thila - 23m (pinnacle)
- Five rocks (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to LAGANBANK
- Aquafanatics @NH Havodda - ["PADI"]
- Blue Journeys - ["PADI"]
- Deep - ["PADI"]
- Dive point - PADI
- DivePoint Vadoo - SSI
- Fuvahmulahdive Dive Maldives
Marine Life in Vaavu Atoll
Home to 53 recorded species including 20 reef fish, 9 hard corals, 8 seagrass & algae, 4 sharks & rays, 4 crabs & lobsters, 3 octopus & squid.
Notable Species
- Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) - Reef Fish
- Lineated Butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) - Reef Fish
- Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Tc (Thalassodendron ciliatum) - Seagrass & Algae
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- Cloudy Dascyllus (Dascyllus carneus) - Reef Fish
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- Crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) - Starfish
- Nightlight Lanternfish (Myctophum lychnobium) - Reef Fish
- Racoon (Chaetodon lunula) - Reef Fish
- Tuna (Thunnus alalunga) - Reef Fish
- Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) - Sharks & Rays
- Hunchback Locust Lobster (Petrarctus rugosus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Spotted Lanternfish (Myctophum nitidulum) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Si (Syringodium isoetifolium) - Seagrass & Algae
- Stony coral (Euphyllia glabrescens) - Hard Corals
- Stripy (Katsuwonus pelamis) - Reef Fish
- Spine coral (Hydnophora exesa) - Hard Corals
- Mimka Bobtail Squid (Euprymna morsei) - Octopus & Squid
Recommended Packing List for LAGANBANK
Based on average water temperature of 29.6°C, currents 19 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