Two Decommissioned Aircrafts Submerged to Create New Dive Sites in Kudagiri
Photo: HDC
Two decommissioned aircrafts have been submerged in the lagoon of K. Kudagiri to establish new dive sites.
The Housing Development Corporation (HDC), which manages the picnic island, stated that the dive sites are being developed to enhance the experience of visitors to the island. The aircraft used in the project include two old Dornier planes, one of which is the Dornier 228—among the first aircraft acquired by Air Maldives.
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The new dive site has been named ‘The Dhoonier Wreck,’ a reference that blends aviation history with the underwater landscape of the Maldives. According to HDC, the name is inspired by the Dhivehi word ‘Dhooni,’ meaning bird.
The site is being developed in collaboration with the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) and the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC).
The planes were transported to the site on an MTCC barge, and the event was attended by MTCC’s Managing Director, DCP (retired) Ahmed Saudhee, as well as the Minister of Tourism, Ibrahim Thoriq.
Kudagiri was designated as a picnic island for residents of the Greater Malé area.
