Siyam World Maldives has introduced one of the newest and most notable wreck dive experiences in the Maldives. Created from a former Maldivian tuna freighter, the 66.36-metre vessel now lies beneath the waters of Noonu Atoll, providing divers with a new underwater attraction while also serving a broader environmental purpose. Through natural coral development and ongoing restoration efforts, the wreck is expected to gradually evolve into a thriving living reef, creating habitat for marine species and contributing to the long-term wellbeing of the surrounding ecosystem. This transformation from shipwreck to living reef forms the basis of Wreck to Reef, Siyam World's new annual conservation initiative under the Sun Siyam Cares sustainability platform.
The inaugural Wreck to Reef event will take place from June 11 to 15, 2026, bringing together divers, marine conservationists, scientists, content creators, ocean advocates, and guests to mark both the launch of the wreck and the beginning of its journey towards becoming a living underwater ecosystem. While the shipwreck is a key attraction, the wider conservation initiative remains the central focus of the programme.
At the centre of the project is a former Japanese-built tuna freighter dating back to the 1980s. Measuring 66.36 metres long and weighing 499 tonnes, the vessel previously transported Maldivian tuna between the atolls, Malé, and local canneries before being repurposed beneath the waters of Noonu Atoll. Once used to carry Maldivian tuna across the country, the vessel has now entered a new phase beneath the sea. The concept originated in 2021 when Sun Siyam Group Founder and Chairman, Hon. Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, shared a vision of creating a meaningful underwater attraction in Noonu Atoll that would not only appeal to visitors but also support the future of the marine environment. This vision led to an extensive process of locating, preparing, and purposefully sinking a vessel capable of serving as both a premium dive site and the foundation for a future reef ecosystem.
Following its discovery in Lhaviyani Atoll, the vessel was carefully cleaned and prepared near Malé. After obtaining government approval, it was transported to Noonu Atoll and intentionally sunk within Siyam World's territorial waters in October 2024. During the sinking operation, trapped air caused the vessel to settle upside down on the seabed. A local team from Miladhoo subsequently spent several weeks using large air bags, ropes, and considerable effort to rotate the wreck into its intended upright position. Today, the bow faces dramatically towards the reef at a depth of 10 metres, while the stern reaches 24 metres, creating an accessible and engaging dive experience for certified divers.
Marine species have already begun inhabiting the site. Recorded around the wreck are guitar sharks, blacktip reef sharks, nurse sharks, lemon sharks, grey reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, eagle rays, stingrays, turtles, moray eels, octopus, groupers, snappers, boxfish, batfish, angelfish, nudibranchs, and large schools of jackfish. Soft and hard corals have also started colonising the structure, marking the early stages of its development into a thriving underwater ecosystem. The pace at which marine life has adopted the wreck since its recent opening has surpassed expectations, highlighting its potential as one of the Maldives' most significant artificial reef projects.
The ship itself was never intended to be the final objective. Instead, it serves as the starting point of a conservation programme designed to develop over many years. Unlike a conventional dive attraction, Wreck to Reef is structured as a long-term initiative aimed not only at creating one of the Maldives' most exciting wreck dives but also at establishing a living ecosystem that guests can help build, monitor, and observe as it grows.
Through guided coral planting experiences, participants will have the opportunity to attach coral fragments directly to the wreck, supporting habitat creation for marine life and contributing to the continued growth of the reef. Each coral fragment becomes part of a larger restoration effort that extends well beyond a single dive experience.
As the initiative progresses, guests will be able to track developments through future editions of Wreck to Reef, updates from Sun Diving's marine experts, and a formal reef monitoring programme overseen by resort Marine Biologist Mariyam Thuhufa (Thuhu). Coral growth, biodiversity levels, and overall ecosystem development will be monitored and evaluated every three months, generating measurable data on the wreck's transformation into a living reef. The project aims to create a lasting connection between travellers and the marine environment by encouraging active participation in ocean restoration while ensuring environmental outcomes can be monitored, measured, and shared over the long term.
The first edition of Wreck to Reef will include a comprehensive programme featuring official opening dives on the wreck, coral planting dive sessions, marine conservation discussions, local island visits, beach and reef clean-up activities, reef observation dives, blue-light night diving experiences, community engagement initiatives, and a closing gala celebrating the ocean and those committed to its protection.
Delivered through the Sun Siyam Cares sustainability platform, the initiative reflects the group's commitment to generating meaningful environmental impact while offering guests an opportunity to contribute to a larger cause. With official approval to cultivate coral fragments directly on the wreck, the site will function as a living laboratory for reef restoration, biodiversity enhancement, marine education, and long-term conservation.
Commenting on the launch, Sara, Director of Marketing at Sun Siyam Resorts, said: "Wreck to Reef is probably the boldest story we have ever set out to tell from Siyam World, and definitely the most patient one. This is not a single event, nor is it simply the launch of a new dive site. It is the beginning of a long-term commitment to reef restoration, ocean conservation, and meaningful guest participation. Every guest who plants a coral fragment becomes part of a story that will continue growing long after they leave our shores."
For Siyam World, the initiative reflects the character of the resort itself: adventurous, unconventional, and closely connected to the Maldives. Guests can experience the excitement of exploring a newly established shipwreck and also take part in the creation of a growing marine ecosystem. At Siyam World, adventure extends beyond the surface of the ocean and, in this case, begins twenty-four metres beneath it.
To find out more, visit our website or follow @siyamworld on social channels.
