Maldives sinks two retired aircraft to create its first plane wreck dive site

The Maldives, a favourite destination for tourists the world over, has surprised everyone once again. The country, known for its blue seas and beautiful islands, has now done something new on the sea floor. Two retired Dornier 228 aircraft that once served Air Maldives, the country's first national airline, have been sunk in the deep waters of the Indian Ocean. The main aim is to create an artificial coral reef and a tourism attraction under the sea.

The project has been named the Kudagiri Dhuniyaar Wreck Project. It has been set up in a bay near Kudagiri Picnic Island. The name is also special. In the local Dhivehi language, "dhuni" means "bird", and the word "yar" was taken from the Dornier aircraft's name, giving the name Dhuniyaar. These iron "birds" that once flew in the sky now rest on the calm sea floor and are becoming a new home for marine life.

Both Dornier 228 aircraft were once regarded as the backbone of air travel in the Maldives. They made successful flights with the state-owned airline until 2000. The Dornier 228 is a twin-engine aircraft that can take off and land on a very short runway (STOL). In an island nation like the Maldives, where runway length is limited, the 19-seat aircraft proved very useful for carrying passengers and cargo and for emergency missions.

After being withdrawn from service, the aircraft were parked at Hulhule airport. Instead of selling them for scrap, the Maldives government decided to reuse them to protect the marine environment and give tourism a new direction.

Placing such large aircraft safely in the sea was not easy. The project was completed jointly by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) and the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC). The aircraft were brought to the bay on barges and lowered slowly with a large crane to a depth of about 12 metres (39 feet).

To keep the aircraft from overturning or shifting in strong currents, special heavy weights have been attached to their outer structure and wings. Before they were lowered into the water, all fuel, oil and hazardous chemicals that could harm the environment were completely cleared from the aircraft, so that the marine environment would not be damaged.

Conservation teams have tried to get coral to grow on the aircraft structures. Representatives of international media and marine experts have attached live pieces of coral to special frames and placed them safely on and around the aircraft. Over time, a web of coral will form on the aircraft, and colourful fish of many species, turtles and other marine creatures will make their home there.

The site lies at a depth of only 12 metres. Not just professional scuba divers but also snorkellers and free-divers will be able to see the aircraft from the surface. Swimming in the Maldives' clear blue water and watching the aircraft on the sea bed, with colourful fish swimming around it, will be a memorable experience for tourists from around the world. The project, which promotes tourism while reviving marine life, is being described as an example for the whole world.