British Loyalty
The Maldives' Largest Wreck
Video published with the permission of our guests Sailing Olena - Thank you!
In the calm, current-protected heart of Addu Atoll's lagoon lies the British Loyalty: a 140-metre former oil tanker, sunk just after the Second World War, and to this day the largest shipwreck in the Maldives. Built in 1928, the ship survived a wartime torpedo attack before eventually being scuttled here in January 1946 — and the evidence is still visible underwater today.
The wreck lies on its starboard side. Her port side rises to around 16 metres, encrusted with hard coral; her deepest sections rest at roughly 33 metres on a silty bottom. A descent line marks the way down, useful given that visibility on the wreck can vary. Once there, divers can explore the bridge, follow the bilge passage through the structure, and finish at the rudder and the four-bladed propeller — still largely intact and now wrapped in coral growth, with one blade missing from decades underwater. It's a dive that rewards a slow pace. Torpedo damage from the attack that nearly ended the ship's life is still visible in places, making the history feel close rather than abstract. Look for the resident great barracuda often patrolling the darker passages, alongside reef fish that have made the steel hull their home.
Why it matters for wreck divers
There is no other wreck like it in the Maldives — most of the archipelago's diving is reef and channel, not history. For divers who've done their share of coral gardens and want something with a story attached, the British Loyalty is the one Maldivian wreck worth planning a trip around.
Dive Profile
Depth | 16 m (port side, shallowest) to 33 m (deepest structure) |
Current | Minimal — the wreck sits inside the protected lagoon, sheltered from the open-ocean currents found elsewhere in the atoll |
Visibility | Variable; can be reduced compared to outer reef sites, part of what gives the wreck its atmosphere |
Level | Advanced Open Water recommended for the deeper sections and any swim-throughs; the shallower port side is accessible to less experienced divers under guidance |
Highlights | Intact propeller and rudder, bridge structure, visible torpedo damage, bilge passage, resident barracuda |
Best time to dive: Year-round; sheltered location inside the lagoon means it's rarely weathered out.
Why dive British Loyalty with Muraka Diving
Just minutes by boat from Addu Meedhoo, the British Loyalty is one of our signature local dives. Our guides know the wreck's layout well — where the light falls, where the barracuda tend to hold, and how to time the dive so you're not sharing the propeller with another group's bubbles.
➡️ Learn more about our diving rates and find the perfect package for your adventure.