Home / Environment / Maldives Planes Sink to Build Coral Reefs
Maldives Planes Sink to Build Coral Reefs
22 Oct
Summary
- Retired Air Maldives aircraft now form artificial reef foundation.
- Coral fragments attached to frames to restore marine habitat.
- Project combines aviation heritage with marine tourism and conservation.
Retired aircraft from the Maldives' first national airline are being repurposed as an underwater marine habitat. Two Dornier 228 planes, formerly of Air Maldives, were submerged in 2025 near Kudagiri Island to establish a distinctive diving attraction. This project, known as the Kudagiri Dhoonier Wreck, seeks to encourage coral growth and biodiversity.
In May 2026, a significant coral restoration event occurred where international media delegates attached coral fragments to underwater frames. These frames were then placed at the wreck site, advancing the goal of creating a developed marine habitat. The initiative is a regenerative tourism effort by the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation and others, blending aviation history with marine conservation.
