Ari & Rasdhoo Atolls · Maldives · Wreck · Night
Kuramathi Queen
40 m supply boat at 20 m, sheltered enough for night dives
Area photo: John Hepburn · CC BY 4.0
A 40-metre supply boat sunk in 1987 off Kuramathi and now a shallow, sheltered wreck resting at a maximum depth of 20 metres. That combination suits every diving level and makes the site a good night dive. It is a wreck dived for its small residents: crabs, shrimp, lobster, a large resident moray eel and stingrays in the sand.
Also known as Kuramathi Queen Wreck.
Where it is and how deep
4.2625° N, 72.9798° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The wreck is a 40-metre supply boat sunk in 1987 and sitting at a maximum depth of 20 metres, so there is time to work slowly along the hull rather than making one pass at depth. The sheltered position is as much of the appeal as the ship: the source calls the site perfect for all diving levels, and a 20-metre maximum keeps the plan simple from the descent to the safety stop.
This is a macro dive more than a structure dive. Different species of crab, shrimp and lobster live in the plating, a large moray has taken up residence, and stingrays are often out on the sand around the hull. The same combination is why the sheltered location is described as making a great night dive, when torchlight brings the crustaceans out and the sand animals become easier to find.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Kuramathi Queen
- Type
- Supply boat
- Length
- 40 m (131 ft)
- Sunk
- 1987
- Cause
- Not published; the source records only that she was sunk in 1987
- Lies
- On the bottom in a sheltered spot, at a maximum depth of 20 m
Marine life and season
- Macro critters
- Stingrays
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Prime |
Season follows Ari & Rasdhoo Atolls: Dry NE monsoon (Dec-Apr) brings the calmest seas and clearest water; the SW monsoon (Jun-Oct) lowers visibility but pushes plankton onto the western sides, the best manta months.
Questions divers ask
Is the Kuramathi Queen suitable for beginners?+
Yes. The wreck rests at a maximum depth of 20 metres in a sheltered spot, which the source describes as perfect for all diving levels.
Can you night dive the Kuramathi Queen?+
It is one of the area's better night dives. The sheltered location makes it straightforward after dark, and the crabs, shrimp, lobster and stingrays that live on and around the wreck are easiest to find by torchlight.
Sources
- Kuramathi Queen (Wreck) — Scubago
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