Minister Mausoom to take part in British Loyalty shipwreck dive event

Tourism Minister Dr.Abdullah Mausoom | photo: Tourism Ministry

Addu City, Maldives – Tourism Minister of Maldives, Abdullah Mausoom is to take part in the diving event held to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the British Loyalty shipwreck in Addu City.

The events steering committee has decided to hold a diving event on January 5, 2021 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of ‘British Loyalty’ ship sinking in Addu City.

Tourism Minister Mausoom will be doing the honors of participating in this divers event along with other senior officials of the ministry.

Event plans state that after an initial kickoff ceremony at Maradhoo harbor on the 5th of January 2020, 75 divers will dive to the wreck.

The British Loyalty shipwreck is popular diving destination in Addu City, and according to Maldives boat club, the ship survived torpedo attacks on 2 separate occasions but was scuttled by the British as they withdrew from the Atoll in 1946.

Now the ship lies 33 meters under water between the islands Maradhoo and Hithadhoo. The site is easily accessible by boat, as it is less than 25 minutes away even from Gan.

The ship is covered with hard and soft corals that are home to a large number of small fishes. It is also surrounded by groups of fishes, including blue-fin jack and turtles that swim around the ship. At times, the divers also find Manta rays and sharks around the Loyalty ship.