The Kuda Giri wreck is one of the main wreck dives in the South Male Atoll.
The small intact wreck known locally as the Kuda Giri lays head first towards a giri
or reef tower, the bow at 18m of depth and the
stern at 30m.
Stony,
Staghorn and Table corals and a variety of sponges take care of the
surface of the wreck and every now and then a large Frog Fish can be seen hiding
amongst the wires of the mast. Clouds of Glass Fish in the captain’s
cabin, cargo hold and machine room. A small school of large Blue Fin Travelly
herd hundreds of Fusiliers around the wreck
trying to pick off the slowest ones in an everlasting game of cat and mouse.
For the experienced divers there is the possibility to penetrate the wreck,
either through the machine room and exciting at the stern or at the front cargo
spaces and exciting at the bridge. It is fairly cramped inside compared to the
well known Red Sea wrecks but the Kuda Giri offers an incredible dive for small
groups during the day and the most magical night dive you could wish for. I
was lucky and managed to do this dive at night with only my buddy Lisa, the
wreck took on an eerie quality with only the light of two lamps.
After
20 minutes exploring the wreck the reef next to it is ideal to extend the bottom
time at shallower depth. You can circle the reef tower assending slowing
whilst checking out the pretty overhangs with white Acabria corals, yellow Chagos
Calcite sponges and
Faulkner’s corals. Whilst circling this reef look closely at the broken
dead Staghorn coral at approx 12m where you may find a resident Leaf Fish making an
excellent photo opportunity. A couple of nice swim through’s can be found at 15m and 7m
of depth to keep you hooked on this site in the shallow part of the dive.
In
the Maldives the location of islands, reefs and 'thilas' cause great
irregularity in the flow of current streams inside atoll passes. Many local boat
captains show great skill in telling the direction of the current by observing
tiny ripples or wave patterns on the surface. However, the dive guide often
jumps into the water to determine the exact strength and direction. Please
remember this on the Kuda Giri dive as when you approach the surface be aware of
the direction of current so as not to be washed in to or away from the reef or
boat.
Stony,
Staghorn and Table corals and a variety of sponges take care of the
surface of the wreck and every now and then a large Frog Fish can be seen hiding
amongst the wires of the mast. Clouds of Glass Fish in the captain’s
cabin, cargo hold and machine room. A small school of large Blue Fin Travelly
herd hundreds of Fusiliers around the wreck
trying to pick off the slowest ones in an everlasting game of cat and mouse.
After
20 minutes exploring the wreck the reef next to it is ideal to extend the bottom
time at shallower depth. You can circle the reef tower assending slowing
whilst checking out the pretty overhangs with white Acabria corals, yellow Chagos
Calcite sponges and
Faulkner’s corals. Whilst circling this reef look closely at the broken
dead Staghorn coral at approx 12m where you may find a resident Leaf Fish making an
excellent photo opportunity. A couple of nice swim through’s can be found at 15m and 7m
of depth to keep you hooked on this site in the shallow part of the dive. 
In
the Maldives the location of islands, reefs and 'thilas' cause great
irregularity in the flow of current streams inside atoll passes. Many local boat
captains show great skill in telling the direction of the current by observing
tiny ripples or wave patterns on the surface. However, the dive guide often
jumps into the water to determine the exact strength and direction. Please
remember this on the Kuda Giri dive as when you approach the surface be aware of
the direction of current so as not to be washed in to or away from the reef or
boat.