Stella Maru

The Stella Maru is one of Mauritius's landmark wreck dives, a Japanese fishing vessel that sank in the waters off the northern coast and now rests at a maximum depth of twenty-six meters, where decades of Indian Ocean colonization have transformed her into one of the most biologically rich artificial reefs in Mauritian waters. This advanced dive combines the atmospheric appeal of wreck exploration with the extraordinary tropical biodiversity that makes Mauritius such a rewarding diving destination. The descent to the Stella Maru drops through warm, clear water that reveals the wreck in stages — first the masts and upper structures appearing as dark silhouettes, then the deck and hull materializing with increasing detail. The vessel sits upright on the sandy seabed, her fishing boat profile still clearly recognizable despite the extensive marine growth that has transformed every surface. The remaining rigging and mast structures create vertical habitats rising from the wreck, their metal surfaces colonized by soft corals and gorgonians that flutter in the gentle current. The biological richness of the Stella Maru is genuinely extraordinary. Years of sustained marine succession have created a reef ecosystem of remarkable complexity on the vessel's structure. Hard corals grow in substantial colonies on the deck and horizontal surfaces, while the hull plates are covered in a dense mosaic of sponges, tunicates, and encrusting organisms. The diversity of growth creates microhabitats at every scale, from the broad deck areas where schooling fish gather in dense aggregations to the tiny crevices where nudibranchs and flatworms navigate in slow-motion splendor. The wreck's fish community reflects the artificial reef's maturity. Large groupers have established permanent territories within the hull structure, while schools of snappers, fusiliers, and batfish create moving clouds of activity around the superstructure. Lionfish occupy every overhang with their ornamental presence, and the moray eels that inhabit the wreck's countless crevices are among the largest in the area. Turtle visits are a regular bonus, with both green and hawksbill turtles attracted to the sponges growing on the wreck. The Stella Maru represents Mauritius wreck diving at its finest — a site where maritime history and marine biology have merged to create an underwater experience that satisfies both the explorer and the naturalist. For advanced divers, this iconic wreck is an essential Mauritius experience that demonstrates the Indian Ocean's extraordinary capacity for transforming human artifacts into thriving natural ecosystems.