A Wreck That Wrecked to Live Some More Part #3- Wreck Below
- Karishma Puri and Chetana B P
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
The life of the Vaavu shipwreck did not end when it was claimed by the sea. Even as the wooden vessel broke apart, its remains gradually settled and established itself as a landmark in the ocean. Fish seeking hiding places found it, and coral larvae searching for substrates chose to settle in its nooks, as did sponges, oysters, slugs and other invertebrates from reefs near and far. Schooling fusiliers probably followed plankton trails leading to the wreck. With every passing moment, new layers of history were added to this being, its human story likely written off when it failed to return to shore ten years ago.
With submergence, it started a new chapter, chronicling the various shifts in the ship’s new purpose, from functioning as a mode of transport to becoming the heart of a habitat. Its processes going from being streamlined and mechanical, to wild and organic. Once a vessel built for movement, the ship now rests in stillness, yet remains as dynamic as ever.
As a visitor, you first have to swim through gatherings of damselfishes and anthias before coming alongside the wreck’s body. Unlike fusiliers, these fish do not cover much distance when they swim. They prefer to hover and make short dashes around their resource-rich territories that they guard oh-so-vehemently. Get close enough to the wreck for its rusted bolts to snap into focus, and you’ll find a dazzling living gallery of invertebrate life parked on the structure. From tunicates and sponges to colonies of hydroids and all sorts of coral!
We have wondered how a sunken ship specifically makes for a good habitat for life to grow on. Could it be the availability of structure and complexity? Nooks, crannies, overhangs and chambers offer hiding places for both predator and prey. What about stability? For many sessile invertebrates - like corals, oysters, sponges, and tunicates – life comes with a one-shot decision in choosing their permanent homes. As their free-swimming larval phase ends, they must choose a spot where they will be able to survive and thrive through adulthood.
What role does the material of the ship have to play? While wood might eventually rot and metal can corrode, many shipwrecks have proven remarkable resilience, their structures enduring decades – sometimes centuries – of salt and current, and of colonisation. It’s their lasting presence that makes them ideal real estate for marine life, offering a stable foundation for a period of time, in an otherwise shifting seascape.
What lies ahead for the Vaavu shipwreck and the marine life that resides in its quarters? We hope that the wreck continues to weave itself into the life of the reef-coral colonies spilling over its beams in infinite colour, sea fans swaying gloriously from its railings, and an omnipresence of fish like guardians of the wreck. Until we get the opportunity to return to this being again, all we can do is wonder, hope and dream about the life it is becoming.
Read the first two stories in this series:
About the Authors
Karishma is a photographer whose work is based on the stories of people, action, and community. Right now, she’s chasing stories underwater—capturing marine life and the ways we live, work, and play in the sea.
Chetana is a wildlife biologist, ocean explorer and educator. Dogs love her almost as much as she loves them.
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