Beneath the Blue: Colombo Dockyard Eyes Underwater Restaurants in Maldives

In a captivating blend of marine beauty and cutting-edge engineering, Sri Lanka’s Colombo Dockyard PLC is diving deeper—literally—into the hospitality sector of the Maldives. The shipbuilding and heavy engineering company has revealed that it is actively seeking new opportunities to construct underwater restaurants in the island nation, following the successful delivery of two high-profile projects.

These ventures come as part of Colombo Dockyard’s broader push to internationalize its heavy engineering business. According to a recent stock exchange filing, the company is “actively seeking involvement in several potential projects for the construction of underwater restaurants in the Maldives,” buoyed by growing regional demand for unique, high-end tourism infrastructure.

The latest delivery includes a 12-passenger underwater restaurant, a sleek subaquatic structure designed to immerse diners in the mesmerizing world of coral reefs and marine life. This marvel was towed from Colombo and reached the Maldives on March 28. Installation preparations are currently underway, supervised by the company’s technical experts.

Earlier, on February 20, Colombo Dockyard completed an ‘Underwater Gallery Structure’—another architectural gem that blends engineering precision with oceanic aesthetics. This structure, towed across the Indian Ocean, was successfully installed at its Maldivian location on May 16, 2025.

The Maldives, renowned for its turquoise lagoons and luxury resorts, has become a hotspot for such ventures. Underwater restaurants have become a sought-after attraction, offering guests the rare thrill of dining amidst tropical fish and coral gardens—all without getting wet.

A Strategic Crossroads

The underwater ambitions come at a critical juncture for Colombo Dockyard. Its controlling shareholder, Onomichi Dockyard of Japan, has signaled its intention to divest, prompting the company to seek a strategic investor to steer the next phase of its growth. This potential transition could significantly influence the company’s global positioning, especially in niche markets like underwater construction.

For now, Colombo Dockyard’s work in the Maldives stands as a testament to the region’s growing appetite for immersive luxury experiences—and to Sri Lankan ingenuity in helping bring them to life.

As waves lap gently over the newest submerged dining halls of the Maldives, Colombo Dockyard seems poised to make a deeper mark beneath the surface—one underwater marvel at a time.