Foreign divers to lead cave search from Tuesday

Government spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef said on Monday that divers from the Maldives National Defence Force involved in the search for missing Italian divers will only conduct dives that do not expose them to decompression sickness risks.

The search operation began after four Italian divers went missing last Thursday near a cave at the Alimatha dive point in Vaavu Atoll.

During the operation, Sergeant Mohamed Mahudhee died after developing decompression sickness while participating in a dive at a depth of approximately 60 metres.

Mahudhee later died while receiving treatment at ADK Hospital.

Following the suspension of the operation after the incident, three divers from Finland arrived in the Maldives to assist in the search.

Speaking to Dhauru, Shareef said MNDF divers would now only participate in non-decompression dives conducted at recreational scuba diving depths.

“The cave dives will be conducted by the expert foreign divers, who are highly skilled and experienced in such specialised operations. It has been decided that the Maldivian divers will not descend to those depths,” he said.

According to Shareef, the foreign divers are currently conducting orientation dives to familiarise themselves with the area before beginning the main search operation.

The operation also involves divers from two Maldivian companies assisting with survey work.

Shareef further stated that Remotely Operated Vehicles are being used during the search operation, although underwater currents have affected their deployment.

“God willing, the divers will commence the full-scale search operation tomorrow [Tuesday],” he said.