Maldives Police Service, on Monday, revealed that a man died while diving for baitfish from a fishing vessel off the coast of Gahdhoo, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll.
According to the police, the man was motionless when the remaining individuals aboard the vessel found him underwater at approximately 1600 hrs and immediately returned to the island.
The man was already deceased when he was taken to the Gahdhoo Health Centre.
The Gahdhoo island council identified the man as 21-year-old Abdhul Baais Abdhulla.
The police are conducting further investigations into the matter.
Various members of the Divers Association of Maldives have raised concern about the dangers of decompression sickness for divers that bypass diving limits and international best practice guidelines.
Given the closing of hyperbaric chambers, following travel bans implemented across the Maldives in response to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, any persons attempting to scuba dive, particularly at depth, face considerably higher risks due to lack of access to treatment.
The closest chamber to Huvadhoo Atoll (Gaafu Alif and Gaafu Dhaalu) is located in Addu Atoll at a distance of 127 kilometres or reachable by approximately eight hours of travel by sea.
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