The National Boating Association of Maldives (NBAM) called for a thorough investigation into the diving incident in Vaavu Atoll involving a group of Italian tourists on Saturday.

Five Italian divers went missing near Alimatha in Vaavu Atoll during a diving operation. Authorities have recovered one body so far, and search efforts continue for the remaining four individuals.

The incident has garnered international media coverage.  

In a statement, the association emphasized that the Maldives' reputation as a prime diving destination means such incidents could impact both the maritime industry and tourism sector.  

NBAM highlighted that safety in the boating and diving industries remains a top priority and expressed their willingness to cooperate in upholding safety standards.  

The association urged authorities to complete a full investigation before taking any punitive measures against those involved, emphasizing that actions should not be taken prematurely or without conclusive evidence.  

They also stated that legal action should be reserved for parties found negligent following the inquiry.  

Furthermore, NBAM called for the regulation of technical diving activities through a monitoring and regulatory framework developed in consultation with tourism industry stakeholders, based on international best practices.  

The association underscored that safeguarding tourists’ safety and protecting the reputation of the tourism industry are essential, and that measures are necessary to prevent similar incidents in the future.  

Meanwhile, Staff Sergeant Mohamed Mahudhee of the Maldives National Defence Force tragically died on Saturday during the search and rescue efforts.  

The government announced that international technical diving experts are expected to arrive in the Maldives on Sunday to assist with the ongoing rescue operation.