An area of 1,000 nautical miles have been searched for the diver who went missing last Thursday, says the military.
Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) said they have searched the surface and underwater for 23-year-old Ahmed Jailam, who went missing while diving for sea cucumbers near HDh. Huruelhi, an uninhabited island, on February 16.
Speaking at the Coast Guard building on Sunday, Coast Guard’s Principal Director Lieutenant Colonel Mohamed Saleem said it was dangerous to dive without proper training, as Jailam did.
Colonel Saleem said that Jailam had done three dives back-to-back lasting 45 minutes, while even professional divers would do three dives total, including one dive at night.
It has been three days since Jailam has gone missing, and authorities found it difficult to say if he would be found alive.
Three diving teams, Coast Guard ships, a Maldivian seaplane and an aircraft from Conrad Maldives Resort are currently on the search, informed Colonel Saleem.
He added that International Maritime Rescue Coordination centers have been informed, which means foreign vessels in the area will be aware of the search.
