Posted on 05/16/2026 8:27:51 AM PDT by dynachrome
A Maldivian Coast Guard diver has died in the effort to recover the bodies of four Italian divers that officials believe are deep inside an underwater cave.
Five divers were killed in the scuba diving tragedy earlier this week, with only one victim’s body recovered so far.
Sergeant Major Mohamed Mahudhee became sick when the search resumed Saturday, 200 feet deep inside an underwater cave in Vaavu Atoll, Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu confirmed. Mahudhee, a member of the Maldivian National Defense Force, was rushed to the hospital, but didn’t survive.
His cause of death is underwater decompression sickness, officials said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
I’ve done wrecks at moderate depth (80-120 feet), but I typically stay on the outside of the ship. Too many things to tangle with your lines and trap you inside the rusty hull and bridge.
That sort of depth is mixed gas stuff, which requires a lot of training and planning.
I get the feeling all these divers were sort of winging it without experience or training.
Been down to 135 feet or a bit deeper, and drifting deeper would have been effortless.
But your nitrogen loading and air consumption keep rising and before long you are in trouble.
You cannot just zoom to the surface as your air runs out, which might have nailed the coast guard diver. Even ascending from such a dive has to be done carefully.
Perhaps? But, the ultimate judge of the female form was Laz, is Laz, and will always be Laz.
Perhaps? But, the ultimate judge of the female form was Laz, is Laz, and will always be Laz.
I get what you’re saying, but on the other hand, what if rescuing divers and returning loved ones was HIS heart’s desire. Do what you love and getting paid for it, knowing the risks. I’m glad there are people like that out there, hope I don’t need one of them ever (all types of rescuers).
If I had to take a guess, gun to my head: They died because of the Girl Boss with all the diplomas.
Imho we go overboard on body or body parts recovery.
We put good people at risk for carcasses.
We traumatize good young men with airliner crashes
Sometimes it is better just to walk away
When I was about twelve years old I lived in Huntsville, Alabama, "The Rocket City!" I and my younger brother went on a Boy Scout camping trip with Troop 378 or 379 (I can't remember which), spelunking down into one of the vast limestone caves that cover Northern Alabama. After a long hike down and going deeper down with ropes a couple of times, we stopped by a fast moving river with the water as clear as glass. We unrolled our sleeping bags and slept the whole night a few feet from the water in pitch darkness.
"Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground"
Note: Regarding the the Scout Troop, it had grown so big that they had to cut it in half and a successive number was assigned. I cannot remember if the cave spelunking trip was before or after the split.
I highly recommend supervised kids try spelunking. Even if it's only to experiance a total Pitch Black night.
Yep. It's possible he stayed down too long and didn't have enough reserve to ascend the right way.
“ Carlsbad Caverns is just fine for me.”
Was there last year. They have opened it up for handicap accessible. We were near the end and came upon a guy in a 4 wheel chair. The signage said passable but the gap narrowed and he could not go forward. So he had to go back. Probably 3-400 yards.
Truth.
The Maldives are tiny islands, near the Equator, in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Total population - about 500,000.
Median Annual Income - $17,300
Most of the people providing these diving (and rescue) adventures are not highly trained experts.
They are just lower middle class residents trying to make a living.
Horrifying accidents like this rarely happen in Key West or Hawaii, because the business owners would be charged with criminal offenses and sued into bankruptcy.
“…but I typically stay on the outside of the ship. ..”
Exactly. In the article I read going into the wreck jumped the odds of death immeasurably. It’s dark, tangly and the water may be moving, ie a current which can complicate things.
I used to do spelunking in my teens. When I look back on it, I wonder what possessed me.
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