MATI urges strict adherence to safety standards following diving tragedy
In the wake of the devastating Vaavu Atoll diving incident, the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) has issued an urgent call to all tourism service providers—particularly dive centres and operators—emphasising the critical need to maintain the highest possible safety standards to ensure such a tragedy is never repeated.
The urgent plea was issued on Sunday as part of a statement addressing the unprecedented diving accident that claimed the lives of five Italian tourists and a Maldivian military rescue diver.
The tragedy, which unfolded late last week when a group of tourists explored an underwater cave system well beyond the nation’s recreational diving limits, has sent shockwaves through the local tourism sector.
In its statement, MATI firmly directed its message to industry stakeholders: “In the wake of this tragedy, MATI urges all service providers in the Maldives Tourism industry, including dive centres and dive service providers, to ensure that safety standards are maintained to the highest, so that such a tragedy is never repeated.”
The association also expressed profound sorrow over the loss of life, extending sympathies to the families affected by the disaster.
The MATI Executive Board and its members stated they “remain deeply saddened by the tragic passing of 5 Italian divers, of whom 4 remain unaccounted for.”
The statement also paid special tribute to the late Sergeant First Class Mohamed Mahudhee, a highly experienced diver with the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), who tragically lost his life to decompression sickness on Saturday during the perilous search and recovery mission.
“We take this opportunity to highly commend the search and recovery team of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) for their continued efforts to recover the missing divers, which are being conducted under very trying circumstances,” the statement read.
MATI noted that the efforts of the MNDF personnel “will certainly be remembered by everyone as a great service to the loved ones of those who have tragically passed and to the nation,” expressing hope that the ongoing search brings a degree of closure to the grieving families.
The fatal expedition took place on Thursday when five Italian nationals, operating from the safari vessel Duke of York, attempted to explore a deep underwater cave system in Vaavu Atoll at depths of around 50 metres. This significantly exceeds the 30-metre limit legally established for recreational diving in the Maldives.
Only one body—that of diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti—has been recovered so far. The remaining four victims, which include a prominent marine biology professor from the University of Genoa and her daughter, are believed to be trapped deep within the cave network.
Following the incident, the Ministry of Tourism indefinitely suspended the operating license of the Duke of York pending a full investigation into the regulatory breaches that led to the deadliest single diving accident in the country’s history.
