Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) has announced an underwater endurance expedition titled Across Maldives 2026, to be undertaken by Maldivian diver Shafraz Naeem from 23 January 2026, marking the first record attempt of the year under the Visit Maldives Book of Records.

The expedition will involve an attempt to set two records as Shafraz travels underwater across three atolls over a period of more than 15 days. The journey is expected to cover over 450 kilometres, comprising approximately 55 dives and more than 90 hours spent underwater using a Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV). The records sought include the longest distance covered in open ocean on a single DPV-assisted dive, and the longest distance covered using a DPV within a one-month period.

VMC stated that the initiative is part of efforts to highlight the Maldives’ marine environment through adventure-based activities, while drawing attention to the country’s geographical scale and underwater ecosystems. The expedition is also intended to showcase the Maldives’ long-standing relationship with the ocean through a combination of endurance diving and inter-island travel.

During the course of the journey, Shafraz is scheduled to make stopovers at selected islands, with logistical support to be provided by partner resorts, local councils and community stakeholders. The expedition will be documented through underwater footage, island visits and interviews, with a focus on marine environments and sustainability-related themes.

The project is being led by Visit Maldives in collaboration with Shafraz, with Ooredoo Maldives supporting the expedition as the technology partner and beOnd Airlines as the airline partner.