A team of three experienced Finnish divers has arrived in the Maldives to assist in the search operation for the missing Italian divers in Vaavu Atoll.

Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef confirmed that the team was dispatched by the Italian Government and arrived in the Maldives with specialised diving equipment required for the operation. He said the Finnish divers have met with officials of the Maldives National Defence Force Coast Guard to discuss plans to resume the search operation and operational arrangements linked to the mission.

The Spokesperson noted that the operation had been suspended following the death of Staff Sergeant Mohamed Mahudhee, one of the MNDF Coast Guard’s most experienced divers, during rescue efforts related to the incident.

The disappearance of the divers was reported to the MNDF Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre at approximately 1:45 p.m. on May 14 after five Italian divers, including a diving instructor, went missing while diving in the area. The MNDF subsequently launched a search and rescue operation involving maritime and aerial assets.

Authorities have since recovered the body of the Italian diving instructor, while efforts to locate the remaining missing divers continue. Following the incident, the Ministry of Tourism suspended the operating licence of the vessel involved pending further investigation into the case.