Brigadier General Mohamed Saleem has said that while the five divers involved in the tragic incident last Thursday were lost inside a cave 60 meters underwater, Maldivian Coast Guard divers are currently trained to dive to a maximum depth of 50 meters.
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) confirmed that the body of one of the five missing divers was discovered inside the cave at a depth of approximately 60 meters. It is believed that the bodies of the remaining four divers are also within the cave.
Speaking on a Public Service Media (PSM) program, Brigadier General Saleem explained that military divers are presently qualified for depths up to 50 meters. However, he noted that training to extend this capability to 100 meters is scheduled to begin this year.
"We have initiated a program this year to elevate our divers to a 100-meter capability. The second phase of this program will take place this month. We are working to ensure the necessary personnel are trained and ready before the end of the year," Saleem said.
He further noted that these training programs would be conducted with the assistance of neighboring countries.
The MNDF previously reported that the cave where the five Italian divers descended is situated 60 meters below sea level and extends approximately 200 feet in length.
"The remaining four divers are presumed to be inside this cave, which is about 200 feet long. As this is an extremely dangerous, high-risk operation, additional Coast Guard divers and specialized equipment have been deployed to the area," the MNDF stated.
