Diving jacket, oxygen cylinder recovered from area tourist went missing

Maldives National Defense Force reports a diving jacket and oxygen cylinder has been recovered from the water around the diving point off the coast of Fuvahmulah City where a tourist went missing o March 5.

MNDF’s information officer, Captain Ibrahim Azim said the diving gear was discovered 150-miles off the coast of Dhadimagu Fannu in Fuvahmulah City at approximately 7:50 this Wednesday morning by a fishing boat.

Captain Azim said police has informed the Coastguard the items have been handed over to the authority.

The missing 45-year-old man was part of the 20-tourist team onboard a safari who dove into Fuvahmulah Thila – a diving point which lies approximately one mile to the south off the coast of Fuvahmulah City - at approximately 5:10 pm on March 5.

His nationality has not been released.

MNDF said the tourist was wearing a gray rashguard, a black mask and black fins when he went missing.

MNDF is using teams of divers and seaplanes in the search.