A Chinese diving instructor has reported being attacked underwater by three foreign divers during a excursion at the Kuda Ra Thila dive site in the Maldives.
Sea-news.az reports citing The Sun, that instructor Xiao Du stated one of the divers initially pushed him and struck him with a fin.
Shortly after, two additional individuals approached, escalation into a physical altercation. According to the instructor, the individuals attempted to forcibly remove his diving mask and regulator. Xiao Du emphasized that attempting to strip life-support equipment at depth poses an immediate threat to life.
The marine operational entity linked to the excursion confirmed the occurrence and noted that relevant maritime and local regulatory authorities have been notified. The root cause of the confrontation has not yet been officially determined.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the director of Maldives Legend confirmed that one of their dive guides has been suspended pending an investigation.
“According to our information, the conflict initiated following an dispute between a dive guide operating from another vessel and one of our guests, after which our dive team intervened,” the company representative stated. “We acknowledge that serious allegations have been made regarding the conduct of our professional diver. These charges and all details surrounding the incident will undergo a thorough, impartial review.”
