Defence Minister Maria Didi thanked Coast Guard Southern 4th Squadron for their bravery. Defence Minister Maria Didi met divers from the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF)’s Coast guard search and rescue team who worked to search for the diving instructor, Mohamed Saeed who went missing on the coast of Fuvahmulah on May 02, 2022.
The minister thanked them on behalf of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and the nation for the bravery shown in the operation to search for the missing diver.
Coast Guard covered 2960square miles by air in 7 days, a surface search of 760 square miles with 1000 meters deep in the ocean.
MNDF Coast Guard’s southern 4th Squadron received a missing person report at around 3.36 pm on 2nd May 2022. Saeed had gone diving at the Tiger Zoo dive site earlier that day with his friend who was rescued and was in critical condition.
Initially, they started the search operation with Coast Guard harbour patrol boats and a dive team which later for a wider search got expanded with a helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft during the worsening rainy weather conditions covering 55sq nautical miles. They also requested all boats travelling from the area to keep an eye on the diver.
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As the weather worsened with the strongest winds and rain, the search was called off after 72 hours as hopes have faded for Saeed to be found alive. A discarded weight belt from a depth of 68m and spear gun from a depth of 59m used by Saeed, was recovered by Coast Guard divers.
MNDF Role – Maria Didi thanked Coast Guard
The MNDF coast guard is responsible for protecting and defending the maritime zone and airspace of the Maldives. The coast guard performs as a conventional navy, constabulary roles, civil defence and response roles in times of maritime emergencies and disasters.
The coast guard operates in geographical area commands with a functional squadron assigned to each area command which operates and oversea in the based Area of Responsibility.
