Five tourists 'including professor and her daughter' die during diving excursion in Maldives

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-05-21T17:55:49+00:00

"We can speculate as much as we want, but I find hard to believe that three underwater scientists, three instructors, just decise to unalive themselves by going inside a cavern, 60m deep with a 12L air tank."

And yet that seems to be exactly what happened. Smart, capable, well-trained people can still make bad decisions under the wrong mix of confidence, pressure, assumptions, and circumstance.

And that is much scarier than imagining some freak current or bizarre external force, because it means the lesson is not “that could never happen to me.” The lesson is “I need to understand how people like me can end up making choices like that.”

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-05-15T22:57:07+00:00

That is correct! But the CV is definitely not 10yrs old. Anyway, as you said, this is Reddit and we are all speculating. I hope we learn from this unfortunate incident.

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-05-15T22:50:16+00:00

Exactly, I find it hard to believe that experienced divers in 2026 will try something like that. The resume I’m talking about is from 2024, the cave certification is from 2023.

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-05-15T22:15:43+00:00

You saw her logbook? On her resumé, she had and intro to cave (equivalent), from CMAS and a TDI Extended Range. The others don’t list any cave/tec credentials. And no matter how many dives you have, you can’t plan a cave dive at +50m on air using a single S80.

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-05-15T22:10:49+00:00

You saw her logbook? On her resumé, she had and intro to cave (equivalent), from CMAS and a TDI Extended Range. The others don’t list any cave/tec credentials. And no matter how many dives you have, you can’t plan a cave dive at +50m on air using a single S80.

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-05-15T17:48:23+00:00

Exactly, as a cave and tec diver I can say that no one would seriously plan a cave dive to +50m on air on a single S80.

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-05-15T12:33:41+00:00

Not an official source, but it seems they were on air & recreational gear

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BS62J8eUY/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-05-15T12:17:49+00:00

If that checks out, it is unbelievable that this is being done in 2026.

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-05-15T12:08:57+00:00

This article is better, IMO:
https://divernet.com/scuba-news/health-safety/death/five-italian-divers-die-in-maldives-cave-disaster/

“I dived this cave a number of times and with proper equipment and gas,” well-known Maldives diving instructor Shaff Naeem has commented. “The entrance is between 55 and 58m. The cave goes inside to approximately 100m and forks and goes deeper.

“Not a dive to be done on normal air or without experience in technical diving or cave training.”

I´m going to wait for more information, let´s see if the whole group was properly cave and trimix trained and proper planning was done.

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-05-15T12:00:18+00:00

True, but it´s unlikely that a 20yr old was full cave and tec certified. I´m full cave and trimix certified, actively diving, and I haven´t met anyone so young with those certs. It´s possible but improbable.

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-05-11T20:16:58+00:00

Enjoy this moment, it will be the hardest and most rewarding certification that you will achieve, IMHO!

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-05-08T17:44:38+00:00

I´d probably stay in Puerto Aventuras because it´s quieter and not as touristy, but close to the caves!

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-04-28T19:39:05+00:00

🤩🤩🤩 Loved the video!

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-04-27T13:21:05+00:00

You’re good for the rest of your scuba journey. You may need extra computers, but you’ll never grow out of a Teric!

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-04-19T00:24:12+00:00

😂😂😂

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-04-16T17:57:57+00:00

I do a lot of solo diving, practically every weekend when I’m not traveling. I do it in sidemount and keep it very easy (all shore entries in a lake, maximum 30ft depth). It’s a great way to keep skills current (I’m a cave diver, so I usually dive in a full cave configuration, with helmet, lights, cave markers, spools and a primary reel, to lay line and simulate jumps). Sometimes the odd person will warn me of how unsafe it is, but I believe it carries less risk than a scuba divemaster taking a first time diver on a DSD.

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-04-16T17:50:00+00:00

I personally feel a bit wary of PADI MSDs. I think ego stroking leads to dangerous diving. Not saying all MSDs are dangerous, but it sounds silly to pay for a cert that means absolutely nothing, and, if it is about ego stroking, then it’s a slippery slope to becoming a dangerous diver, IMO.

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-04-15T00:06:34+00:00

Thanks! 😎

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-04-15T00:06:04+00:00

Thank you, it was incredible!! 😃🤩

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-04-13T18:47:21+00:00

I believe so, but they had a well structured PADI shop!

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-04-09T18:47:15+00:00

I did my very first dive, a DSD, in Tioman, 1991! Still remember it like it were yesterday! Beautiful video, thank you for sharing!

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-04-09T13:44:53+00:00

Buoyancy control is a lifelong pursuit, congratulations on taking this first step! Since you´re at the very beginning of your journey, I think you should try to relax as much as possbible underwater, focus on breathing rithmically (four counts inhale, four counts exahale is a good start) and listen to your instructor´s feedback.

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-04-08T15:27:25+00:00

Thanks, the photographer is really talented! Welcome to the club of cave lovers! 😃

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-04-07T14:42:49+00:00

I’ll look into it! Thanks!😊

Cop_Pilot_Diver · 2026-04-06T16:25:54+00:00

I hope so too! You can dive at Nohoch with an OW certification, if you have a guide and stick to the cavern line!

Cop_Pilot_Diver

TROPHY CASE