British man, 46, dies while diving at hammerhead shark site in Maldives: one of two British holidaymakers drowns in two days on paradise islands
- The diver, 46, drowned at Hammerhead Shark Point off Rashdoo
- Tourist is the second Briton to drown in the waters around the Maldives in two days
A 46-year-old man has died while diving at a hammerhead shark site in the Maldives.
The tourist is the second Briton to drown in the waters around the Maldives in two days.
The diver, who has not been named, drowned Monday at 9:12 am at the popular Hammerhead Shark Point off the coast of Rasdhoo Atoll.
The 46-year-old was taken to a hospital in Rasdhoo but was pronounced dead on arrival.
His death comes when a 65-year-old British man drowned in the waters off Rasdhoo at around 10.30am today. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Alif Alif Atoll Hospital on the island.
The diver, who has not been named, drowned Monday at 9:12 am at the popular Hammerhead Shark Point off the coast of Rasdhoo Atoll (file image).
The Rasdhoo Atoll is known for the arrival of huge schools of fish in the early morning, which attract a large number of hammerhead sharks to the water.
The hammerhead sharks are found in deeper waters at about 60 meters depth, which means that divers who want to see the predators must have advanced training.
The atoll is especially popular during the dry season between October and March when the sea is particularly calm.
Hammerhead sharks are often seen in the waters, as well as gray reef sharks, stingrays, dolphins and turtles.
Adult hammerhead sharks can grow up to six meters in length, but are considered harmless to humans.
There have been only 17 documented unprovoked attacks by hammerhead sharks worldwide, with no human deaths recorded.
The 46-year-old was taken to a hospital in Rasdhoo but was pronounced dead on arrival
Although rare, there have been cases of British and Irish tourists drowning in the waters around the Maldives.
In 2017, 30-year-old Andrew Roddy from Dublin drowned while swimming with dolphins with his wife on their honeymoon.
And in 2011, Sharon Duval drowned while swimming in the tropical waters of the Maldives.
The Maldives is a series of islands in the Indian Ocean that is popular with tourists for its warm weather and beautiful beaches.
