Two British nationals have drowned in the idyllic Maldives in just two days, according to local media reports. A 46-year-old man died while swimming off Rasdhoo atoll just after 9am yesterday.
The unnamed diver drowned at Hammerhead Shark Point, after being taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
A second Briton aged 65 died in similar circumstances off Rashoo earlier this week, and was also pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.
Advice on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office website says: “Most trips to the Maldives are trouble-free.
“The most common problems faced by British nationals are visiting lost and stolen passports, and accidents related to swimming and diving.
“The sea around the Maldives can have strong currents and several tourists drown every year. You should always take local advice before entering the sea. “
The Rasdhoo Atoll is famous for its large schools of fish, which in turn attract large numbers of hammerhead sharks to prey on them.
Hammerhead sharks live at a depth of around 60 metres, with divers requiring advanced training to spot them.
They are usually harmless to humans, with only 17 unprovoked attacks recorded.
Six years ago, Andrew Roddy, 30, from Dublin, drowned in the Maldives while swimming with dolphins with his wife on their honeymoon, and Sharon Duval also died in 2011.
The Maldives is an island in the Indian Ocean known for its warm weather and beautiful beaches.
It is full of luxury hotels that attract tourists throughout the year.
Express.co.uk has contacted the FCDO for more information.
