Ameeth Saeed, a local fisherman from South Gaafu Atoll, died on Friday while receiving treatment from the Thinadhoo Regional Hospital.
The 37-year-old is believed to have suffered from decompression sickness, known colloquially as 'the bends'.
This often fatal condition arises when divers surface too quickly, causing nitrogen bubbles to form in their blood stream.
Saeed was accompanied by three others and two of them had also suffered from decompression sickness during the dive. The 24-year-old, revealed by Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) as Ahmed Shakir, has regained consciousness after being transferred to IGMH in order to receive treatment from the state hospital in the capital city. The other diver, 31, who was in serious condition, was released after getting treated at the Thinadhoo Regional Hospital.
According to one of the most experienced Maldivian divers Hussein Rasheed (Sendi), decompression sickness has become a common occurrence in Maldives.
According to Rasheed, the four fishermen spent 35 minutes at the depth of 44 meters although the oxygen tank will only provide 9 minutes of air under such depths. The maximum depth limit for all diving activities in the Maldives is set 30 meters, and 40 meters worldwide.
“The diving computer, placed at the wrist, will indicate the time and speed of ascent", said Rasheed.
"Those who do not follow proper instructions will find themselves in trouble",
Local fishing vessels are not equipped with emergency oxygen supply, although urgent cases, where symptomatic divers require immediate treatment until they can be transported to decompression chambers.
Hyperbaric chamber, also known as a decompression chamber, is a sealed unit in which a high-pressure environment is used to treat those suffering symptoms of decompression sickness.
There are only three hyperbaric chambers in the Maldives and are located at Bandos Island Resort in Kaafu Atoll, Kuramathi Island Resort in Ari Atoll and Kuredu Island Resort in Lhaviyani Atoll.
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