Visit Maldives promotes "Across Maldives 2026" record attempt for underwater diving in Maldives
Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) recently announced a record attempt named “Across Maldives 2026,” which involves a Maldivian diver named Shafraz Naeem in setting a record underwater. The event is scheduled to start on January 23rd, 2026. This will be the first record attempt of 2026 in the Visit Maldives Book of Records.
In Maldives 2026, the project will involve attempts at two records as the diver traverses an underwater journey from one atoll to another. In 15+ days, the diver will complete over 450 km of dives with at least 55 dives and over 90 hours underwater using the Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV). The organized record attempts are divided along the following lines:
Longest distance accomplished in the open ocean on a single dive using a DPV
Longest distance travelled by a DPV in a month:
The initiative is intended to mark the beginning of a new era of adventure-based storytelling, with Maldives being launched as an Ocean Nation and establishing itself as a premier destination for marine and adventure tourism around the globe. This adventure would showcase the Maldives' special underwater environments and strong cultural ties with the oceans.
Shafraz will make stop-overs at various islands with partners and hotel and council support. A videographed underwater expedition, visit highlights, interviews, and stories centered around sustainability will provide a comprehensive insight into the marine heritage of the Maldives to international audiences through this expedition.
Across Maldives 2026 is being promoted by Visit Maldives with Shafraz Naeem, with Ooredoo Maldives acting as the technology partner, together with the airline partner beOnd Airlines. This expedition will mark the start of a large scale national initiative to increase the global visibility of the Maldives through a record-breaking endeavor that complements the country’s historical dedication to ocean conservation.
