UK Updates Maldives Travel Advice After Rare Shark Attack on Spanish Tourist

The UK Foreign Office issued an urgent travel warning to Britons travelling to the Maldives this afternoon. The alert highlights risks associated with diving safaris that are available and may include opportunities to see sharks. "Be aware of the potential risks as accidents can occur and, in rare cases, may be fatal," the Foreign Office warning states.

It adds that many resort islands in the Maldives are more than an hour away from the nearest hyperbaric chamber and advises travellers to understand how their dive operator would reach one of the three chambers in the islands. The fresh warning appears alongside general advice about swimming safety under outdoor activities and adventure tourism.

The Foreign Office also provides warnings on transport risks, terrorism, crime, laws and cultural differences for the Maldives.

Last month a Spanish newlywed from Alicante suffered catastrophic injuries and severe blood loss when he was attacked by a shark while swimming off Kooddoo island in the Gaafu Alif Atoll. Surgeons amputated the man's leg. The couple had travelled to the Maldives for their honeymoon, and the victim entered the water as part of a group at a popular swimming spot.

A bull shark is believed to have been responsible. The Maldives is comprised of around 1,200 coral islands and is home to at least 30 species of shark. According to Maldivian authorities, 112 tourists have died in marine incidents in the Maldives since 2020.

More than two million tourists visited the Maldives in 2024. An estimated 180,000 Britons travel there every year. GB News reported that the updated notice was issued alongside the existing country guidance that Britons consult before travel.