The Chinese Embassy in the Maldives has issued a safety reminder after a Chinese citizen tragically drowned in waters near a resort island recently, an incident that has caused deep sorrow.
The embassy solemnly reminds Chinese citizens traveling to the Maldives to place great importance on water safety, strengthen risk prevention awareness, exercise caution when participating in water-related activities, and ensure personal safety.
Thorough preparations before travel
Before participating in water-related activities, individuals should act according to their own age, physical condition, and swimming ability. Children, the elderly, and those with weak swimming skills should exercise caution, and those who have consumed alcohol, taken medication, or are feeling unwell should not enter the water. It is recommended to purchase overseas travel insurance that covers accidental injury, medical expenses, emergency rescue, medical evacuation, and related water activities, and to understand the coverage, claim conditions, and exemption clauses in advance, while properly keeping insurance policies and emergency assistance contact information. Before going out to sea or joining water activities, individuals should inform family members or emergency contacts of their itinerary and expected return time, and keep contact information for hotels, travel agencies, activity operators, and local rescue services.
Choose legitimate operators for water activities
When participating in snorkeling, diving, swimming, boating, parasailing, and other activities, individuals should choose legitimate travel agencies, hotels, or activity operators, and learn in advance about the activity area, risk warnings, safety measures, and emergency arrangements, while following the instructions of coaches, lifeguards, and staff. When participating in snorkeling and similar activities, individuals should choose waters where professional personnel provide safety guarantees, avoid going alone, and refrain from leaving designated areas without authorization.
Proper protective measures before entering the water
When participating in water activities, individuals should correctly wear and check safety equipment such as life jackets, and for snorkeling and similar activities, life jackets should be worn throughout as required. Those who cannot swim or have weak swimming skills should not enter the water rashly; if choosing to swim, priority should be given to swimming pools or designated shallow water areas with safety guarantees, and activities should be conducted with the company of capable swimmers, never alone. While in the water, individuals should not become distracted by taking photos, filming, or livestreaming, nor take risks by entering the water. Hotels or guesthouses do not mean the waters are absolutely safe. Some resort hotels and guesthouses may have open water areas without lifeguards, and safety management standards also vary. Entering the water from water villas is also a water activity; before entering, individuals should confirm with the hotel whether swimming is permitted, designated areas, lifeguard duty arrangements, and emergency help methods, and take protective measures as required. At night, in severe weather, when sea conditions are unclear, or when safety guarantees are lacking, individuals must not enter the water from water villas or other non-designated locations.
Pay close attention to weather and sea conditions
The Maldives is affected by monsoons, and sea conditions change with wind waves, swells, tides, and other factors, while conditions may also differ across different sea areas. Before going out to sea or entering the water, individuals should ask hotels, travel agencies, boat operators, or activity operators about the latest weather and sea conditions, and pay attention to local meteorological warnings and safety reminders. In adverse weather or sea conditions such as strong winds, rough waves, heavy rain, lightning, or reduced visibility, water activities should be suspended or canceled, and individuals should not harbor any侥幸 mentality.
Stay calm in emergencies
If symptoms such as dizziness, difficulty breathing, exhaustion, cramps, choking on water, or falling into the water occur, individuals should immediately stop the activity, stay calm, call for help, and promptly seek assistance from coaches, lifeguards, hotel staff, and other professionals. If seeing others fall into the water, individuals should immediately call for professional rescue and provide help under the premise of ensuring their own safety, and must not rush into the water to rescue others, so as to avoid secondary accidents. Some islands in the Maldives are far from major medical institutions, and rescue and medical evacuation may be affected by weather, sea conditions, and transportation conditions, making advance prevention even more important. In case of emergency, please promptly call the following numbers for help: Maldives Tourism Police Hotline: 1478 or 00960-9790070; Maldives Police: 119; Maldives Emergency Rescue: 911; Consular Protection and Assistance Emergency Phone of the Chinese Embassy in the Maldives: 00960-3010639; Global Consular Protection and Service Emergency Call Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: +86-10-12308, +86-10-65612308. WeChat users can also use the "Ministry of Foreign Affairs 12308" WeChat mini-program for one-click assistance.