The search for a missing Bahraini diver continues more than 48 hours after his disappearance, with ships, helicopters and a group of divers combing the sea.
Free-diver Nasmi Al Hiddi was last seen on Saturday afternoon in Hayr Shtaya, a government-protected oyster bed located in Bahrain’s north-eastern territorial waters.
The 35-year-old was on a spearfishing trip with fellow hobbyists when he went for a 15-metre dive and never resurfaced, friends told the GDN.
Shortly after his disappearance, searches began and collaborative efforts between Coastguard and volunteers kicked off.
The massive search efforts are set to continue today, provided the weather conditions remain stable.
On Sunday, more than 24 hours after Mr Al Hiddi disappeared, volunteers recovered his spearfishing gun. However, there was no trace of the man himself.
As of noon yesterday, sources told the GDN that Coastguard officials were working round-the-clock and were sparing no efforts to track down the man.
“Police helicopters, civilian boats and volunteers are looking for Mr Al Hiddi,” a source said.
One of Mr Hiddi’s friends, a fellow diving enthusiast, said a volunteer team will launch another search expedition today.
“We will go out into the sea again once we receive permission from the Coastguard,” the Bahraini, who was part of Sunday’s search mission, said.
Another friend, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said two teams of 11 volunteer divers and five Coastguard divers were involved in the operations on Sunday.
“Nashmi was practising free-diving and spearfishing when he suddenly disappeared in the sea,” he told the GDN.
“Visibility is limited in Bahrain’s waters and it looked like he vanished quickly.”
Free-diving is a form of underwater swimming where sea-goers hold their breaths, take deep plunges into the sea and come back to the surface for oxygen. It is different from scuba diving, in which breathing equipment is used.
“We traced Nashmi’s path in the sea, and each of us dived thrice and combed the waters extensively, while the Coastguard’s operations were focused on the opposite direction,” he said.
The Bahraini added that they were supposed to go into the sea again yesterday, but northern winds made it impossible.
“Hopefully we can look for Nashmi again today,” he said.
The expert diver, who called Mr Al Hiddi ‘the best diver in Bahrain,’ stressed the fact that Hayr Shtaya is far out into the sea. Hayr Shtaya is located about 40km from Muharraq’s coast.
Mr Al Hiddi’s disappearance has sent shockwaves across Bahrain’s water sports community.
A 33-year-old surfer, Mohanna Al Doseri, died in an incident at sea last month.
In 2020, diver and underwater photographer Hasan Janahi drowned in Hayr Bulthama, only 15km from where Mr Al Hiddi was last seen.
Another Bahraini man had drowned in Hayr Shtaya in 2018, according to sister newspaper Akhbar Al Khaleej.
Hayr Shtaya, Hayr Bulthama and Hayr Abu Omama were declared protected areas by the Supreme Council for Environment in 2017.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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