A 26-year-old Japanese tourist who went missing during a dive near Kandooma Thila this morning has been found dead, authorities confirmed.

The young man was part of a group of 26 tourists who departed from a guesthouse in Maafushi for a diving excursion at Kandooma Thila, a popular site known for its rich marine life.

According to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), a distress call was received at 10:02 in the morning, reporting that one diver had gone missing during the trip. 

A coordinated search effort was immediately launched, involving divers from the Coast Guard Second Squadron, Malé Area Command.

After nearly seven hours of intense search operations, the man's body was recovered from the sea at 17:17 in the evening. 

He was promptly transported to Maafushi Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.