Shafraz “Shaff” Naeem is a trailblazer in professional and technical diving with over 30 years of experience. An ex-military diver, he specialized in Underwater EOD, amphibious operations, and salvage, and played a pivotal role in shaping the Maldives Coast Guard Diving Unit into an elite force. Beyond his military service, he has managed resort dive centers, trained professional divers, and continues to advise the Maldives National Defence Force and Maldives Police Service on diving operations and safety.
Shaff is one of the few Maldivians engaged in technical diving and is internationally recognized as one of the world’s 111 inspirational technical divers. He has explored the Maldives’ reefs and deep cave systems, earned awards in underwater photography, and published widely in local and international dive and travel magazines. His expertise has also taken him to global stages, including as a regular speaker at the Asian Dive Expo’s TekTalks.
In 2022, Shaff set an Asian record with a 50-hour continuous scuba dive, an achievement that demonstrated his mastery of advanced sidemount rebreather systems and his extraordinary endurance. The dive, named Ocean 6/50, was not only a technical feat but also a powerful platform to raise awareness about the global threat of ocean plastic pollution. It marked the Maldives’ 50th anniversary of diving and tourism, celebrating the nation’s bond with the sea while drawing attention to the urgent need for conservation. This historic dive is now featured in the film 50 Hours Underwater, capturing both the challenge and the message behind the record.
Today, Shaff leads the ambitious Across Maldives project, a series of long-distance, record-setting dives that began with a 14-kilometer dive in 2025 and aims to culminate in a 460+ kilometer dive across the Maldivian archipelago in 2026. More than a test of resilience, this pioneering journey blends endurance, innovation, and conservation, reflecting Shaff’s lifelong passion for diving and his commitment to protecting the ocean.
