A group of divers attempting to dive in Hanifaru Bay near B. Dhonfan reef were blocked from entering the area, as tensions rise over a halted land reclamation project.

The government had earlier signed an agreement with the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) to reclaim 13 hectares of land from Dhonfanu’s lagoon. However, on 9 November, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced the decision to halt the project, saying it would no longer proceed.

The President’s decision sparked protests from Dhonfan residents, who demanded the reclamation project be expedited. Islanders argued that the move was taken without consulting the council or the community. The Dhonfan Council subsequently banned diving in Hanifaru, although the Local Government Authority (LGA) later overturned this ban.

Videos circulating on social media show clashes at sea between locals and divers. Protesters confronted dive boats near the reef, instructing them not to enter, while divers insisted they had the right to continue diving.

Protests are expected to continue within 700 metres of the reef, with residents maintaining pressure on the government to resume the land reclamation project. Some commentators have warned that the ongoing confrontations could negatively impact the tourism industry.