A scuba instructor helped rescue tourists from a sinking liveaboard diving boat in the Maldives.

Underwater guide, Dan, said the incident occurred while sailing near a whale shark conservation area. A boat on the quadruple line was struck in a maritime collision by a fast-moving dive boat behind it.

Dan said: 'It was originally normal for many diving boats to be anchored at the whale shark conservation area. However, the boat behind us, for some reason, didn't notice the vessel in front. When our crew looked back and saw that it was about to collide, we shouted loudly, and the other boat made an emergency turn.

'At the moment of impact, our boat wasn't badly damaged, but the other boat's front right side was holed and started taking in water. Their vessel began to tilt, and there were many French divers on board. We quickly helped those divers get onto our boat.'

Footage shows crew members attempting to tow the damaged boat back to shallow water, but it was flooding too quickly, forcing them to release the tow line on November 11.

Dan added: 'Fortunately, everyone was safe and uninjured - that was the most important thing.

'Later, the Maldivian dive guides discussed and decided that both groups from the two boats would still go diving.'

'We didn't intend to look for the sunken boat, but as we were circling the atoll to finish the dive, we saw the wreck and took some photos with it. After the dive, the dive boat picked everyone up and took us back to the main vessel.'

Locals reportedly plan to recover the sunken boat, but details of the operation have not been confirmed.