GILI AIR — The search for Robert Peter Ladd, a 46-year-old British national reported missing in the waters of Gili Air, North Lombok, reached a somber conclusion on Tuesday. Following an intensive operation, a joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team recovered his body from the seabed on the afternoon of March 24, 2026.
According to I Gusti Komang Aryadana, Coordinator of the Bangsal SAR Unit, the deceased was located at 13:20 WITA at a depth of approximately 12 metres, a short distance from his initial entry point. Despite the prompt arrival of a medical team from Nusa Medica and the administration of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) at 13:33 WITA, the efforts proved futile. “Medical professionals subsequently pronounced the victim deceased after all emergency life-saving measures were exhausted,” Mr Gusti noted.
The Perils of the Solo Shore Dive
The tragedy began at 11:00 WITA, when Mr Ladd embarked on a solo “shore dive”—an excursion initiated from the beach rather than a vessel. Alarm bells rang when he failed to resurface within the hour, prompting an immediate distress call and a coordinated response.
The swift recovery was the result of a seamless collaboration between the Mataram SAR Office, the Provincial Police (Polairud), the Navy (TNI AL), and the local diving community, including Manta Dive. The body was transported via boat to Tembobor hamlet before being transferred by ambulance to the Bhayangkara Police Hospital in Mataram for further forensic examination.
Closing the File
With the recovery of Mr Ladd, the SAR operation has been officially terminated. The incident serves as a poignant reminder of the inherent risks of solo diving—a practice that, while offering solitude, lacks the vital safety net of the “buddy system.” For the tourism industry in the Gili islands, the event underscores the persistent tension between the allure of underwater exploration and the unforgiving nature of the deep.
