A holiday in Venice turned into a disaster for a British man and his Romanian girlfriend after they were caught diving into the city's iconic Grand Canal. Gondoliers spotted the pair near the Rio di San Vidal and alerted police, who quickly arrived with a patrol boat. The tourists were each fined €450 or $529 and banned from Venice's historic centre for 48 hours, effectively ending their trip. Local officials condemned the act, calling it disrespectful and unsafe. Swimming in Venice's canals is strictly forbidden for hygiene and safety reasons, yet authorities say such infractions are rising as overtourism continues to challenge the city.
