Bodies of Italian divers did not have optimal equipment, says rescuer
A member of the dive team that recovered the bodies of Italian scuba divers in the Maldives said the equipment they found was “not optimal”.
Footage from inside the cave where the four Italians were found earlier this week was taken by Finnish diver Sami Paakkarinen, who told Italian media that “the bodies were found together in one part of the cave.” He said it was very deep and “very challenging.”
The body of the first diver was found shortly after five divers went missing in a scuba diving accident in a 60-metre-deep cave on Vaavu Atoll.
It took several days for the rest of the group to be found deep inside the cave by a team of expert Finnish and Maldivian divers.
A member of the dive team searches for the bodies of Italian divers [Sami Paakkarinen]
A Maldivian rescue diver died last weekend while searching for the group’s bodies.
This is believed to be the worst single diving accident in the small Indian Ocean nation, which is a popular tourist destination due to a string of coral islands.
The four bodies found earlier this week are expected to be sent to Italy on Saturday, and autopsy examinations are expected to be carried out in the coming days.
Paakkarinen told La Repubblica newspaper that when the team found the bodies they realized the cause might have been a “tragic human error” but ultimately it would be up to investigators to determine what happened.
He also questioned why the divers were inside the cave “without proper equipment”, as he said he and his fellow rescuers would never have entered such an environment without a scuba reel or guide rope for safety, which he described as “Ariadne’s thread”.
The diving reel is used to guide divers underwater through complex or dangerous terrain.
Muriel Oddenino (left) and Federico Gualtieri were among four divers found in the far chamber of the cave. [Facebook]
“It is generally known that it is not wise for those visiting caves to do so without a security line.
“Unfortunately, the main cause of most cave diving accidents is always human error.”
Paakkarinen was careful not to go into detail but said “the equipment we found them in was not ideal. They were not using underwater caving equipment.”
Among the five dead were Giorgia Sommacal (L), her mother Monica Montefalcone (C) and diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti. [Instagram/University of Genoa/Albatros Top Boat]
Two of the Italian divers (Prof Monica Montefalcone and research assistant Muriel Oddenino from the University of Genoa) studied the impact of climate change on biodiversity in the Maldives.
Prof Montefalcone’s daughter and university student Giorgia Sommacal and recent graduate Federico Gualtieri were also included in the diving group.
The first Italian victim rescued was boat operations manager and diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti.
The group entered the water at Vaavu Atoll on May 14 and were later reported lost when they failed to surface.
Police said weather was rough in the area, about 100 km (62 miles) south of the capital Male, at the time the group went missing. A yellow warning has been issued for passenger boats and fishermen.
The Maldivian rescue diver who died while searching for their bodies was also announced as Staff Sergeant Mohamed Mahdhee.
Mahdhee was part of a group of eight rescue divers who tried to locate the bodies on Saturday.
Other divers immediately went back into the water and found Mahdhee unconscious.
An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the accident.
