Maldives diver dies searching for bodies of Italians
A Maldivian military diver died while searching for the bodies of four Italian divers believed to be deep in an underwater cave.
The group of five Italian divers are believed to have died on Thursday while exploring a cave about 50 meters deep in Vaavu Atoll, according to Italy’s foreign ministry.
The recreational diving limit in the Maldives is 30 meters.
Maldivian presidential spokesman Mohammed Hussain Shareef said Maldivian National Defense Force member Mohamed Mahudhee died of underwater decompression sickness after being transferred to a hospital in the capital.
“The death shows the difficulty of the mission,” he said.
Earlier, Shareef said researchers had prepared a plan based on the progress they had made in exploring the cave on Friday.
Mahudhee was part of the group that briefed Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu about the rescue plan when he visited the search area on Friday.
Severe weather conditions repeatedly hampered rescue efforts.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said everything possible would be done to bring the victims home.
His ministry said it was coordinating with Divers Alert Network, a specialist diving organisation, to support rescue operations and repatriation of bodies.
The cause of the deaths is under investigation.
The victims were identified as Monica Montefalcone, a professor of ecology at the University of Genoa; daughter Giorgia Sommacal; marine biologist Federico Gualtieri; researcher Muriel Oddenino; Diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti, according to the Maldivian government.
Benedetti’s body was found Thursday.
Montefalcone and Oddenino were in the Maldives on an official scientific mission to monitor marine environments and study the effects of climate change on tropical biodiversity, the University of Genoa said in a statement on Friday.
However, it was stated that the scuba diving activity in which the fatal accident occurred was not part of the planned research and was “conducted privately”.
The statement also stated that the other two victims (student Sommacal and recent graduate Gualtieri) were not involved in the scientific mission.
Cave diving is a highly technical and dangerous activity that requires special training, equipment and strict safety protocols.
In environments where divers cannot go steep and deep, risks increase rapidly, especially when conditions are poor.
Experts say it’s easy to get lost or disoriented inside caves, especially since sediment clouds can sharply reduce visibility.
Diving at 50 meters also exceeds the maximum depth recommended for recreational divers by most established scuba diving certification bodies; Depths above 40 meters are considered technical diving and require special training and equipment.
Benedetti’s body was found near the mouth of the cave, and authorities believe the remaining four entered the cave, Shareef said.
Two Italians, a deep-sea rescue expert and a cave diving expert, are expected to join the rescue effort, Shareef said.
Italian officials said that approximately 20 Italians who were on the same voyage on the Duke of York were safe.
The Italian embassy in Colombo was providing assistance to those on board and contacted the Red Crescent, offering to send volunteers to provide psychological assistance.
The Maldives Ministry of Tourism said it has suspended Duke of York’s operating license pending an investigation.
Italy’s foreign ministry said the cave was divided into three large chambers connected by narrow passages.
Rescuers searched two of the three rooms on Friday, but the search was limited due to oxygen and decompression considerations.
The ministry added that they will explore the third room on Saturday.
