Bodies of Four Italian Divers Recovered from Maldives Underwater Cave

Rescuers have located the bodies of four Italian divers deep inside an underwater cave in the Maldives' Vaavu Atoll, according to Italy's Foreign Ministry. The divers were reported missing after exploring the cave at a depth of approximately 50 meters (160 feet) on Thursday. The recreational diving limit in the Maldives is 30 meters (98 feet).

The victims have been identified as Monica Montefalcone, an associate professor of ecology at the University of Genoa; her daughter, Giorgia Sommacal; marine biologist Federico Gualtieri; researcher Muriel Oddenino; and diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti. Benedetti's body was recovered earlier outside the cave.

The search operation faced significant challenges, including the death of Maldivian military diver Mohamed Mahudhee, who succumbed to decompression sickness during a previous rescue attempt. Following this incident, the search was temporarily suspended.

Three Finnish divers, experts in deep and cave diving, arrived in the Maldives on Sunday to assist in the recovery efforts. They located the four bodies in the innermost part of the cave, supported by the Maldives police and military.

The cause of the divers' deaths remains under investigation. The Italian tour operator involved has denied authorizing or being aware of the deep dive that exceeded local limits.