The final written words of one of five Italian divers who perished in a scuba diving accident in the Maldives have been disclosed. Monica Montefalcone, an associate professor of ecology at the University of Genoa, emphasized the importance of studying "the underwater environment" in an email sent to a colleague on Wednesday night, just hours before her death. She described such study as "fundamental" and advocated for observation "with our own eyes or through the lens of a robot."
Victims and Recovery Efforts
Ms. Montefalcone's body, along with those of her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, marine biologist Federico Gualtieri, and researcher Muriel Oddenino, remain missing and are believed to be deep inside an underwater cave. The body of diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti has been recovered. The group died while exploring a cave at approximately 50 metres (160 feet) depth in Vaavu Atoll on Thursday, according to Italy's foreign ministry. The recreational diving limit in the Maldives is 30 metres (98 feet).
Ms. Montefalcone's husband, Carlo Sommacal, told La Repubblica that his wife had "never been a reckless person" and would never have endangered their daughter or other young divers. The cause of the deaths remains under investigation.
Military Diver Dies in Search
Authorities confirmed that a military diver, Mohamed Mahudhee of the Maldivian National Defence Force, died from underwater decompression sickness after being transferred to a hospital in the capital. Maldives presidential spokesman Mohammed Hussain Shareef stated, "The death goes to show the difficulty of the mission." Rough weather has repeatedly hampered recovery efforts.
Search teams had prepared a plan based on their progress exploring the cave on Friday. Mr. Mahudhee was part of the group that briefed President Mohamed Muizzu on the rescue plan. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani pledged to do everything possible to bring the victims home. His ministry is coordinating with Divers Alert Network to support recovery and repatriation.
Scientific Mission and Private Dive
Ms. Montefalcone and Ms. Oddenino were in the Maldives on an official scientific mission to monitor marine environments and study climate change effects on tropical biodiversity, the University of Genoa said. However, the fatal scuba diving activity was not part of the planned research and was "undertaken privately." The university noted that student Ms. Sommacal and recent graduate Mr. Gualtieri were not involved in the scientific mission.
Cave diving is highly technical and dangerous, requiring specialised training, equipment, and strict safety protocols. Risks increase sharply in environments where divers cannot ascend directly and at depth, especially in poor conditions. Experts warn of disorientation and reduced visibility due to sediment clouds. Diving at 50 metres exceeds the maximum depth recommended for recreational divers by most certifying agencies; depths beyond 40 metres are considered technical diving.
Search Operations and Support
Mr. Shareef said Mr. Benedetti's body was found near the cave mouth, and authorities believe the remaining four entered the cave. Two Italian experts—a deep-sea rescue specialist and a cave diving expert—are expected to join the recovery effort. About 20 other Italians on the same expedition aboard the vessel Duke of York are safe. Italy's embassy in Colombo is providing assistance and has contacted the Red Crescent for psychological aid.
The Maldives tourism ministry suspended the Duke of York's operating licence pending an investigation. The Italian foreign ministry described the cave as divided into three large chambers connected by narrow passages. Recovery teams explored two chambers on Friday but were limited by oxygen and decompression considerations. They planned to explore the third chamber on Saturday. Italian officials and the honorary consul are in contact with the victims' families.
