A Maldivian military diver has tragically lost his life during a perilous operation to recover the bodies of four Italian scuba divers who drowned while exploring a deep underwater cave in the Maldives. The diver, Mohamed Mahudhee, a member of the Maldivian National Defence Force, succumbed to underwater decompression sickness after searching for the remains of the Italian divers. The incident occurred in the Vaavu Atoll, part of the Indian Ocean archipelago.
Details of the Accident
The five Italian divers were attempting to explore caves at a depth of 50 metres (164 feet) when they apparently died, according to Italy's foreign ministry. The body of one diver, Gianluca Benedetti, was recovered near the mouth of the cave shortly after the incident. Rescuers believe the remaining four divers are inside the same cave, which is divided into three large chambers connected by narrow passages.
Recovery Efforts
Authorities temporarily suspended recovery attempts on Friday due to adverse weather conditions but resumed the search on Saturday. A recovery team of eight divers, working in pairs, had already explored two of the three chambers on Friday but faced difficulties in accessing the third chamber. Two Italian experts—a deep-sea rescue specialist and a cave diving expert—are expected to join the recovery effort.
Mohamed Hussain Shareef, the Maldives presidential spokesperson, expressed the difficulty of the mission, stating, "The death goes to show the difficulty of the mission." Mahudhee had been part of a group of divers who briefed the Maldives president, Mohamed Muizzu, on the rescue plan when he visited the search site on Friday.
Victims Identified
The deceased Italian divers have been identified as Monica Montefalcone, an associate ecology professor at the University of Genoa; her daughter Giorgia Sommacal; marine biologist Federico Gualtieri; researcher Muriel Oddenino; and diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti. The causes of their deaths remain unknown and are under investigation.
Background of the Victims
Montefalcone and Oddenino were on an official scientific mission to monitor marine environments and study the effects of the climate crisis on tropical biodiversity, according to the University of Genoa. Montefalcone's husband, Carlo Sommacal, described her as a disciplined and experienced diver who had survived the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004 while diving off Kenya. He expressed disbelief at the tragedy, saying, "Something must have happened."
Diving Conditions and Regulations
Diving at a depth of 50 metres exceeds the maximum depth recommended for recreational divers by most scuba certifying agencies. Depths beyond 40 metres are considered technical diving, requiring specialised training and equipment. The recreational diving limit in the Maldives is 30 metres (98 feet). Experts have warned that cave divers can easily become disoriented or lost, particularly when sediment clouds reduce visibility.
Investigation and Suspension
The Italians were passengers onboard a 36-metre luxury yacht named the Duke of York, whose operating licence was suspended indefinitely on Saturday by the Maldivian Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, pending the outcome of an investigation. A website link related to the ship was not working, and the owner of the yacht did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Shareef confirmed that investigators are looking into why the group descended below the officially permitted depth of 30 metres.
Reactions and Tributes
Italy's foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, stated that the Italian government "will do everything possible to recover the bodies of our compatriots." Officials have described the incident as the worst single diving accident in the Maldives, which is home to 1,192 tiny coral islands scattered across hundreds of miles of the Indian Ocean. Greenpeace Italia paid tribute to Montefalcone, remembering her as a passionate advocate for marine protection and highlighting the "special light she had in her eyes" when discussing the wonders of the sea.
