Divers in the Maldives have resumed their search for four Italian nationals believed dead deep inside an underwater cave. Maldives Presidential spokesperson Mohammed Hussain Shareef said a search plan has been prepared based on progress made during Friday's exploration, before rough weather halted the operation.
Italy's Foreign Ministry said earlier that the dive group are believed to have died while exploring a cave at a depth of about 50 metres in Vaavu Atoll on Thursday. The victims 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.
Shareef said Benedetti's body was found near the mouth of the cave and authorities believed the remaining four had entered the cave. Two Italians — a deep-sea rescue expert and a cave diving expert — are expected to join the recovery effort. Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said everything possible would be done to bring the victims home.
Cave diving is a highly technical and dangerous activity requiring specialised training and equipment. Diving at 50 metres exceeds the recreational diving limit of 30 metres in the Maldives and is considered technical diving. Recovery teams explored two of the three cave chambers on Friday but were limited by considerations over oxygen and decompression; the third chamber will be explored on Saturday.
Italian officials said around 20 other Italians who were on the same expedition aboard the vessel named the 'Duke of York' were safe. The Maldives tourism ministry has suspended the vessel's operating licence pending an investigation.
