COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — On Saturday, divers in the Maldives resumed their search for the bodies of four Italian divers, who are believed to be trapped deep inside an underwater cave. The search operations faced challenges the day before due to rough weather conditions, but progress was made to develop a plan based on their findings from Friday's exploration.
The Italian Foreign Ministry reported that the dive group is thought to have perished while exploring a cave at approximately 50 meters (160 feet) beneath the surface in Vaavu Atoll on Thursday. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani affirmed that all possible efforts would be undertaken to return the victims to their home country. The ministry is collaborating with Divers Alert Network, an organization specializing in diving, to facilitate recovery operations and the repatriation of the deceased. The cause of their tragic deaths is still under investigation.
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. Reports indicate that Benedetti's body was found last Thursday near the cave's entrance, leading authorities to believe that the remaining four individuals entered the cave during their dive.
Montefalcone and Oddenino were in the Maldives as part of an official scientific mission aimed at monitoring marine environments and studying the effects of climate change on tropical biodiversity. However, the scuba diving activity that led to the fatal incident was not part of their planned research and was labeled as a private endeavor. Additionally, it was noted that student Sommacal and recent graduate Gualtieri were not participants in the scientific mission.
Cave diving is recognized as a particularly technical and hazardous activity that demands specialized training, equipment, and adherence to strict safety protocols. Experts note that risks escalate sharply in environments where divers cannot ascend directly, especially at greater depths and during poor conditions. Visibility is commonly impaired by sediment clouds, increasing the likelihood of disorientation or getting lost.
The depth of 50 meters exceeds the maximum depth commonly recommended for recreational divers by major scuba certifying organizations, with many categorizing dives beyond 40 meters into the technical category, necessitating specialized training and equipment. In the Maldives, the maximum recreational diving limit is set at 30 meters.
Mohammed Hussain Shareef, the Maldives Presidential Spokesman, confirmed that diving experts from Italy, specializing in deep-sea rescue and cave diving, are expected to join the recovery efforts. Meanwhile, around 20 other Italians, who were part of the same expedition aboard a vessel named the "Duke of York,” have been reported safe. Assistance from the Italian embassy in Colombo has been extended to those on board, in addition to coordination with the Red Crescent to provide psychological support for affected individuals.
The Ministry of Tourism in the Maldives has suspended the operating license of the "Duke of York" pending a comprehensive investigation into the incident. The Italian foreign ministry disclosed that the cave in question comprises three large chambers linked by narrow passages. Recovery teams managed to investigate two of the three chambers on Friday; however, searching was limited due to safety considerations regarding oxygen levels and potential decompression issues. The exploration of the third chamber is set for Saturday.
Italian officials, alongside the honorary consul, are in continuous contact with the families of the victims to offer support during this dire time.
