A recovery team has located the bodies of five Italian divers in a 60-meter-deep cave near the Alimatha island reef in the Maldives, following a fatal excursion last week.
The Incident and Recovery Operation
The tragedy occurred during a diving expedition near the Alimatha island caves in the Vaavu Atoll. The group departed from the Duke of York boat for a dive expected to last less than an hour. When they failed to resurface, a search was initiated.
Authorities from Italy and the Maldives confirmed that the bodies were recovered from a cave at a depth of 60 meters by a joint team of Finnish and Maldivian experts. Adverse weather conditions initially hampered recovery efforts.
The Victims and the Survivor
The victims were experienced divers. Four were associated with the University of Genoa, including ecology professor Monica Montefalcone, her daughter, and two researchers. The fifth victim was a manager and diving instructor at Albatros Top.
A student from Genoa who was part of the wider group survived because she did not participate in the dive. Her decision, whether based on caution or physical indisposition, is now a focal point for investigators.
Fatal Risks and Ongoing Investigations
Investigators are examining potential causes, including oxygen toxicity, equipment failure, or disorientation within the cave. Reports indicate that a cylinder found near Gianluca Benedetti was completely empty, raising questions about air supply.
The investigation is particularly focused on depth regulations, as recreational diving in the Maldives is limited to 30 meters. The government has suspended the license of the vessel involved. Meanwhile, a Maldivian soldier involved in the search operation also died in a hospital from decompression sickness.
Official Statements on Expedition Scope
The University of Genoa clarified that the dive was not part of an official research mission. Legal representatives for the tour operator stated that the intended goal was to collect coral samples and that the operator neither knew about nor authorized diving deeper than 30 meters.
Diplomatic services are currently assisting the families of the victims. Authorities in both the Maldives and Rome are conducting parallel investigations.