A Maldivian military diver has died following a rescue operation for five Italian nationals who went missing during a deep-sea cave dive in the Vaavu Atoll on May 14.
Fatal Rescue Attempt
Eight divers descended into the water on Saturday, May 16. Upon surfacing, the team realized that Staff Sergeant Mohamed Mahdhee was missing, according to Maldivian government spokesperson Mohamed Hossain Shareef.
The divers immediately returned underwater and located their colleague, who had lost consciousness. He was transported to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries, with the Ansa news agency noting decompression sickness as the likely cause. The Maldivian military emphasized that the operation was high-risk due to adverse weather conditions.
Tragedy in the Vaavu Atoll
The initial incident occurred on Thursday, May 14, during a diving expedition at the Alimatha island caves. The group of five divers was part of a 25-person excursion on the Duke of York yacht.
The party included four members of a University of Genoa research team—ecologist Professor Monica Montefalcone, her daughter, and two other researchers—alongside a manager and instructor from the travel company. Following the failure of the group to return after an hour, a search was launched, leading to the recovery of one body.
Unauthorized Deep-Sea Diving
Local authorities stated that the body was found inside a cave system reaching depths of approximately 60 meters. Officials noted that recreational divers are limited to a depth of 30 meters, and it remains unclear why the group descended to double that depth without the necessary certifications.
A lawyer for the travel operator told Corriere della Sera that the firm was unaware of the unauthorized deep-sea activity and would not have permitted it. The cruise’s stated objective was to collect coral samples, not to conduct cave penetration.
