Maldivian officials are investigating whether five Italian divers, who perished last week in a deepwater cave, went deeper than planned. The investigation is looking into multiple factors, with a central question being whether the divers exceeded expected depths. Recovery efforts saw expert divers using advanced, closed-circuit rebreathers to locate the bodies. Mohamed Hussain Shareef, chief spokesperson at the Maldives president’s office, confirmed that the group had obtained permits for soft coral research at the Devana Kandu site.
The recovery mission was planned to extract bodies over two days, with two expected Tuesday and the remaining three Wednesday. For dives reaching depths of at least 50 meters, standard recommendations include using at least two cylinders of specialized air per diver.
Authorities launched a significant search and recovery operation shortly after the divers were reported missing. This involved deploying boats, aircraft, and dive teams. Rough sea conditions were reported as a complication during initial recovery attempts. An Italian expert assisted the Maldivian coast guard, and Italy's ambassador to Sri Lanka, who also covers the Maldives, was present on a search vessel.
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The incident has been described as the deadliest diving tragedy in the Maldives' history. The group of five Italians, which included an instructor and a university ecology professor along with her daughter, reportedly vanished while exploring a deep underwater cave. Initial reports suggest the divers were exploring caves at depths ranging from 50 to 60 meters. One body was recovered at approximately 60 meters below the surface, with the remaining four believed to have been inside the cave.
The divers were part of a team from the University of Genoa. The tragic event has cast a somber mood over both the Maldivian tourism sector and the Italian scientific community.
