News Desk
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has conveyed his deepest condolences to Italian President Sergio Mattarella and the people of Italy after five Italian divers died and four others went missing during a cave diving excursion in Vaavu Atoll on Thursday.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased Italian, the missing four Italians and everyone affected,” Muizzu said. He added that the government appreciates Italy’s support for the ongoing recovery operation and that finding the four remaining missing divers remains the government’s highest priority.
The group was diving at a depth of between 50 and 60 metres near Alimatha island in Vaavu Atoll when they failed to resurface. A distress alert reached the Maldives National Defence Force maritime coordination centre at 1.45pm. Rescue teams recovered one body from inside a submerged cave. Authorities believe the four missing divers are still inside the same cave system, which extends to around 60 metres.
The five who died were Monica Montefalcone, a marine biology professor at the University of Genoa; her daughter Giorgia Sommacal; Muriel Oddenino, a researcher; Federico Gualtieri, a marine scientist; and Gianluca Benedetti, a dive operator.
The divers were part of a larger excursion and had attempted to enter a cave system known for strong currents and complex tunnels. Early indications suggest the group may have become trapped or disoriented inside the cave. Local police have opened an investigation and the cause of death has not been confirmed.
The search continued into Thursday night, hampered by rough weather, strong winds and a yellow weather alert. Specialist divers, boats and aerial support are all involved in the operation.
The Maldives is one of the world’s leading diving destinations, home to more than 700 recognised dive sites across its atolls. Vaavu Atoll in particular is regarded as one of the finest diving spots in the country, known for its rich marine life, strong currents and the complex underwater cave systems that draw experienced divers from around the world. Cave diving at depth carries significant risk even for experienced divers, and the site near Alimatha is known to be particularly demanding.
