The bodies of four missing Italian scuba divers have been recovered after a complex underwater search in the Maldives, according to the Maldivian government on Monday.
The divers had been trapped inside a deep sea cave system in the Vaavu Atoll following a fatal expedition last week.
The incident, which involved five Italians who went missing while exploring submerged caves on Thursday, triggered an international rescue and recovery operation that drew in specialist divers and equipment from multiple countries.
One of the divers was found dead on the same day the group disappeared at the entrance of the maze-like cave system. Efforts to locate the remaining four led to a multinational mission involving local authorities and expert cave divers.
Operations were temporarily halted after a Maldivian military diver died during an earlier recovery attempt but resumed on Monday with renewed strategy support from specialists, including three Finnish divers from the Divers Alert Network, a global scuba safety organization, alongside a fourth expert and the Maldives coastguard.
Assistance in equipment also came from the United Kingdom and Australia, according to Maldives government spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef.
Authorities later confirmed the missing divers had been located deep within the underwater cave system, with recovery operations expected to continue over the following days.
Diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti was found at the cave entrance, leading rescuers to believe the remaining four were deeper inside, Shareef said.
The missing individuals were identified as Monica Montefalcone, an associate professor of ecology at the University of Genoa; her daughter Giorgia Sommacal; marine biologist Federico Gualtieri; and researcher Muriel Oddenino.
A sixth diver reportedly chose not to enter the water during the expedition, officials said.
The group had been traveling aboard the Duke of York vessel as part of a diving tour organized through Italy-linked operators, according to Italy’s foreign ministry. The Red Crescent also offered psychological support to about 20 Italian tourists still on board. No injuries were reported.
The recovery mission itself turned deadly when senior military diver Sgt. Mohamed Mahudhee, 43, died during a second dive into the cave system on Saturday.
“He was one of the most senior divers, which shows just how challenging this dive is,” Shareef said.
The cave system reaches depths of around 70 meters (230 feet) and extends roughly 200 meters in length, with narrow passages and strong currents complicating operations.
Officials said Mahudhee may have suffered decompression sickness, a condition caused by rapid pressure changes during ascent. According to Harvard Health, the condition is common in deep-sea diving and can also occur in certain aviation situations.
Each recovery dive was limited to roughly three hours due to oxygen and decompression constraints. Teams used underwater scooters and specialized gas equipment designed to extend dive time in extreme conditions.
The bodies of the four Italians were eventually discovered together in the largest chamber of the cave system, which rescuers said was deeper and more complex than initially mapped, according to the Maldives president’s media office.
Joint teams from DAN, the Maldives coastguard, and police are expected to complete recovery operations in the coming days.
Speaking on the risks involved, DAN CEO Laura Moroney said, “The team knows they do not have to put themselves at risk… if there is any condition they deem to be too dangerous, they will stop the dive, go back to surface, replan and then dive again the next day, or whenever possible.”
Describing the fatal accident involving the Maldivian diver, officials said he was following standard protocol with a partner when something went wrong during ascent.
“He was diving in a pair, as per protocol, and returning to the surface when his partner realized something was wrong and the rest of the team jumped in to try and save him,” Shareef said.
Mahudhee was later given full military honors in Malé, where Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and senior officials attended his funeral.
Experts have pointed to the extreme difficulty of cave diving in such conditions, citing strong currents, limited visibility, and silt disturbance that can disorient even experienced divers.
“It’s essentially a very long way into the cave and normally, cave divers would lay a guideline to find their way into the cave. And that’s potentially what happened with the missing party,” said cave rescue expert John Volanthen of the British Cave Rescue Council.
He also warned that depth-related nitrogen narcosis can impair judgment, “It also makes it more likely that you’re inebriated or essentially unable to control yourself,” Volanthen added.
“And so as you start to go deeper, that narcosis effect potentially could create panic, but also would make them less likely to be able to find their way out.
“And also, if the cave becomes silty, as is normal for this type of cave if you touch the walls or the floor, finding the way out becomes much more difficult.”
Carlo Sommacal, the husband of Monica Montefalcone and father of Giorgia Sommacal, said he was still searching for answers, noting his family’s extensive diving experience. Speaking to Italian media, he described Montefalcone as a disciplined diver who would never take unnecessary risks.
Investigations are ongoing into how the group descended beyond permitted limits. Local authorities said recreational diving is typically restricted to 30 meters, while the cave entrance itself sits at nearly 50 meters.
Authorities have suspended the vessel’s operating license pending investigation.
Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani said all efforts would be made to repatriate the victims’ remains, as officials in both countries continue coordinating.
The Maldives, an island nation heavily dependent on tourism, has maintained close ties with Italy, one of its major visitor markets.
The Maldivian and Italian governments remain in close contact as the investigation continues, with President Mohamed Muizzu offering condolences to Italian President Sergio Mattarella and the families of the deceased.
