A Maldives military diver tragically died on Saturday (May 16) while attempting to recover the bodies of five Italian scuba divers who perished in an underwater cave in Vaavu Atoll. The Maldives National Defense Force identified the diver as Mohamed Mahudhee, who succumbed to underwater decompression sickness after being transferred to a hospital in the capital, Male.
The incident began on Thursday (May 14) when five Italian nationals, including Monica Montefalcone, an associate professor of ecology at the University of Genoa, and her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, went missing while exploring a cave at a depth of about 165 feet. The recreational diving limit in the Maldives is just under 100 feet. The Italian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the group also included marine biologist Federico Gualtieri, researcher Muriel Oddenino, and diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti.
The Maldives’ military reported that Benedetti’s body was found near the cave’s entrance, while the other four divers are believed to be deeper inside. Rough weather conditions have repeatedly hampered the search and recovery efforts.
The Italian Foreign Ministry is coordinating with the Divers Alert Network to support recovery operations and repatriation of the bodies. The cause of the accident remains under investigation, but initial reports suggest possible oxygen toxicity or equipment failure. The University of Genoa expressed its deepest condolences and confirmed that Montefalcone and Oddenino were on an official scientific mission to study the effects of climate change on tropical biodiversity.
Italy’s ambassador to Sri Lanka has arrived in the Maldives to assist with the situation. The Maldives tourism ministry has suspended the operating license of the “Duke of York,” the vessel from which the divers embarked, pending an investigation. The Italian government has assured that efforts will continue to bring the victims home.
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