The bodies of four Italian scuba divers missing in the Maldives since last week have been discovered in an underwater cave, according to the Maldives National Defense Force. This development follows the recovery of one body last Thursday when the group of five researchers first went missing.
Authorities revealed that the four bodies were located within the Vaavu Atoll cave during a coordinated search and recovery operation. A team from Italy joined the local effort in searching the deepwater formations. The search concluded with the finding of all five missing divers.
The mission involved an international team of divers. Tragically, a member of the Maldives National Defense Forces died due to decompression illness during the operation.
The Italian divers were part of a larger expedition exploring deepwater reefs and caves in the Maldives, known for its clear waters and challenging dive sites. The Thursday dive required specialized equipment and was deemed hazardous by the Maldives defense force. Approximately 20 other Italians on the expedition chose not to participate in the dive.
The missing divers included a marine scientist and her daughter. The dive planned to explore areas around 50 meters deep but extended far below that. A distress call was received on Thursday around noon. The lone body discovered that evening was found at a depth greater than anticipated, at 196 feet. The Maldives National Defense Force plans to recover the remaining bodies during further dives over the coming days.
Journalist Ibrahim Maahil Mohamed contributed from the Maldives.
Ali Watkins reports on international news for The Times.
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