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Five Italians die in Maldives cave diving accident
Italy's foreign ministry confirmed on Friday that five Italian nationals lost their lives while scuba diving in the Maldives. Authorities believe the group perished during an attempt to explore underwater caves at a depth of 50 meters (164 feet) in Vaavu Atoll.
Victims identified as university team and instructor
Four of the deceased were part of a research team from the University of Genoa. Among them were ecology professor Monica Montefalcone, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal-a student at the university-research fellow Muriel Oddenino, and marine biology graduate Federico Gualtieri. The fifth victim was identified as Gianluca Benedetti, a diving instructor and boat operations manager.
The University of Genoa issued a statement on X, expressing its "deepest condolences" to the families of the victims.
Search operation underway in high-risk conditions
The Maldives military reported that one body was recovered from a cave approximately 60 meters underwater. The remaining four divers are believed to be in the same location. Specialized divers equipped for deep-water rescues have been deployed, though authorities described the operation as "very high risk."
The group entered the water on Thursday morning, according to local media. The crew of their diving vessel alerted authorities when the divers failed to resurface later that day.
Challenging weather complicates recovery efforts
Police stated that rough weather conditions prevailed in the area, located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of the capital, Malé. A yellow warning was issued for passenger boats and fishermen, further hampering search efforts.
Incident marks worst diving tragedy in Maldives history
This accident is believed to be the deadliest single diving incident in the Maldives, a nation renowned for its coral islands and popular diving destinations. While diving and snorkeling accidents are relatively uncommon, fatalities have occurred in recent years.
In December 2025, an experienced British diver drowned off the island resort of Ellaidhoo. Her husband later died five days afterward after falling ill. In 2024, a Japanese lawmaker lost his life while snorkeling in Lhaviyani Atoll.
Next steps
Recovery operations continue, though authorities have not provided a timeline for the completion of the mission. Italian and Maldivian officials are coordinating to support the victims' families and investigate the circumstances of the tragedy.
