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Diver succumbs during recovery operation in Vaavu Atoll
Maldivian rescue diver Staff Sgt Mohamed Mahdhee has died after collapsing during efforts to retrieve the bodies of five Italian scuba divers who perished in a cave at approximately 50 m depth, authorities confirmed on Saturday.
Updated 16 May 2026 - President Mohamed Muizzu visited the site as search teams continued operations under hazardous conditions.
Incident timeline
The five Italians-four researchers from the University of Genoa and a diving instructor-entered the water near Vaavu Atoll on Thursday morning. They were reported missing when they failed to resurface later that day.
Local media reported that only one body has so far been recovered from a cave at 60 m depth, where the group had attempted to explore.
Rescue efforts and risks
Eight divers began the recovery operation on Saturday. Upon surfacing, the team discovered Mahdhee was missing. A second descent located him unconscious, and he was rushed to hospital in critical condition but later died from his injuries.
The Maldives military described the mission as extremely dangerous due to rough weather. A yellow warning remained in effect for boats and fishermen in the area, approximately 100 km south of the capital, Malé.
Background and regulations
The group included Professor Monica Montefalcone, an ecology expert at the University of Genoa, her daughter, two researchers, and the boat operations manager. They were aboard the Duke of York yacht, where 20 other Italian nationals remained unharmed and received consular support from the Italian Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Maldivian authorities noted that recreational divers are legally restricted to depths of 30 m, raising questions about why the group entered a cave at 60 m.
National response
President Muizzu travelled to Vaavu Atoll on Saturday to oversee the search. Government spokesman Mohamed Hossain Shareef told the BBC that conditions had hampered progress, calling the incident the worst diving accident in the country's history.
"The operation is extremely high-risk due to the depth and weather," a military spokesperson said.
