Finnish technical divers have recovered the bodies of two Italian divers who died deep inside an underwater cave system in the Maldives, a presidential spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday. The operation, supported by the Maldives police and military, marks a critical step in a tragic incident that has drawn attention from across Europe.
The two bodies were located on Monday when search efforts resumed after a pause following the death of a local military diver during an earlier attempt to reach the group. The remaining two bodies are expected to be recovered on Wednesday, according to Mohamed Hussain Shareef, the presidential spokesperson.
The five Italian divers—four of whom were exploring the cave—went missing on Thursday. The body of a fifth Italian, a diving instructor, was found outside the cave on the same day. The group was exploring a cave at a depth of about 50 metres in Vaavu Atoll, according to Italy’s Foreign Ministry.
Deep Recovery Mission
The recovery effort was led by three Finnish divers deployed by the Divers’ Alert Network Europe, an organisation specialising in technical and cave diving. The team used advanced closed-circuit rebreathers, which recycle exhaled gas and remove carbon dioxide, allowing for significantly longer dives than conventional equipment. The bodies were lying at a depth of around 60 metres—double the legal recreational diving limit of 30 metres in the Maldives.
Maldives government spokesman Ahmed Shaam earlier stated that the Finnish divers would retrieve the bodies, which were found in the innermost part of the cave. “As was previously thought, the four bodies were found inside the cave, not only inside the cave, but well inside the cave into the third segment of the cave, which is the largest part,” Shaam said. He added that the four bodies were found “pretty much together.”
The Divers’ Alert Network Europe described the Finnish team as experienced in search and recovery missions in “deep overhead environments, confined spaces and high-risk scenarios.” Their expertise was crucial in navigating the treacherous cave system, where visibility and oxygen levels are severely limited.
The incident has prompted discussions about diving safety in the Maldives, a popular destination for European tourists. The legal depth limit for recreational diving is 30 metres, but technical divers often operate beyond that. The Italian Foreign Ministry has been coordinating with Maldivian authorities, and the families of the victims have been informed.
This tragedy follows a series of diving accidents in the region. Earlier this month, bodies of four Italian divers were found in a Maldives cave after a fatal accident, highlighting the risks of cave diving. The recovery operation also comes amid broader European news, including Latvia's government collapse after a drone incursion and Helsinki Airport resuming flights after a drone alert.
The Maldives government has expressed condolences to the families and thanked the Finnish divers for their professionalism. The remaining two bodies are expected to be brought to the surface on Wednesday, weather permitting.
