5 Italian divers die in Maldives tragedy

International

A SCUBA diving expedition in the Maldives ended in tragedy after five Italian nationals died while exploring underwater caves in Vaavu Atoll, according to Italy’s foreign ministry.

“The divers are believed to have died while attempting to explore caves at a depth of 50 metres (164ft),” the ministry said in a BBC report, adding that the incident occurred in the Vaavu Atoll area.

Authorities in the Maldives said the group disappeared after failing to return to the surface on Thursday morning. The crew aboard the dive vessel later reported them missing.

The Maldivian military said one body had been recovered from a cave roughly 60 metres underwater, while the remaining four divers were believed to be in the same location.

Rescue teams equipped for deep-water recovery operations were dispatched to the site, though officials described the mission as extremely dangerous because of the conditions inside the cave system.

Police said rough seas had been reported in waters about 100km (62 miles) south of the capital, Malé. A yellow weather warning had also been issued for fishermen and passenger boats operating in the area.

The University of Genoa later confirmed that those who died included a marine biology professor, her daughter and two young researchers.

In a statement on X, the university expressed its “deepest condolences” to the victims.

The incident is believed to be the deadliest single diving accident recorded in the Maldives, a country known internationally for its coral islands and diving tourism.

While diving and snorkelling accidents are uncommon in the Indian Ocean archipelago, several fatal incidents have been reported in recent years.

Last December, an experienced British woman died in a scuba diving accident near the resort island of Ellaidhoo. Her husband died five days later after becoming ill.

In 2024, a Japanese lawmaker also died while snorkelling in Lhaviyani Atoll.(MyTVCebu)