Recovery operation for Italian divers killed in Maldives cave ends without finding remaining four bodies
A recovery operation for four Italian divers who died in an underwater cave in the Maldives ended without retrieving their bodies, marking the worst diving accident in the nation's history. A Finnish specialized recovery team is set to take over the mission, with operations expected to begin Monday if weather permits. One Maldivian Coast Guard diver also died during the search due to suspected decompression sickness.
- ▪Five Italian scuba divers vanished during a deep-water cave dive at 164 feet in Vaavu Atoll, with only one body recovered so far.
- ▪The Maldivian authorities suspended the operating license of the yacht Duke of York while the investigation continues.
- ▪Marine biologist Monica Montefalcone, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, research fellow Muriel Oddenino, and graduate Federico Gualtieri were among those who died.
- ▪A Maldives Coast Guard diver, Sergeant Major Mohamed Mahudhee, died from suspected decompression sickness during the recovery effort.
- ▪A specialized underwater recovery team from Finland is arriving to continue the operation under favorable weather conditions.
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World News Recovery operation for Italian divers killed in Maldives cave ends without finding remaining four bodies By Gabrielle Fahmy Published May 16, 2026, 3:52 p.m. ET The search for the bodies of four Italian divers trapped in an underwater cave in the Maldives ended Saturday without recovering any remains — as a specialized European recovery team was dispatched to continue the operation. Five Italian scuba divers vanished during a deep-water dive inside a cave 164 feet underwater in Vaavu Atoll Thursday — in what officials called the worst diving accident in the island nation’s history. Only one body, that of diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti, 44, has been recovered so far.
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