Bodies of Missing Italian Divers Found in Maldivian Cave

The bodies of four Italian scuba divers who went missing near Alimathaa Island in the Maldives have been found in an underwater cave. The Maldives National Defense Force made the discovery on Monday, following an international search effort.

One body was initially located last Thursday, the day the dive team disappeared. The four remaining bodies were in the Vaavu Atoll cave, as confirmed by a Maldives agency statement on X. The Italian government sent experts to assist in the operation.

The search involved a consortium of international rescue divers, who explored deepwater formations to locate the missing individuals. Sadly, one diver from the Maldives National Defense Forces died from decompression illness during the mission.

The divers were part of a larger expedition of Italians attracted to the Maldives for its renowned dive sites. The diving session last Thursday was considered hazardous due to the depth and required specialized equipment. Most of the other Italian participants did not partake in the dive and remained unharmed.

The missing group, which included a marine scientist and her daughter, did not return after a descent to around 50 meters (164 feet) deep. The Maldives coast guard received an emergency call around noon Thursday. That evening, a body was found deeper than planned, at 196 feet.

The recovery of the bodies will take place over several days, as announced by the Maldives National Defense Force.

Ibrahim Maahil Mohamed provided reporting from the Maldives. Ali Watkins, based in Belfast, covers international news for The Times.