Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleCopy linkRescue teams searched for a second day for the bodies of the missing Italians following the country's deadliest diving accident (AFP/Getty)Five Italian divers died during an underwater cave expedition in the Maldives after failing to resurface on Thursday. The group was exploring caves at depths of 50-60 metres in Vaavu Atoll, an area known for strong currents and complex underwater tunnels. A distress alert was raised when the divers did not return, and rescue teams later recovered one body, with the remaining four believed to be inside the same cave system. The victims were identified as Monica Montefalcone, Giorgia Sommacal, Muriel Oddenino, Federico Gualtieri and Gianluca Benedetti. Maldivian authorities are investigating the incident, which is considered one of the most serious diving accidents in the country's history, with rough weather hindering recovery efforts. In fullFive Italians die while exploring underwater caves in the MaldivesMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Five Italians die during cave dive in the Maldives
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleCopy linkRescue teams searched for a second day for the bodies of the missing Italians following the country's deadliest diving accident (AFP/Getty)Five Italian divers died during an underwater cave expedition in the Maldives after failing to resurface on Thursday. The group was exploring caves at depths of 50-60 metres in Vaavu Atoll, an area known for strong currents and complex underwater tunnels. A distress alert was raised when the divers did not return, and rescue teams later recovered one body, with the remaining four believed to be inside the same cave system. The victims were identified as Monica Montefalcone, Giorgia Sommacal, Muriel Oddenino, Federico Gualtieri and Gianluca Benedetti. Maldivian authorities are investigating the incident, which is considered one of the most serious diving accidents in the country's history, with rough weather hindering recovery efforts. In fullFive Italians die while exploring underwater caves in the MaldivesMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
