COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Divers in the Maldives searched Saturday for four Italian divers believed dead deep inside an underwater cave after rough weather repeatedly hampered the effort the previous day.Maldives Presidential Spokesman Mohammed Hussain Shareef said that the searchers have prepared a plan based on their progress exploring the cave on Friday.Italy’s Foreign Ministry said earlier that the dive group are believed to died while exploring a cave at a depth of about 50 meters (160 feet) in Vaavu Atoll on Thursday.Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said everything possible would be done to bring the victims home. His ministry said it was coordinating with Divers Alert Network, a specialist diving organization, to support recovery operations and the repatriation of the bodies.The cause of the deaths remains under investigation.
The victims have been identified as Monica Montefalcone, an associate ecology professor at the University of Genoa; her daughter Giorgia Sommacal; marine biologist Federico Gualtieri; researcher Muriel Oddenino and diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti, according to the Maldivian government.
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Benedetti’s body was recovered on Thursday. Cave diving is a highly technical and dangerous activity that requires specialized training, equipment and strict safety protocols. Risks increase sharply in overhead environments and at depth, particularly when conditions are poor. Experts say it’s easy to become disoriented or lost inside caves, particularly as sediment clouds can sharply reduce visibility.
