The three Finns were involved in the high-risk recovery of the bodies of five Italian citizens off the coast of the Maldives earlier this month.Jenni Westerlund was one of the three Finnish divers involved in the operation. Image: DAN EuropeYle News10:32Italian President Sergio Mattarella has conferred the honour of Merit of the Italian Republic on three Finnish divers for their role in recovering the bodies of Italian citizens from the sea near the Maldives islands.The three Finnish divers are Sami Paaskarinen, Jenni Westerlund, and Patrik Grönqvist. They are all members of the Divers Alert Network (DAN), a global not-for-profit organisation dedicated to scuba diving safety.They joined the recovery operation earlier this month after a team of Italian divers — including internationally renowned marine researcher Monica Montefalcone as well as her 23-year-old daughter — failed to return from an expedition to explore underwater caves.Authorities in the Maldives described the operation as "very high risk", with one rescue diver also dying.Grönqvist told Svenska Yle that receiving such an honour for "a completely ordinary operation" felt a bit strange, but he recognises that their efforts were greatly appreciated in Italy.Patrik Grönqvist. Image: DAN EuropeThe Order of Merit of the Italian Republic is the highest-ranking honour and most prestigious order of knighthood awarded by Italy, and it is usually conferred on awardees for endeavours in field such as arts, literature, and humanitarian work.