A major coast guard operation to recover 5 Italians killed while exploring undersea caves in the Maldives was being hampered by bad weather.

MALE: Five Italians have died in a scuba diving accident in the Maldives, Italy’s foreign ministry said on Thursday, with security forces in the Indian Ocean archipelago…

The incident occurs in the Vaavu Atoll, where the group was attempting to explore a series of underwater caves

The victims included a marine biology professor, her daughter and two young researchers.

Five Italians have died in a scuba diving accident in the Maldives, Italy's foreign ministry said on Thursday, with security forces in the Indian Ocean archipelago recovering one…

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An Italian expert has joined police divers and rescue vessels in the Maldives for searches after the death of five Italian divers in a scuba accident.

Rome prosecutors have opened an investigation after five Italians died while scuba-diving in the Maldives on Thursday, sources said on Friday. (ANSA)

A major coast guard operation to recover 5 Italians killed while exploring undersea caves in the Maldives was being hampered by bad weather.

The University of Genoa said the victims included a marine biology professor, her daughter and two young researchers.

The group was exploring a series of underwater caves at a depth of around 50 metres in Vaavu Atoll in the Maldives.

Italy’s Foreign Ministry said the five divers “apparently died while attempting to explore caves at a depth of 50 meters (164 feet)” in the Vaavu Atoll on Thursday.

ROME —Five Italian nationals have died following a scuba diving accident in the Maldives, Italy’s foreign ministry said on Thursday. The incident occurred...

Rescue teams in the Maldives continued recovery operations after the country’s deadliest diving accident killed five Italian divers.

The divers went missing Thursday while exploring a cave in Vaavu Atoll, nearly 200 feet below the surface, according to the Maldives National Defense Force.

The divers became trapped in a sea cave at a depth of about 50 metres. A high-risk search for the bodies was suspended because of rough seas.

Cave diving is a highly technical and dangerous activity that requires specialized training, equipment and strict safety protocols.

Body of fifth diver recovered on Thursday, search of third cave chamber expected on Saturday

Authorities previously suspended recovery operation for bodies of four divers believed to have died while exploring Vaavu Atoll cave

A rescue diver in the Maldives searching for the bodies of four Italians, who drowned in the deadliest diving disaster in the Indian Ocean tourist destination, has also died,…

A rescue diver has died after an attempt to recover the bodies of four of the five Italians killed on a scuba diving trip in the Maldives.