Rescuers have found the bodies of four Italian divers deep inside an underwater cave in a Maldives atoll, four days after they were reported missing. The search had been paused following the death of a local military diver during a dangerous attempt to reach them.
On Monday, the government of the Indian Ocean island nation confirmed that three Finnish diving experts, supported by the Maldives police and military, spotted the bodies in the innermost part of the cave.
“As we thought before, the four bodies were found inside the cave—not just inside, but deep inside, in the third section, which is the largest part,” said Ahmed Shaam, a Maldives government spokesperson.
He added that the four were found “pretty much together.”
“The plan is to try and recover two bodies tomorrow, and possibly the other two the day after,” Shaam said in a voice message sent to the media.
The body of a fifth Italian, a diving instructor, was found earlier outside the cave. According to Italy’s foreign ministry, the five were exploring a cave at a depth of about 50 meters (160 feet) in Vaavu Atoll on Thursday. The recreational diving limit in the Maldives is 30 meters.
Three Finnish divers, experts in deep and cave diving, arrived in the Maldives on Sunday.
Earlier, Maldives presidential spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef said the search was suspended after Mohamed Mahudhee, a member of the Maldives National Defence Force, died from underwater decompression sickness after being taken to a hospital in the capital on Saturday.
Rough weather has repeatedly made rescue efforts difficult. Initial teams had already dived to find and mark the entrance to the cave system where the Italians disappeared. The cause of the deaths is still under investigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of frequently asked questions about the tragic incident involving the four Italian divers in the Maldives
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What exactly happened to the Italian divers
Four Italian divers went missing while exploring a deep underwater cave in the Maldives After a search their bodies were found inside the cave
2 Where did this accident take place
It happened in the Maldives specifically in an underwater cave system near the island of Guraidhoo
3 How long were the divers missing
They were reported missing on Saturday and their bodies were found on Monday meaning they were missing for about two days
4 Were they on a vacation or a professional dive
They were experienced technical divers on a private expedition not a typical tourist dive They were exploring a deep complex cave system
5 Did anyone survive
No all four divers in the group were found deceased There were no survivors
Advanced Technical Questions
6 What is cave diving and why is it so dangerous
Cave diving is diving inside a cave system where there is no direct access to the surface It is extremely dangerous because of limited space zero visibility if silt is stirred up and the risk of getting lost or running out of air The overhead environment means you cannot simply swim straight up to escape
7 What likely caused the deaths of these divers
While an official investigation is ongoing common causes in such incidents include running out of breathing gas getting lost in the caves maze or a rapid ascent due to a buoyancy problem Decompression sickness is also a major risk
8 What is decompression sickness and could it have been a factor
Yes its a strong possibility Decompression sickness happens when a diver ascends too quickly causing nitrogen bubbles to form in the blood and tissues In deep cave dives divers must make long slow stops to release these gases A mistake or emergency can lead to fatal DCS
9 How deep was the cave where the bodies were found
Reports indicate the cave system extends to depths of over 3040 meters which is considered a deep advanced dive requiring specialized equipment and training
