Five Italians die during cave dive in the Maldives

WorldTravel
15 May 2026 • 9:13 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Five Italians die during cave dive in the Maldives

  • 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.

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