Two bodies recovered from deep cave network in the Maldives

WorldTravel
19 May 2026 • 6:17 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Two bodies recovered from deep cave network in the Maldives

  • Two bodies of Italian divers have been recovered from an underwater cave system in the Maldives, part of a group of five who died last week.
  • Recovery efforts for the remaining four bodies were temporarily suspended after a Maldivian military diver, Mohamed Mahudhee, died from decompression sickness during the mission.
  • On Monday, three Finnish diving experts, supported by local police and military, located the four bodies in the deepest section of the cave, approximately 60 meters (200 feet) deep.
  • The Maldivian government plans to recover two more bodies on Wednesday, with the four found "pretty much together" inside the cave's third segment.
  • Maldives police have launched a criminal investigation into the incident, examining whether the diving trip complied with safety regulations and weather warnings.

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