Overview
- The group vanished Thursday during a deep cave dive near Alimathaa in Vaavu Atoll after failing to resurface from a morning descent.
- Maldivian forces recovered one body about 60 metres down inside a cave and believe the other four divers remain in the same system, prompting a high‑risk operation with boats, aircraft and specialist teams.
- Rough weather and a yellow alert in the area have slowed dives, with authorities calling the effort dangerous because of depth, narrow passages and strong currents.
- Italy said the dead include University of Genoa professor Monica Montefalcone, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, researchers Muriel Oddenino and Federico Gualtieri, and diving instructor and boat manager Gianluca Benedetti.
- Italy’s ambassador, an expert diver and consular staff are assisting on site, as investigators examine how a dive beyond the local 30‑metre recreational limit turned into what officials describe as the country’s worst single diving accident.