Maldives Recovers Last Two Italian Divers From Deep Vaavu Cave

Overview

• The Maldivian government spokesman said Wednesday the final two bodies were brought to the surface, with one ascent staged to respect decompression stops.
• Two other bodies were recovered Tuesday in a large operation at about 60 meters inside the Vaavu atoll cave, where tight, segmented passages slowed the work.
• Authorities had located four of the five missing divers Monday inside the cave after the group vanished during a deep cave dive Thursday near the island of Alimatha.
• A Maldivian defense diver died Saturday from decompression complications during the mission, and Italy organized an international recovery effort after local searches paused.
• The victims include University of Genoa marine biologist Monica Montefalcone, her daughter, two young researchers, and their instructor, and officials have suspended the dive boat’s license as the Maldives bars tourist dives deeper than 30 meters.