Finnish divers have recovered the last two bodies of the four Italian divers who perished deep inside an underwater cave in the Maldives last week, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
Recovery Operation Completed
The Italian divers had been exploring a cave in Vaavu Atoll on Thursday when they went missing. The body of their Italian diving instructor was initially recovered outside the cave, while two other bodies were brought to the surface by Finnish recovery divers on Tuesday. The final two bodies were retrieved on Wednesday by three Finnish divers, supported by the Maldives coastguard and police, according to presidential spokesperson Mohameed Hussain Shareef.
Shareef stated that the bodies would be taken to a morgue for identification before coordination with the Italian government to begin repatriation procedures. He expressed gratitude to the Finnish divers, praising their professionalism and leadership.
Details of the Incident
The four bodies had been located on Monday at a depth of approximately 60 meters (200 feet), which is twice the legal depth for recreational diving in the island nation. The search was temporarily suspended after a local military diver died during a perilous retrieval attempt. Government spokesperson Ahmed Shaam reported that the recovery divers found the bodies in the cave's innermost area, “pretty much together.”
Presidential spokesperson Shareef earlier told The Associated Press that while the Italian divers had a permit, authorities were unaware of the exact cave location from their proposal. Additionally, at least two of the deceased were not on the submitted list of researchers, meaning authorities did not know they were part of the expedition.
Shareef described conditions inside the cave as “challenging,” with difficult terrain, strong currents, and poor visibility. A weather alert had been issued, and investigators must determine whether the divers took adequate precautions.
Role of Finnish Divers
The Divers’ Alert Network Europe, which deployed the Finnish team, described them as technical and cave divers experienced in search and recovery missions, including operations in “deep overhead environments, confined spaces and high-risk scenarios.” The rescue team used closed-circuit rebreathers, which recycle exhaled gas and remove carbon dioxide through a chemical scrubber, allowing for “significantly longer dives,” the organization said.
Investigation Ongoing
The cause of death of the Maldivian military diver remains under investigation, though colleagues have suggested possible nitrogen narcosis or decompression issues at depth.
