Finnish rescue divers have put forward a new theory regarding the deaths of five Italian scuba divers in the Maldives, suggesting that a 'sand bank illusion' may have trapped them in underwater caves. Authorities recovered the final two bodies on Wednesday, a week after the incident, which is believed to be the deadliest scuba diving accident in the nation's history.
Details of the Incident
The divers were exploring caves in Vaavu Atoll last Thursday when they disappeared. The body of their diving instructor was found outside the cave, while Finnish recovery teams retrieved two other bodies on Tuesday from a cave at a depth of 60 metres. Professional divers working for Dan Europe, a medical research organisation, discovered the remaining Italians in a dead-end corridor within the cave complex, according to La Repubblica.
The Sand Bank Illusion Theory
Laura Marroni, CEO of Dan Europe, explained that the cave near Alimatha is reached by diving 50 metres, where a large bright cavern opens up. A 30-metre corridor connects this cavern to a dark second chamber, but the low light conditions can cause confusion. Marroni highlighted that a rising sand bank at one end of the second chamber can resemble a wall, potentially creating an illusion that leads divers to take a wrong turn into a dead end instead of the exit.
Marroni estimated that the divers used tanks holding approximately 12 litres, giving them only about 10 minutes to visit the second cave. If they took the wrong corridor, panic would have reduced their oxygen supply even further. 'Realizing that the path is the wrong one and having little air, perhaps after going back and forth, is terrifying. Then you breathe quickly and the air supply decreases,' she said.
Victims and Investigation
The diving group was led by Monica Montefalcone, 51, a University of Genoa professor and marine ecologist who frequently dived in Maldivian waters. The group included her daughter Giorgia, biomedical engineering student Muriel Oddenino, research fellow Federico Gualtieri, and diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti. Presidential spokesperson Shareef noted that while the cave had been explored before by local and foreign divers, conditions were known to be challenging with difficult terrain, strong currents, and poor visibility. Other experts have suggested alternative theories, such as the group being sucked into the cave and running out of oxygen. Maldivian authorities continue to investigate.
