The husband of a marine biologist who died in a diving incident in the Maldives has said that 'something must have happened down there' in the caves where the victims were swimming. Five Italian divers died during an underwater cave expedition on Thursday, authorities said.
The group were exploring caves at about 50-60m depth in Vaavu Atoll, about 64km from the capital Malé. Among the victims is 51-year-old Monica Montefalcone, a TV personality, marine biologist and professor at the University of Genoa. Her daughter, Giorgia Sommacal, 22, also perished.
Monica's husband and Giorgia's father, Carlo Sommacal, expressed his devastation and said his wife is 'among the best divers on earth' and would not have put anyone in danger. 'She would never have put our daughter's life or that of others at risk... something must have happened down there,' he told La Repubblica.
According to authorities, the group were part of a larger diving excursion when they attempted to enter cave structures known for strong currents and complex underwater tunnels. There were thought to have been 20 people on board a yacht. Rescue teams recovered one body inside a submerged cave, while the remaining four are believed to still be inside the same cave system.
Maldives government spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef said the cave 'is so deep that even divers with the best equipment do not try to approach.' He added that a separate investigation will look into how the divers went below the permitted depth. The victims were identified as Monica and Giorgia Sommacal, Muriel Oddenino, Federico Gualtieri and Gianluca Benedetti.
