The bodies of two out of five Italian divers have been recovered from a deep underwater cave, according to an Italian foreign ministry source on Wednesday, reports AFP.
“The first body has already been brought onto a support boat. The second is currently being raised by a diver who is observing mandatory decompression stops,” the source said.
Maldives government spokesman Mohamed Hussain Shareef told AFP: “Both remaining divers have now been recovered from the cave and brought to the surface.”
The five Italians died on 14 May while diving in Vaavu Atoll. One body was recovered the same day, and two more were found on Tuesday inside a cave at a depth of 60 metres (195 feet).
A rescuer from the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF) also died on Saturday due to decompression-related complications.
Italy launched an international recovery mission after the death of MNDF Staff Sergeant Mohamed Mahudhy prompted local authorities to suspend their search.
Italy’s University of Genoa identified the divers as marine biology professor Monica Montefalcone, her daughter Giorgia, and two young researchers.
Italian daily Corriere della Sera reported on Tuesday, citing the university, that “the scuba diving activity during which the accident occurred was not part of the scientific mission’s planned activities, but was carried out in a personal capacity.”
It added that requests made to Maldivian authorities “were evidently submitted outside the scope of the mission authorised by the university.”
The Maldives prohibits tourists from diving deeper than 30 metres. Local authorities have suspended the operating licence of the dive boat used by the Italian team pending an investigation.
Tourism is a vital source of income for the low-lying Maldives, an archipelago of 1,192 small coral islands and atolls stretching some 800 kilometres (500 miles) across the equator in the Indian Ocean.
Its pristine beaches, clear turquoise waters, and coral reefs attract divers and snorkelers from around the world, many of whom stay at secluded resorts or on liveaboard dive boats.
While several diving fatalities have been reported in recent years, accidents related to diving and water sports remain relatively uncommon.
