Bodies of missing divers found in Maldives

The bodies of four missing divers have been found in the Maldives.

Five Italians were believed to have died while exploring a cave at a depth of around 50m (160ft) in Vaavu Atoll on Thursday, according to Italy's Foreign Ministry.

One of the missing was found last week. On Monday the Maldives ​government said ​that the bodies of the other four scuba divers had also been ⁠located.

An initial search was suspended after local military diver Mohamed Mahudhee died during a perilous mission to try to reach them, but searches resumed on Monday.

The victims from the Italian group have been identified as Monica Montefalcone, an associate professor of ecology at the University of Genoa; her daughter, Giorgia Sommacal; marine biologist Federico Gualtieri; researcher Muriel Oddenino; and diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti, according to the Maldivian government.

Mr Benedetti's body was recovered near the mouth of the cave on Thursday. Authorities believe the other four had entered the cave.

The cause of the deaths is under investigation.

Mr Mahudhee, a member of the Maldivian National Defense Force, died of underwater decompression sickness after being transferred to a hospital in the capital on Saturday.

Mr Mahudhee was buried with military honours in a funeral on Saturday night, with the country's President Mohamed Muizzu in attendance.

Italy's foreign minister Antonio Tajani said everything possible would be done to bring the victims home and offered his condolences for the death of Mr Mahudhee.

Rough weather has impacted rescue efforts throughout the mission.

What was the group doing?

The Italian tour operator that managed the diving trip denied authorising or knowing about the 50m deep dive that exceeded local limits, its lawyer told Italian daily Corriere della Sera on Saturday.

The recreational diving limit in the Maldives is 30m (98ft).

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Ms Montefalcone and Ms Oddenino were in the Maldives on an official scientific mission to monitor marine environments and study the effects of climate change on tropical biodiversity, the University of Genoa said in a statement on Friday.

But the scuba diving activity during which the deadly incident occurred was not part of the planned research and was "undertaken privately", it said.

The statement also said the two other victims - student Ms Sommacal and recent graduate Mr Gualtieri - were not part of the scientific mission.

(c) Sky News 2026: Bodies of missing divers found in Maldives