Recovery Operation Reaches Third Cave Chamber
Two Italian divers have been recovered from a deep underwater cave in the Maldives following a deadly scuba diving accident last week. Rescue teams confirmed that specialist divers from Finland retrieved the bodies from the third chamber of the cave after a difficult two hour operation.
Bodies Transferred to Capital for Identification
The recovery work involved coordination between Finnish cave diving experts, Maldivian police, and coastguard teams.
Death Toll Rises to Five
The group was among five divers who lost their lives in the incident.Later, a Maldivian rescue diver also died during the search operation, raising further concern about the risks faced during the mission.
Remaining Divers Found in Deep Cave Chamber
Search teams located the remaining four missing divers on Monday inside the deepest section of the cave system, locally known as “Shark Cave.” The site reaches depths of around 60 meters and includes narrow chambers with limited visibility.
Complex Rescue Conditions
Authorities described the operation as extremely challenging due to depth, strong currents, and poor visibility. The cave entrance begins at about 47 meters, while internal chambers vary in depth, making navigation difficult even for experienced divers.
Finnish specialists brought the bodies up to around 30 meters, after which Maldivian coastguard divers continued the recovery process.
Questions Over Diving Permissions
The university said it had not approved deep diving activities for the mission. It stated that the divers entered the water in a personal capacity, not as part of official research.
The institution also confirmed that it suspended all scientific diving approvals in March 2024 in line with government safety rules and is now reviewing its internal procedures.
Investigation Underway
Authorities hope that recovering the bodies will help clarify what led to the fatal accident. Investigations are continuing as teams prepare to resume recovery work.
