Maldives rescue diver explains what could be responsible for death of Italian divers

The remaining bodies of the two Italian nationals who died in a scuba diving accident in the Maldives last week were recovered earlier this week.

Five died at an underwater cave while a Maldivian rescue diver also died during the search operation on 16 May.

Investigations into the deaths have been initiated but one rescuer has claimed the equipment the bodies of the Italians were found with ‘was not optimal’.

The five went missing on 14 May while exploring the cave at a depth of roughly 160ft in Vaavu Atoll. Their bodies were located by rescue divers in the innermost chamber of the cave at a depth of around 200ft.

Images were recently released from inside the cave, taken by Finnish diver Sami Paakkarinen, who told Italian media ‘the bodies were all together in one section of the cave’.

Professor Monica Montefalcone died alongside her daughter, two researchers and a diving instructor (University of Genoa)

The incident is believed to be the worst single diving accident in the Maldives with post mortem examinations to take place in the coming days.

The victims were 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.

While Mohamed Mahudhee, a Maldivian military diver died during the recovery mission.

Paakkarinen has questioned why the Italian divers were inside the cave ‘without the proper equipment’.

He told La Repubblica newspaper that when the team found the bodies they realised the cause could have been a ‘tragic human error’ but ultimately it is up to investigators to determine what happened.

The Finnish specialist diver said he and his fellow rescuers would never have ventured into such an environment like that without a scuba diving reel or guide rope for safety.

This equipment is used to aid guide divers through complicated or hazardous terrain.

Another image from inside the cave (DAN Europe/Instagram)

"In general, for those who visit caves, it's known that it's not very wise to do so without a safety line,” he said.

"Unfortunately, in most cave diving accidents, the main cause is always human error."

Paakkarinen did not go into detail but added: “The equipment we found them with wasn't optimal. They weren't using underwater caving gear.”

A Government spokesperson said earlier the four bodies were found ‘pretty much together’.

While the divers had a permit, authorities did not know from their proposal the exact location of the cave they were exploring, and at least two of the dead were not on the list of researchers that had been submitted, according to Maldivian authorities.