Maldives suspends search for 4 Italians in underwater cave after military diver dies

Maldivian authorities halted the search for four Italian divers believed trapped in an underwater cave in Vaavu Atoll after a military diver, Mohamed Mahudhee, died from decompression sickness. Mahudhee, a member of the Maldivian National Defense Force, was part of the rescue team and will be buried with military honors, attended by President Mohamed Muizzu. The five Italians—Monica Montefalcone (associate professor of ecology), her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, marine biologist Federico Gualtieri, researcher Muriel Oddenino, and diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti—were exploring a cave at 50 meters (160 feet), far exceeding the Maldives' 30-meter recreational diving limit. Benedetti’s body was recovered near the cave entrance on Thursday, while the remaining four are presumed inside. Montefalcone and Oddenino were in the Maldives for an official scientific mission unrelated to the dive, which occurred privately. Authorities await the arrival of Finnish deep-diving experts on Sunday to reassess the rescue strategy, as rough weather has repeatedly hindered operations. Eight local divers worked in shifts on Saturday to locate the missing divers, though the cave’s depth and conditions remain hazardous. Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani pledged full support to recover the victims, while the Italian tour operator denied authorizing the unauthorized deep dive. The Maldivian presidential spokesman, Mohamed Hussain Shareef, described the mission as extremely difficult, emphasizing the risks of decompression sickness at such depths. The cause of the divers’ deaths remains under investigation, with speculation that equipment failure or cave conditions may have contributed. Montefalcone’s husband, Carlo Sommacal, questioned the accident’s circumstances, citing his wife’s disciplined diving record.