Five tourists have died in a scuba diving accident in the Maldives, marking what is believed to be the worst single diving tragedy in the South Asian nation's history. The group, all from Italy, had been exploring underwater caves in the Vaavu Atoll at a depth of around 50 metres on Thursday.
Victims Identified
The five divers have been named as Monica Montefalcone, 51, a respected marine biologist from the University of Genoa; her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, 20; research fellow Muriel Oddenino; marine biology graduate Federico Gualtieri; and boat operations manager and diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti. Four of the divers were part of a team from the University of Genoa, including Ms Montefalcone, her daughter, and two researchers.
Details of the Incident
The divers entered the water on Thursday morning, local reports said. They were travelling on the luxury yacht Duke of York. When they failed to resurface near Alimatha, a popular diving spot, the crew reported them missing. A major search was launched, involving aircraft and speedboats, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) said in a statement.
One body has been found inside a cave, the MNDF added. It is believed that the remaining four divers are also inside the same cave, which extends to a depth of about 60 metres. Authorities have not disclosed the identity of the diver whose body was recovered. Rescue teams will resume their search for the remaining bodies today.
Possible Causes
Police have launched an investigation into the tragedy, with several hypotheses to examine. They said weather was rough in the area, with winds blowing at up to 30mph and a yellow warning issued for passenger boats and fishermen. The fact that none of the four divers resurfaced suggested they may have become lost in an underwater cave, Italian newspaper La Repubblica reports. Another possibility is that one of the four got stuck and the others ran out of air while trying to free them.
Diving Regulations and Risks
The Maldives is one of the world's most popular diving destinations, with the Vaavu Atoll famous for night diving and channel diving. Local regulations permit diving to a maximum depth of 30 metres, but experienced professionals are known to go deeper. Diving and snorkelling accidents are relatively rare in the tiny Indian Ocean nation, although several fatalities have been reported in recent years. Last December, an experienced British female tourist drowned in a scuba incident off the island resort of Ellaidhoo. Her 71-year-old husband died days later after falling ill. A 26-year-old Japanese tourist went missing after a diving expedition near the capital Malé in June.
Italy's foreign ministry has not provided any details about the exact cause of the accident. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the diving community and the families of the victims.
