Five Italian divers died during a cave dive in Vaavu Atoll, and the search for the remaining four was later suspended after bad weather and the death of a Maldivian rescue diver. One body was recovered from about 60 metres below the surface, while the others were believed to remain inside the cave system.
The divers were exploring a cave system at a depth of around 50 metres near Alimathaa when they failed to resurface. The dead were identified as Monica Montefalcone, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, marine biologist Federico Gualtieri, researcher Muriel Oddenino and diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti.
