The bodies of two Italians who drowned in a scuba diving accident in the Maldives last week have been brought to the surface, local officials have confirmed. Their retrieval took place after a two-hour operation by Finnish specialists who accessed the third chamber of the underwater cave where they were found. The bodies are now being transported to the capital, Male, for identification.
The divers were part of a group of five who tragically lost their lives, with three bodies already recovered. The first body to be found was that of Gianluca Benedetti, a diving instructor and boat operations manager. In a heartbreaking twist, a Maldivian diver involved in the search also lost his life during the operation.
The remaining divers were discovered in the cave, known locally as 'shark cave,' which plunges to depths of up to 60 meters (197 feet). The next phase of the recovery will focus on the last two missing bodies, with hopes that recovery efforts can be completed soon.
Officials are now investigating the cause of the accident, which occurred amidst reports of rough weather conditions. Although the diving team had a permit for a 50-meter dive, the cave was not included in their proposal, sparking questions about regulatory compliance and safety protocols.
The divers were associated with the University of Genoa, which stated that the dive was not authorized as part of any sanctioned research missions. In light of these events, the university has announced a review of its diving authorization protocols.
The divers were part of a group of five who tragically lost their lives, with three bodies already recovered. The first body to be found was that of Gianluca Benedetti, a diving instructor and boat operations manager. In a heartbreaking twist, a Maldivian diver involved in the search also lost his life during the operation.
The remaining divers were discovered in the cave, known locally as 'shark cave,' which plunges to depths of up to 60 meters (197 feet). The next phase of the recovery will focus on the last two missing bodies, with hopes that recovery efforts can be completed soon.
Officials are now investigating the cause of the accident, which occurred amidst reports of rough weather conditions. Although the diving team had a permit for a 50-meter dive, the cave was not included in their proposal, sparking questions about regulatory compliance and safety protocols.
The divers were associated with the University of Genoa, which stated that the dive was not authorized as part of any sanctioned research missions. In light of these events, the university has announced a review of its diving authorization protocols.
