Finnish Divers to Recover Bodies of Two Italian Cave Divers in Maldives

Three Finnish divers will attempt to recover the bodies of two of the four Italians who died deep inside an underwater cave in Vaavu Atoll in the Maldives. The bodies were located on Monday after searches resumed following the death of a local military diver during an earlier mission. The Italian divers went missing on Thursday while exploring the cave at a depth of about 50 meters.

Maldives government spokesman Ahmed Shaam said the three divers will retrieve the bodies, which are lying at a depth of around 60 meters. The coast guard will take over at about 30 meters and hand the bodies to police closer to the surface. The legal depth for recreational diving in the Maldives is 30 meters.

Background The five Italians were exploring the cave system when the incident occurred. The body of a fifth Italian, a diving instructor, was found outside the cave on the day they were reported missing. The government of the Indian Ocean island nation said the four bodies were found pretty much together in the innermost part of the cave.

Officials plan to recover the remaining two bodies on Wednesday.