Maldivian Rescue Diver Dies During Search for Italian Scuba Victims

A Maldivian military diver died during a search for the bodies of five Italian scuba divers who drowned in an underwater cave in Vaavu Atoll. Staff Sgt Mohamed Mahdhee was taken to hospital in critical condition after blacking out underwater and later died from his injuries, a government spokesman told the BBC on Saturday.

The five Italians entered the water on Thursday morning to explore caves at a depth of around 50m, exceeding the 30m recreational limit. One body was recovered near the cave entrance, while the remaining four are believed to be deeper inside.

Eight rescue divers had been working in shifts when they surfaced and realized one member of the team had not returned. The other divers immediately went back into the water and found the missing diver unconscious. The Maldives military described the operation as very high risk due to unfavourable weather conditions.

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu travelled to the site on Saturday to observe the search operations and attended the diver's funeral that evening.

Finnish divers arrived in the Maldives on Sunday to help develop a new search plan. They met with the Maldives coastguard to map a fresh strategy for recovering the remaining bodies. Rough weather has repeatedly hampered efforts. The cave system is divided into three large chambers connected by narrow passages, and recovery teams have explored two of them.

The cause of the deaths remains under investigation. Officials said the remaining four Italians are believed to have entered the cave after the first diver's body was found near the entrance.

Italian divers were part of a University of Genoa team conducting marine research. The fifth was a boat operations manager and diving instructor. The Italian tour operator that managed the trip said it did not know about or authorize the deep dive that violated local limits.

The operator stated the group used standard recreational gear rather than technical equipment suited for cave diving. Italy's foreign ministry said around 20 other Italians on the same yacht were unharmed. The Maldives Tourism Ministry suspended the operating license of the vessel pending an investigation.