Recovery Operation of Italian Divers in Maldives: Two Bodies Recovered

Mon Jun 01 2026 09:19:31 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The bodies of two missing Italian scuba divers have been recovered from underwater caves in the Maldives, concluding a complex recovery operation after a tragic scuba diving accident.

The bodies of two Italian divers who were among five individuals lost in a scuba diving accident near Vaavu Atoll, Maldives, have been successfully recovered by Finnish divers. Local officials confirm the retrieval and ongoing search for the remaining bodies, as the incident raises concerns over compliance with diving regulations.

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 reported. The recovery operation, conducted by specialist divers from Finland, lasted two hours and successfully retrieved the bodies from the third chamber of an underwater cave.

They were retrieved from the third chamber of the underwater cave by the specialist divers from Finland after a two-hour operation, stated Mohamed Hossain Shareef, a Maldivian government spokesperson.

The recovered bodies are being transported to the capital Male for identification. They were part of a group of five divers involved in the incident, with two bodies still remaining in the cave.

The first body, identified as Gianluca Benedetti, a diving instructor and boat operations manager, was located shortly after the accident occurred last Thursday. Tragically, a Maldivian rescue diver also lost his life during the search operations.

The four missing divers were eventually found in the deepest chamber of the so-called shark cave, which reaches depths of up to 60 meters (197 feet). Efforts to recover the remaining two bodies are set to continue, with local officials optimistic about their retrieval.

This underwater accident has raised questions regarding the dive team's compliance with local regulations. Despite having a permit to dive up to 50 meters, it was reported that the team did not mention the cave in their proposal for the dive.

Among the deceased were researchers associated with the University of Genoa who were studying the effects of climate change on marine biodiversity. The university stated that the dive was not authorized as part of any scientific mission but was conducted in a personal capacity.

The incident has cast a spotlight on diving practices and safety regulations in the Maldives, especially as the search for answers continues concerning the cause of the accident. The weather conditions at the time of the dive were noted as rough, with warnings issued for passenger boats and fishermen.