Five Italian Divers Die in 70-Meter Maldives Cave as Recovery Claims Sixth Life
Updated
Updated · CNN International · May 20
Five Italian Divers Die in 70-Meter Maldives Cave as Recovery Claims Sixth Life
30 articles · Updated · CNN International · May 20
Five Italian divers who entered a cave system off Vaavu Atoll on Thursday were found dead after a multi-day search, and Maldivian military diver Sgt. Mohamed Mahudhee also died during the recovery effort.
Authorities said the group had approval for technical dives below the Maldives' 30-meter recreational limit, but they had not disclosed plans to cave dive in a system opening at 47 meters and dropping to about 70 meters.
Rough weather added to the danger: a white alert for strong winds and rough seas was issued before the dive, then raised to yellow with gusts up to 50 mph later that afternoon.
The search, involving Maldivian teams, three Finnish DAN divers and equipment from the UK and Australia, was hampered by strong currents, narrow passages and total darkness; the remaining four bodies were found in the cave's third chamber.
Investigators are now focusing on the liveaboard yacht Duke of York, whose license was suspended because it allegedly lacked required dive-school paperwork, while officials still work to determine what trapped the divers.
A suspended boat, six deaths: Who is accountable for the Maldives' worst diving tragedy?
What lured a team of expert scientists into a deadly, illegal dive in a Maldivian cave?