Four Italian Divers' Remains Reach Milan After 60-Meter Maldives Cave Tragedy
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · May 23
Four Italian Divers' Remains Reach Milan After 60-Meter Maldives Cave Tragedy
15 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · May 23
Four coffins arrived at Milan’s Malpensa Airport on Saturday after the divers were recovered from an underwater cave in the Maldives; autopsies are due to begin Monday.
The group disappeared on May 14 while exploring a cave in Vaavu Atoll, with the four bodies later found together in the innermost chamber at about 60 meters—double the Maldives’ 30-meter recreational diving limit.
The recovery mission turned into a high-risk operation after Maldivian military diver Mohamed Mahudhee died on duty, before three Finnish cave-diving specialists helped locate the bodies last week.
Maldives authorities have opened two investigations—into the five Italians’ deaths and Mahudhee’s death—and said Italy agreed to share autopsy findings as officials also examine permit details and unlisted researchers.
Was the deadly Maldives dive a personal choice or a failure of local regulations?
Why did elite scientists ignore safety rules for a fatal deep-sea cave dive?