A high-risk operation to recover the bodies of five Italian scuba divers in the Maldives has claimed another life, as a member of the Maldivian National Defence Force died from decompression sickness during the mission. The death of the military diver underscores the extreme peril associated with deep-cave recovery efforts in the Indian Ocean archipelago.
Mohamed Mahudhee, a specialized diver with the Maldivian military, passed away after being transferred to a hospital in the capital, Male. According to Mohamed Hussain Shareef, the spokesperson for the Maldives president, Mahudhee suffered from underwater decompression sickness—commonly known as “the bends”—while attempting to retrieve the remains of the Italian nationals from a deep underwater cave system.
The tragedy marks the worst single diving accident in the history of the Maldives. The initial incident occurred in the Vaavu Atoll, where five Italians drowned while exploring a cave at a depth of approximately 50 meters (164 feet), far exceeding the legal and safety limits for recreational diving in the region.
“The death goes to show the difficulty of the mission,” Shareef said, noting that Mahudhee had been among the divers who briefed President Mohamed Muizzu on the recovery plan during the leader’s visit to the search site.
The Perils of the Vaavu Atoll Recovery
The recovery operation has been hampered by both the environment and the weather. The cave in question is a complex structure divided into three large chambers connected by narrow, restrictive passages. While a recovery team of eight divers, working in pairs, successfully explored two of the three chambers on Friday, they were unable to penetrate the third chamber before being forced to suspend operations due to deteriorating weather conditions.
The search resumed on Saturday with the expected arrival of two Italian specialists—a deep-sea rescue expert and a cave diving expert—to assist the Maldivian forces. The Italian government has pledged full support in the effort, with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stating that the government “will do everything possible to recover the bodies of our compatriots.”
Of the five Italians who perished, only one body—that of diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti—was recovered shortly after the accident near the mouth of the cave. Rescuers believe the remaining four victims remain trapped within the cave’s inner chambers.
Victims of the Diving Accident
| Name | Role/Affiliation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Monica Montefalcone | Associate Ecology Professor, University of Genoa | Recovery Pending |
| Muriel Oddenino | Researcher, University of Genoa | Recovery Pending |
| Federico Gualtieri | Marine Biologist | Recovery Pending |
| Giorgia Sommacal | Daughter of Monica Montefalcone | Recovery Pending |
| Gianluca Benedetti | Diving Instructor | Recovered |
A Scientific Mission Cut Short
The tragedy is particularly poignant given the nature of the expedition. The University of Genoa confirmed that Professor Monica Montefalcone and researcher Muriel Oddenino were on an official scientific mission. Their goal was to monitor marine environments and study how the climate crisis is impacting tropical biodiversity in the Indian Ocean.
Greenpeace Italia paid tribute to Montefalcone, describing her as a passionate advocate for marine protection. The organization highlighted her professionalism and the “special light she had in her eyes” when discussing the importance of ocean conservation.
Carlo Sommacal, Professor Montefalcone’s husband, has pushed back against any suggestion that the accident was a result of recklessness. He described his wife as a disciplined and experienced diver who had previously survived the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami while diving off the coast of Kenya. “Something must have happened,” Sommacal said, emphasizing that his wife carefully weighed risks before every descent.
Technical Diving vs. Recreational Limits
The depth at which the accident occurred—50 meters—is a critical detail in the ongoing investigation. In the Maldives, the official recreational diving limit is 30 meters (98 feet). Diving beyond 40 meters is classified as technical diving, which requires specialized equipment, such as mixed-gas tanks (trimix) to prevent nitrogen narcosis, and rigorous specialized training for staged decompression.
At 50 meters, divers face significant physiological risks. Nitrogen narcosis can impair judgment and coordination, while the rapid ascent from such depths without proper decompression stops can lead to the formation of nitrogen bubbles in the bloodstream and tissues. This is the condition that led to the death of Mohamed Mahudhee during the recovery effort.
cave diving introduces the risk of “silt-outs,” where sediment is stirred up from the cave floor, reducing visibility to near zero and causing divers to become disoriented in narrow passages.
Investigation into the ‘Duke of York’
The focus of the Maldivian authorities has now shifted toward the vessel that hosted the divers. The 36-meter luxury yacht, the Duke of York, has had its operating license suspended indefinitely by the Maldivian Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation.
Investigators are currently examining why the group descended to 50 meters, violating the 30-meter permitted depth for recreational activities. The suspension of the yacht’s license will remain in place pending the outcome of the investigation into whether safety protocols were ignored or if the vessel’s crew failed to provide adequate oversight.
As the recovery operation continues, the primary focus remains the safe retrieval of the remaining four bodies. The next confirmed checkpoint will be the arrival and integration of the Italian cave-diving specialists into the Maldivian National Defence Force’s operational chain of command.
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Disclaimer: This article provides information regarding diving safety and decompression sickness for informational purposes only. Always consult a certified diving instructor or medical professional for safety guidelines regarding scuba diving.
