Five Italian tourists tragically lost their lives while exploring underwater caves at a depth of 160 feet (approximately 45 meters) in the Maldives. According to local media reports, the group embarked on a diving expedition on Thursday morning to explore the coral island of Vaavu. Authorities received reports of their disappearance at around 1:45 PM local time after the divers failed to resurface around midday. During the subsequent search and rescue operation, their bodies were recovered.
The five victims had boarded the luxury liveaboard dive vessel, the Duke of York, operated by a foreign company, and went missing near Alimatha, one of the most popular dive sites in the area. Among the deceased was Monica Montefalcone, 51, a respected marine biologist, television personality, and professor of tropical marine ecology and underwater sciences at the University of Genoa. Her 20-year-old daughter, Giorgia Sommacal, also perished in the incident. The other three victims were identified as Muriel Oddenino from Turin, Gianluca Benedetti from Padua, and Federico Gualtieri from Borgomanero. Montefalcone and Oddenino were colleagues at the University of Genoa.
Montefalcone had previously worked at Distav within the Department of Earth Sciences, and in the Maldives, she served as the scientific director of a coral monitoring campaign. Benedetti was a corporate executive as well as a certified diving instructor and boat captain. The authorities have launched an investigation into this tragic accident, although the exact cause of death has not yet been determined, and no official statement has been issued. Local officials have described this as the deadliest diving accident in the history of the Maldives, an island nation composed of 1,192 small coral islands scattered roughly 800 kilometers from the equator in the Indian Ocean.
The Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) confirmed that aircraft and high-speed boats were deployed in a large-scale search after the five divers were reported missing on Thursday afternoon. “One body was recovered among the five divers at Vaavu Atoll,” the MNDF announced. “The body was found inside a cave. It is believed that the remaining four divers are also inside the cave, which is approximately 60 meters deep (65 yards).”
At the time of the dive, weather conditions were unfavorable, with winds reaching 25 to 30 miles per hour. The local meteorological agency had issued a yellow warning for the area that remained in effect. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the incident, stating: “Following a diving accident, five Italian citizens have died at Vaavu Atoll in the Maldives.” The Ministry and the Italian Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka, reported that they have contacted the families of the victims to provide any necessary consular assistance.
Preliminary reports suggest that some diving experts believe the sudden deaths may have been caused by oxygen toxicity, a condition that arises from breathing oxygen at high pressure for extended periods, which can damage tissues and affect the central nervous system. The liveaboard company provides Nitrox—a breathing gas mixture of nitrogen and oxygen—for divers. The Duke of York, built in 2010, is designed to transport passengers to select dive destinations in the Maldives, catering especially to diving enthusiasts.
The luxury vessel features 11 spacious cabins across three decks, accommodating up to 21 guests, each paying more than 2,000 euros for a week-long voyage. The lower deck houses six double or twin cabins, while the main deck has a double cabin, and the upper deck contains three additional double cabins with sea views. Each cabin is equipped with air conditioning and a private bathroom. Common areas include a large, air-conditioned lounge with comfortable seating, a television, full entertainment system, and a bar. The main deck also hosts a restaurant serving local and Italian cuisine. The three-deck ship offers panoramic views and comfortable seating, including sunbeds and lounge chairs. The crew consists of 13 members, ensuring high standards of service for the guests.
This tragic event has drawn attention worldwide due to the involvement of distinguished scientists and the extreme circumstances of the dive. The incident underscores the inherent risks associated with deep cave diving, particularly in challenging conditions and with specialized breathing gases. Authorities continue to investigate, but for now, the diving community mourns the loss of five experienced and passionate individuals who set out to explore the natural beauty beneath the Maldives’ coral waters.
