One of the Italian divers recovered following the deadly Vaavu Atoll cave diving incident has departed the Maldives, as authorities continue the challenging recovery mission for the remaining victims trapped deep inside the underwater cave system.
The diver’s departure comes amid ongoing operations led by international technical diving specialists and Maldivian authorities in Thinwana Kandu, where five Italian divers went missing during a deep cave dive earlier this week.
Search efforts intensified after Finnish cave diving experts arrived in the Maldives to assist in the high-risk mission. Officials confirmed that the remaining four bodies were located inside the third and deepest chamber of the cave system, nearly 50 meters below sea level.
The recovery operation has been described as technically difficult due to the cave’s narrow passages, low visibility, strong currents, and depth. Rescue efforts were temporarily halted following the death of Maldives National Defence Force diver Sergeant Major Mohamed Mahudhee, who fell ill during an earlier recovery attempt.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, which is being regarded as one of the deadliest diving tragedies in the Maldives.
