Tragic Divers' Search Claims Lives: Rescue Diver Dies in Maldives

Mon Jun 01 2026 16:36:52 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A rescue diver died while attempting to recover the bodies of five Italians who tragically drowned during a scuba diving expedition in the Maldives. This incident marks one of the worst diving accidents in the region's history.

A rescue diver, Staff Sgt Mohamed Mahdhee, has lost his life while leading efforts to retrieve the bodies of five Italian divers who drowned in caves off the Maldives. The ill-fated dive occurred in deep waters near Vaavu Atoll, raising serious concerns regarding safety protocols for recreational diving in the region. The tragedy unites the Maldives and Italy in mourning and highlights the dangers present in underwater cave diving.

A rescue diver has died while searching for the bodies of four Italians who died in a scuba-diving accident in the Maldives.

Staff Sgt Mohamed Mahdhee was taken to hospital in critical condition and later succumbed to his injuries, a government spokesman told the BBC on Saturday.

Five Italians died while attempting to explore caves at a depth of around 50m (164ft) on Thursday. So far, the body of one of them is thought to have been recovered, in a cave at a depth of around 60m (197ft).

The incident is believed to be the worst single diving accident in the tiny Indian Ocean nation, a popular tourist destination because of its string of coral islands.

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu travelled to Vaavu Atoll on Saturday to observe the search operations.

Eight rescue divers went into the water today. When they surfaced, they realised Mr Mahdhee didn't come up, Mohamed Hossain Shareef, a Maldivian government spokesman told the BBC.

The other divers immediately went into the water again and they found Mahdhee had blacked out.

The Maldives military has described the operation as very high risk, with unfavourable weather conditions.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani sent condolences: These days of grief for Italy are compounded by the news that one of your brave soldiers... died while attempting to dive to reach the bodies of our fellow Italians.

This tragedy unites Italy and the Maldives in grief and respect for the victims.

Among the five who died were Giorgia Sommacal, her mother Monica Montefalcone, and diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti. All of them were part of a University of Genoa team.

The five entered the water at Vaavu Atoll on Thursday morning and were reported missing when they failed to resurface later on. The police noted that harsh weather conditions could have contributed to the tragedy, with warnings in place for local boaters.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances that led to this tragedy, particularly the decision to dive to such depths, which is typically beyond the limits for recreational divers.