The bodies of four Italian tourists who went missing while diving at the “Miare Dive” site in GA Atoll have been found inside the underwater cave they entered.
MNDF said the recovery was carried out through a joint operation involving the MNDF Coast Guard, police dive team, foreign experts and support from the Italian government. Government spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef said the mission was conducted as a special operation.
The incident happened on Thursday when four Italian tourists and their instructor disappeared while diving into the roughly 200-foot cave. The instructor’s body was earlier found 60 metres (197 feet) below sea level.
Recovery efforts are continuing, with MNDF stating Maldivian divers will not take part due to the dangers of the site. The operation is being assisted by Divers Alert Network (DAN).
Following the incident, the Tourism Ministry suspended the operating licence of the MV Duke of York safari vessel.
The deceased were identified as Monica Montefalcon, 52; Giorgia Somacal, 20; Muriel Odenino, 31; Gianluca Benedetti, 44; and Federico Gualtieri, 31.
