Deep-Sea Recovery Operations Halted in Maldives After Military Rescue Diver Dies
Malé, Maldives — May 17, 2026- Edit by: Hue Gey
A high-risk deep-sea recovery operation in the Maldives has taken a catastrophic turn following the death of a specialized military rescue diver. The tragedy occurred during an active mission to locate and retrieve the bodies of four Italian citizens who perished inside a deep underwater cave system.
The initial diving incident, which has now claimed six lives in total, is officially recorded as the single deadliest scuba diving disaster in the history of the Indian Ocean tourist nation.
In response to the escalating danger, the Maldivian government ordered an immediate suspension of all domestic recovery maneuvers while international technical diving task forces mobilize to take over the mission.
According to a primary press statement issued by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), the deceased service member was identified as Staff Sergeant Mohamed Mahudhee.
The highly trained military asset was participating in a multi-day operation near Alimathaa Island within the Vaavu Atoll, located approximately 100 kilometers south of the capital city of Malé. Authorities confirmed that Staff Sergeant Mahudhee suffered severe, acute underwater decompression sickness after surfacing rapidly during a high-stakes search of the deep overhead cavern.
Despite receiving immediate emergency medical intervention and being transported via military vessel to a specialized hospital facility in Malé, he succumbed to his injuries.
Key Ground Developments from the Incident:
The Secondary Fatality:
MNDF Staff Sergeant Mohamed Mahudhee died from acute decompression sickness during active deep-sea search operations.
The Primary Disaster:
Five Italian nationals, including a prominent University of Genoa professor and marine ecology researchers, perished during an unauthorized deep-cave dive.
Extreme Subsurface Depth:
The fatal expedition occurred at a depth of 50 to 60 meters (164 to 197 feet), heavily exceeding the nation’s 30-meter recreational limit.
Operational Suspension:
The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation indefinitely suspended the operating license of the luxury liveaboard vessel, MV Duke of York.
International Mobilization:
A specialized task force from DAN Europe and deep-cave diving experts from Finland arrived in Malé to restructure the recovery plan.
The broader tragedy began on Thursday afternoon when a group of five Italian divers launched a private deep-water excursion from the luxury cruise yacht MV Duke of York. The Maldivian government identified the victims as Monica Montefalcone, an associate professor of ecology at the University of Genoa; her daughter, Giorgia Sommacal; marine biologist Federico Gualtieri; researcher Muriel Oddenino; and boat operations manager and diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti.
While Montefalcone and Oddenino were in the Maldives on an official scientific expedition to monitor coral ecosystems and climate change, the university clarified that the fatal dive was an independent, private recreational outing.
Official investigative logs indicate the group deliberately ventured into a complex underwater cave network situated between 55 and 60 meters below the surface. This depth falls strictly under the category of technical diving, requiring specialized mixed-gas breathing systems and extensive overhead-environment training. The recreational diving ceiling in the Maldives is strictly legally capped at 30 meters.
So far, only the body of Benedetti has been recovered after his remains were discovered near the primary mouth of the cave system on Thursday. The remaining four divers are confirmed dead and are believed to be trapped deep within the third internal chamber of the cavern.
Maldives Presidential Spokesperson Mohammed Hussain Shareef stated that the geographic and physical characteristics of the accident site present extreme operational hazards, noting that “the death of our service member underscores the immense difficulty and peril of this mission.”
The cave system is structurally divided into three massive, dark chambers linked by heavily restricted, narrow passages. Initial military recovery teams successfully mapped and cleared the first two chambers before deteriorating weather conditions, severe underwater currents, and strict decompression constraints forced them to retreat.
As domestic operations halt, international diving networks are stepping in to prevent further loss of life. DAN Europe (Divers Alert Network) confirmed that a specialized international task force has arrived in Malé to coordinate directly with local authorities.
Additionally, three elite deep-cave diving specialists from Finland are preparing equipment to execute a highly planned, algorithmic intervention inside the overhead environment.
President Mohamed Muizzu expressed his deepest condolences to Italian President Sergio Mattarella and the families of the victims, confirming that Staff Sergeant Mahudhee will be laid to rest with full military honors while federal authorities launch a comprehensive inquiry into the safety protocols of the liveaboard operator.
Castle Journal Ltd
British company for newspapers and magazines publishing
London-UK – licensed 10675
Founder | Owner| CEO
Abeer Almadawy
Abeer Almadawy is a philosopher who established the third mind theory research and the philosophy of non-self and trans egoism. She is also the author of the New Global Constitution for the leadership Governance 2030/2032. She has many books published in English, Arabic, Chinese, French and others.
Castle Journal newspapers are the only voice and the brain of the world leadership governance.
