Recovery teams have successfully retrieved the bodies of Italian divers Monica Montefalcone and Federico Gualtieri from the Vaavu Atoll cave system in the Maldives following hours of difficult and high-risk underwater operations, sources involved in the mission confirmed to The Standard.
The two were among the four Italian cave divers who went missing after entering the complex underwater cave network in Vaavu Atoll last week, triggering a large-scale international recovery operation.
Specialist cave divers carried out the mission deep inside the cave’s challenging underwater chambers under hazardous conditions, including narrow passages, poor visibility, and strong underwater currents. The recovery effort involved both Maldivian authorities and experienced international diving experts assisting on-site.
Sources close to the operation said the bodies were brought to the surface after an extended technical dive operation that lasted several hours on Tuesday.
Recovery teams are expected to resume operations tomorrow to retrieve the remaining two divers still inside the cave system. Authorities are proceeding cautiously due to the technical complexity of the operation and the dangerous conditions within the cave.
The incident has drawn significant attention in both the Maldives and Italy, with officials from both countries closely monitoring the ongoing recovery efforts. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu earlier expressed condolences to Italy and reaffirmed that the operation remains a national priority.
