Maldives: Gualtieri and Montefalcone's bodies recovered; investigation into permits underway.

Two bodies of Italian divers who died during a dive in the Dhekunu Kandu underwater cave, in the Alimathà area of ​​Vaavu Atoll, have been recovered in the Maldives. According to what has emerged, the bodies brought back to the surface are those of Federico Gualtieri e Monica Montefalcone, a professor at the University of Genoa. The two were part of a group of Italians who died during a diving mission that ended in tragedy, in an environment considered extremely complex due to its depth, conformation, and operational conditions.

The other two bodies will be recovered in a new phase

The operations are not yet complete. After the recovery of the first two bodies, two more bodies still need to be brought to the surface, with a new mission planned based on underwater conditions and safety assessments within the cave system. The body of instructor Gianluca Benedetti had already been recovered previously, while those of Monica Montefalcone, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, Federico Gualtieri, and Muriel Oddenino remained in the cave. The Finnish divers' mission will therefore continue with further interventions, planned with extreme caution.

The bodies found in the third sector of the cave

Maldivian government spokesman Mohammed Hussain Sharif explained to RaiNews24 that the four bodies had been located together in the third sector of the caveThis is a particularly difficult point to reach, within a submerged system whose entrance lies between 55 and 60 meters deep. The very location of the victims required a complex recovery plan, entrusted to an international task force composed of Finnish divers, the Coast Guard, the police, and specialists from DAN Europe.

An underwater relay to bring the bodies back to the surface

The recovery was organized like a relay race. Expert Finnish divers entered the cave to reach the bodies and transfer them to the outside of the cavity. According to the plan outlined by the Maldivian authorities, once the bodies were brought to a depth of approximately 30 meters, Coast Guard divers would have taken them to a depth of seven meters. From there, the final operations for the final transfer to the surface would begin. This complex procedure was also designed to reduce risks related to changes in pressure and the length of time spent at depth.

Dan Europe: Complex dive in obstructed environment

Laura Marroni, vice president and CEO of the private Dan Europe foundation, described the intervention as a "complex" underwater operation, emphasizing the risks associated with an obstructed, dark environment with potentially poor visibility. Inside the cave, the depth increases further, and passages can become narrow and difficult to navigate. Under these conditions, even the mere stirring of sediment can drastically reduce visibility, necessitating the immediate termination of the mission.

The safety of rescuers remains the priority

Dan Europe reiterated that the safety of rescuers comes before any other operational considerations. Marroni explained that the team sent to the scene is made up of highly qualified professionals, accustomed to extreme underwater scenarios and aware of the need to avoid exposing themselves to uncontrollable risks. The operations were therefore planned with limited operating windows, continuous checks, and prudent management of each phase of the recovery.

Advanced equipment for a high-risk mission

To enter the cave and work at depths greater than 55 meters, advanced technical equipment is used, including closed-circuit rebreathers, DPV underwater scooters, and redundant life support configurations. These tools allow divers to move in confined and deep environments with greater autonomy, but they do not eliminate risks related to depth, pressure, orientation, visibility, and the need to follow rigorous decompression procedures.

Coordination with local and Italian authorities

The operations are being conducted in close coordination with the Maldives National Defence Force, the Maldivian Coast Guard, the local police, and DAN Europe experts. Constant contact with the Farnesina and the Italian Embassy in Malé remains in place, as they monitor the situation and assist the victims' families. The logistical complexity of the operation requires the presence of surface support vehicles, medical assistance, and specialized personnel.

The investigation into permits and authorizations

In parallel with the recovery operations, Maldivian authorities have launched an investigation to verify the validity of the diving permits. Sharif explained that they are checking the validity of the authorizations and the presence of all the names on the approved documentation. According to the spokesperson, everything may not have been in order, which is why the authorities have asked the vessels involved to halt operations to allow the investigations to continue.

The government: We didn't know it was a cave dive.

One of the key points of the investigation concerns the nature of the diving activity. The Maldivian government, according to its spokesperson, was aware of the scientific projects related to coral studies conducted by Monica Montefalcone, already known for her research in the country. The authorities, however, claimed they were not informed that the activity would involve a cave dive. Had this fact been disclosed, Sharif explained, different instructions and warnings would have been issued.

The issue of names in the approved proposal

The Maldivian government spokesperson added that the approved research proposal listed some divers, but not all of the names of those involved in the dive. In particular, the instructor's name and that of the teacher's daughter were reportedly missing. This is a factor investigators intend to investigate further to determine whether the activity was conducted in compliance with the required permits and the conditions set by local authorities.

The pain of families after recovery

The recovery of the first bodies represents a painful but crucial step for the family. Antonello Riccio, representing Federico Gualtieri's family, explained that for the parents, the discovery means finally having "a body to mourn." He also expressed the hope that the recovery will allow for further investigations to clarify the circumstances of the tragedy and the conditions under which the dive occurred.

A tragedy at a site beloved by divers

The Alimathà area in the Vaavu Atoll is a popular destination for diving enthusiasts, but the cave where the tragedy occurred presents characteristics far different from those of a typical recreational dive. The great depth, the tunnels, the internal chambers, and the risk of zero visibility make the environment suitable only for operators with specific technical training. These very elements are now the focus of safety assessments and the procedures adopted before and during the activity.

The next few hours are crucial to completing the recovery

The mission will continue in the coming hours with the goal of recovering the last two bodies remaining in the cave. The timing will depend on the actual conditions inside the cave, visibility, environmental stability, and the ability to ensure the divers' safety. Only after the operations are completed will it be possible to begin a more comprehensive investigation phase, essential to accurately reconstruct what happened during the dive that cost the lives of the Italian divers.