A team of expert Finnish cave divers believes they may have uncovered what led to the deaths of five experienced Italian divers who vanished while exploring an underwater cave system in the Maldives last week.
The tragedy, now considered the deadliest diving incident in Maldivian history, unfolded in the Vaavu Atoll near Alimatha Island, where the group entered a deep cave network Thursday but never resurfaced.
The first body recovered was that of diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti, 44, who was found near the entrance of the Thinwana Kandu cave shortly after the group disappeared. The remaining four divers were discovered days later deep inside the cave’s final chamber at a depth of around 165 feet.
The victims included respected marine biology professor Monica Montefalcone, 51, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, researchers Federico Gualtieri and Muriel Oddenino, and their local guide Benedetti.
Now, Finnish recovery divers working with DAN Europe — a medical and research organization focused on diving safety — say the group may have accidentally entered the wrong tunnel while trying to exit the cave.
According to La Repubblica, the divers were found in a narrow corridor that led to a dead end.
“There was no way out from there,” DAN Europe CEO Laura Marroni told the newspaper.
Marroni explained that the cave system begins with a large, naturally lit chamber before narrowing into a corridor that leads to a second, completely dark chamber. Between the two areas sits a sandbank that can create dangerous confusion for divers attempting to navigate their way back.
While entering the second chamber is relatively straightforward, the sandbank can appear wall-like when turning around to leave, obscuring the correct exit route.
To the left of the sandbank is another short tunnel — one that ultimately ends without an escape route.
“The divers’ bodies were all found inside, as if they had mistaken it for the right one,” Marroni said.
At the depth where the divers were operating, Marroni said they would have had extremely limited time before running low on air.
“We’re talking about 10 minutes, maybe even less,” she said.
If the group realized too late that they had entered the wrong corridor, panic likely intensified the situation.
“Then you breathe quickly, and the air supply decreases,” Marroni explained.
The Finnish recovery team described the operation as emotionally devastating. Diver Patrik Gronqvist said the bodies were located in complete darkness after searchers noticed signs of disturbance on the cave floor.
“Three were on the floor and one in the roof,” he told AFP.
Though the mission was not technically the most difficult operation he had handled, Gronqvist said it would stay with him forever.
“But this operation was very sad,” he said. “I will never forget it.”
Investigators are now examining recovered GoPro cameras and diving equipment in hopes of determining exactly what happened during the dive.
Authorities are also reviewing whether the group exceeded legal depth limits and whether proper cave-diving safety procedures were followed. Recreational diving in the Maldives is capped at 98 feet unless special authorization is granted, but the group descended to nearly double that depth.
Experts have also raised concerns about the equipment used during the dive. Reports indicate the divers carried standard recreational tanks and may not have been using specialized cave-diving gear or guide ropes typically required for deep underwater cave exploration.
Other theories remain under consideration, including the possibility that strong underwater currents disoriented or trapped the group inside the cave system.
The tragedy deepened further when Maldivian rescue diver Mohamed Mahudhee died from decompression sickness during efforts to recover the bodies.
Italian authorities are arranging for the victims’ bodies to be returned home, where autopsies are expected to help determine the official causes of death.
