“The remains of four Italian divers who died deep inside an underwater cave earlier this month while diving in the Maldives were repatriated early Saturday (May 23, 2026),” a Maldivian government spokesperson said.

Five Italian divers went missing on May 14 while exploring the cave about 50 metres (160 feet) in Vaavu Atoll. The body of their Italian diving instructor was recovered outside the cave at the time and returned home.

A high-risk operation to recover the bodies faced hurdles and was initially suspended after Mohamed Mahudhee, Madlivian, a Military diver who was part of the recovery team, was killed. Three Finnish expert cave divers joined the mission and located the four bodies last week in the innermost chamber of the cave at a depth of around 60 metres (200 feet). The recreational diving limit in the Maldives is 30 metres (98 feet).

Maldives President's Spokesman Mohamed Hussain Shareef said on Saturday (May 23, 2026) two investigations were initiated; one into the death of the five divers and the other probing how Mahudheea died while on duty. Mr. Shareef also said Italy agreed to share any findings if autopsies were performed on the repatriated bodies.

Government spokesperson Ahmed Shaam said earlier that the four bodies were found “pretty much together.” While the divers had a permit, authorities didn't know from their proposal the exact location of the cave they were exploring, and at least two of the dead were not on the list of researchers that had been submitted, according to Maldivian authorities.