Four Italian diving instructors vanished while exploring an underwater cave in the Maldives’ Vaavu Atoll last Thursday. After a coordinated effort that spanned several days, divers on Wednesday recovered the final two bodies, confirming the identities of Muriel Oddenino and Giorgia Sommacal.

Final two bodies recovered in Vaavu Atoll cave

According to the report, recovery teams located the remains of Oddenino and Sommacal in the cave’s innermost chamber, where they had been missing since the initial disappearance. The divers were brought to the surface together, and both were subsequently identified and trasnferred to a morgue for autopsy.

Gianluca Benedetti found near cave mouth on Thursday

The first body recovered was that of instructor Gianluca Benedetti , who was found near the entrance of the cave on the day the group went missing. His recovery gave rescues a crucial reference point for mapping the cave’s layout and planning the deeper search that followed.

Closed‑circuit rebreathers enable extended Maldives cave dives

The operation relied on closed‑circuit rebreathers, a technology that recirculates exhaled gas and allows divers to stay underwater for significantly longer periods. This equipment was essential for navigating the narrow, low‑visibility passages that had previously stalled the search,according to the report.

Investigation into Maldivian military diver’s death

While the Italian victims have now been identified, the cause of death for the accompanying Maldivian military diver remains under investigation. officials have not released details, and no official statement has clarified whether the diver was a guide, a rescue participant, or part of a separate training exercise.

Who was the Maldivian military diver?

The report notes that the identity and role of the Maldivian diver have not been disclosed, leaving a gap in the public narrative. Without official confirmation, speculation persists about whether the diver was a local expert familiar with the cave system or a member of a military dive unit assigned to the expedition.