Five tourists dead in Maldives after diving trip in 160ft-deep underwater cave goes wrong

Five Italian tourists have died diving in underwater caves in the Maldives, around 160 feet beneath the surface.

The group departed on Thursday morning to explore the Vaavu atoll.

All five were reported missing at around 1.45pm local time after failing to return to the surface at midday.

Their bodies were recovered during the subsequent search and rescue operation.

The divers had been aboard the Duke of York, described as a luxury live-aboard diving vessel operated by a foreign company.

They vanished near Alimatha, considered one of the atoll's most popular diving spots.

Local authorities have described the incident as the worst single diving accident in the island nation's history.

Italian newspaper Il Messaggero has identified one victim as Monica Montefalcone, 51, a marine biologist, television personality and professor of Tropical Marine Ecology and Underwater Science at the University of Genoa.

Her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, aged 20, was also among the dead.

The remaining victims have been named as Muriel Oddenino from Turin, Gianluca Benedetti from Padua, and Federico Gualtieri from Borgomanero.

Ms Montefalcone and Ms Oddenino worked together at the University of Genoa.

The former was employed at Distav, Italy's Department of Earth Sciences, and served as scientific director of an island monitoring campaign in the Maldives.

Mr Benedetti held roles as an operations manager, diving instructor and boat captain.

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) deployed aircraft and speedboats in a major search operation after the five divers were reported missing.

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"One body has been found among five divers who went diving in Vaavu Atoll," the MNDF said.

"The body was found inside a cave. It is believed that the remaining four divers are also inside the same cave, which extends to a depth of about 60 metres (65 yards)."

Weather conditions proved challenging at the dive site, with winds reaching between 25 and 30 miles per hour.

The meteorological service has issued a yellow alert for the area, which remains in effect.

Police have opened an investigation into the tragedy, though the cause of death has not yet been established and no official statement has been released.

Some diving experts quoted in local media have suggested oxygen toxicity may explain the simultaneous deaths of multiple divers.

This condition occurs when oxygen is breathed at high pressure over an extended period, potentially damaging tissue and affecting the central nervous system.

The yacht company's website states it provides nitrox, a breathing mixture containing nitrogen and oxygen.

Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the deathd.

"Following an accident during a scuba dive, five Italians died in the Vaavu atoll, in the Maldives," it said.

Both the department and the Italian Embassy in Colombo are "contacting the victims' families to provide any necessary consular assistance."