A team of 3 Finnish deep diving specialists has arrived in the Maldives to assist in ongoing efforts to locate missing Italian tourists who disappeared during a dive near Alimathaa Resort earlier this month.

The search operation was launched after five Italian tourists failed to return from a diving excursion on the 14th.

According to authorities, the group entered the water without accompanying Maldivian dive personnel. 

One of the missing divers was later found deceased inside an underwater cave at a depth of approximately 60 metres on the same day the search began.

He has been identified as diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti.

Following the discovery, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) initiated a specialised high-risk recovery operation involving military divers.

The mission later turned tragic when Sergeant First Class Mohamed Mahudhee, a rescue diver involved in the operation, fell ill and died while receiving treatment for decompression sickness.

In light of the risks and complexity of the situation, authorities temporarily suspended the operation before seeking additional international technical assistance.

Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef, also known as Mundhu, confirmed that a three-member Finnish expert team has now arrived in the country to support the ongoing efforts.

He said they are world-renowned figures in deep diving and cave diving, equipped with specialised expertise , adding that the deployment followed consultations involving the Italian government.

With the arrival of the specialists, search and recovery operations are expected to resume in coordination with MNDF Coast Guard divers and international experts.

The incident has drawn significant international attention, with tributes continuing for the late MNDF diver Mahudhee, who died during the high-risk rescue mission.

The deceased foreign divers have been identified as Gianluca Benedetti, marine biology professor Monica Montefalcone of the University of Genoa, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, research fellow Muriel Oddenino, and marine biology graduate Federico Gualtieri.