Maldives: Who are the five missing Italian researchers and divers?

A scientific expedition by a group of Italians to the Maldives turned tragic. Five of their compatriots lost their lives during a dive at Alimatha, a popular diving destination located in the Vaavu Atoll.

The call for help was made around lunchtime on Tuesday, when the crew of the vessel "Duke of York" failed to see the group return, having disembarked during the morning. The team had arrived in the archipelago on Sunday for a two-week search and monitoring mission.

The research team of the University of Genoa

Leading the group was Monica Montefalcone, 51, associate professor of Ecology at the University of Genoa and the campaign's scientific director. A marine researcher and scholar, as well as a well-known TV personality, Montefalcone was recognized for her commitment to important ecological projects such as Talassa, GhostNet, and MER "A16-A18."

Two other professionals with ties to the Ligurian university also participated in the project. Muriel Oddenino, 31, originally from Turin, was a marine biologist and research fellow at the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Genoa.

Specializing in the conservation of marine ecosystems, she had several scientific publications to her credit. Along with them was Federico Gualtieri, a thirty-one-year-old native of Omegna (Verbano-Cusio-Ossola), who had recently graduated under Professor Montefalcone with a thesis on the biodiversity of the Maldivian atolls. Passionate about the sea and certified scuba diver since 2015, Gualtieri had recently won a competition for a work project in Japan.

The other victims: a young student and the instructor

The tragedy also affected the teacher's closest relatives: among the victims was Giorgia Sommacal, Monica Montefalcone's daughter. The young woman, who would have turned 23 on June 1st, was a biomedical engineering student in Genoa.

Rounding out the group was Gianluca Benedetti, originally from Padua. A diving instructor and operations manager for the Italian tour operator that handled bookings, he worked as a skipper on the "Duke of York." After a background in banking, Benedetti decided to make a life change in 2017, moving permanently to the Indian Ocean to turn his passion for the sea into a full-time profession.

The dynamics of the accident at a depth of 50 metres

Maldivian authorities, in constant contact with the Farnesina and the Italian Embassy in Colombo, have launched an investigation to clarify the causes of the accident. According to an initial reconstruction released by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the divers died while exploring caves at a depth of 50 meters. It is believed that this specific dive was not strictly related to the academic research project.

At the time of the disappearance, the crew of the cruise ship—operated by a foreign company—alerted rescue services at 1:45 PM. Weather conditions in the area were complex, with a yellow alert in effect issued by the local office. Among the technical hypotheses being examined by experts, despite the lack of definitive official statements, is the possibility of a critical issue related to pressure factors or oxygen intoxication, a problem that can arise during deep and prolonged dives.

The site of Alimathà and the currents of the Atoll

The site of the accident, Alimatha Island, is internationally recognized for the spectacular nature of its seabed. Vaavu Atoll is characterized by kandu, natural channels connecting the inner lagoon to the open sea, known for their strong currents that attract a rich pelagic fauna. The "caves" referred to in the investigation are actually large coral ravines and natural canyons, environments of extraordinary beauty but requiring great technical expertise to navigate safely.

(From left, Monica Montefalcone, Federico Gualtieri, Giorgia Sommacal, Gianluca Benedetti, and Muriel Oddenino)