Finnish divers have recovered GoPro cameras and underwater equipment from the cave system in Vaavu Atoll, Maldives, where the bodies of four Italian tourists were located, handing the material over to Maldivian investigators on 19 May. The recovered footage and devices are now being examined to reconstruct the sequence of events surrounding the deaths of five Italian nationals during a scuba diving expedition.

What the Devices Could Reveal

Investigators believe the GoPro cameras and equipment could provide critical information about the final moments of the Italian divers — including the route taken inside the caves, the depth reached, visibility conditions, and any technical difficulties encountered. According to the Maldives Security Desk account on X, the analysis is already underway.

The cave system is located approximately 60 metres deep, a depth that significantly compounds the risks of cave diving even for experienced divers. The footage, if recoverable, may be the clearest window into what went wrong during the expedition.

The Five Victims and the Recovery Operation

Earlier on Tuesday, Maldivian authorities confirmed the discovery of four bodies in the deepest section of the underwater cave. A fifth body — that of diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti — had already been recovered at the cave's entrance. The four subsequently identified victims are Monica Montefalcone, an associate professor of ecology at the University of Genoa; her daughter, Giorgia Sommacal; marine biologist Federico Gualtieri; and researcher Muriel Oddenino.

The recovery operation involved professional divers from the Maldives and Finland, with specialist equipment reportedly provided by the United Kingdom and Australia — a scale of international involvement that underscores the mission's complexity and danger. Tragically, the operation itself claimed an additional life: 43-year-old Sergeant Satf Mohamed Mahudhee of the Maldivian rescue team died during the recovery effort.

Legal Proceedings in Rome

The Rome prosecutor's office has opened a manslaughter investigation in connection with the deaths. Once the bodies are repatriated to Italy, prosecutors will order autopsies and appoint a delegate to conduct all necessary investigations to determine the cause of death. The delegation will also interview Italian nationals who were aboard the safari vessel 'Duke of York' at the time of the incident.

The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has offered psychological support to the 20 Italians who remained on board the vessel during and after the tragedy.

Background and What Comes Next

The group had gone missing last week during a dive in the Vaavu Atoll, a region known for its complex underwater cave networks. This incident is among the deadliest diving accidents involving foreign nationals in the Maldives in recent years, and has prompted scrutiny over safety protocols for deep cave diving expeditions in the region.

As investigators analyse the recovered footage, the findings are expected to shape both the Italian criminal proceedings and any broader review of dive safety regulations in the Maldives. The Rome prosecutor's conclusions will determine whether charges are pursued against any individual or operator connected to the expedition.