Revision History

Five Italian divers — four affiliated with the University of Genoa — died on May 14, 2026, after entering a deep underwater cave system in Vaavu Atoll, Maldives, at depths far exceeding the country's 30-meter recreational limit. A sixth person, a Maldivian military diver, died during the recovery operation, making the incident the deadliest diving disaster in Maldivian history and triggering parallel investigations in both countries, the indefinite suspension of the liveaboard operator's license, and urgent questions about cave-diving regulation in one of the world's most popular dive destinations.