The missing divers were located by experienced divers diving to the depths of the cave using the most modern technology specialized for such matters, the Divers Alert Network (DAN), which is leading the operation, said today.
DAN, a major private American organization that oversees matters related to diver safety, stated on its European website that the first objective of the massive operation underway to find four Italian divers who went missing while diving in an underwater cave near V. Alimathaa has now been successfully achieved.
The dive to find the missing persons commenced at 12:20 PM today Maldives time and lasted for approximately three hours, DAN said.
DAN stated that during the first phase of the operation, a team of three experienced divers from Finland inspected the inside of the cave, assessed its environment and operational conditions, and located the bodies of all four missing divers inside. The organization also said that plans are being made to proceed with retrieving the bodies during the next phase of this operation.
The organization also highlighted that this is an operation that is technically highly challenging, psychologically difficult, and highly complicated from an operational standpoint.
The three experienced divers participating in this special operation are technical as well as cave divers who possess extensive experience in large-scale search and recovery missions conducted in deep and enclosed underwater environments, narrow spaces, and dangerous conditions, DAN said.
Further details of the mission
To complete today's mission, the team utilized modern technical systems. These included closed-circuit re-breathers, high-grade DPVs or diver propulsion vehicles, and fully redundant life-support configurations (incorporating backup safety systems). With the help of those technologies, the divers were able to enter the environment of the deep cave and dive safely for a long period of time in a manner that complies with safety standards.
A rebreather is a closed-circuit diving system made to reuse exhaled gas. It is a system that removes carbon dioxide with the help of a chemical scrubber and automatically replaces the oxygen required by the body. Because of this, it provides the opportunity to dive for a long time.
"Today’s outcome is the result of meticulous preparation, technical excellence, and exemplary teamwork. We are deeply grateful to the experts on the ground for their professional, ethical, and compassionate work in such a demanding environment," Laura Maroni, CEO of DAN Europe, has stated.
The four Italian divers and a diving instructor from the same country went missing last Thursday while diving in an underwater cave near Alimathaa. The body of the diving instructor was found underwater on that same day.
MNDF previously stated that the body of the diving instructor was found inside the cave at a depth of approximately 60 meters (197 feet).
In connection with this tragic maritime incident, which is the worst to occur in recent history in Maldives, the Tourism Ministry has also suspended the operating license of the safari boat "MV Duke of York" on which the divers were traveling.
