Five Italian divers who perished in an underwater cave off the Maldives may have been captured on video in their final moments, as investigators recover GoPro footage from the group’s bodies. The divers tragically died last week in a 60-meter-deep cave located on Vaavu Atoll, with authorities seeking to determine the precise circumstances leading to the incident.

The group consisted of four individuals affiliated with the University of Genoa, including researcher Muriel Oddenino, and an instructor. Officials believe a strong current inside the cave may have pulled the divers deeper than intended, potentially causing them to become disoriented and ultimately run out of oxygen while attempting to escape.

The situation worsened when a Maldivian diver, involved in the search and recovery efforts, also lost their life during operations on Saturday. This added further urgency to the investigation and highlighted the hazardous conditions faced by rescue teams.

Meanwhile, legal scrutiny has intensified as prosecutors in Rome have opened a manslaughter investigation. Authorities allege that the dive boat facilitating the expedition lacked the necessary permits to conduct dives beyond 30 meters, raising questions about regulatory compliance and safety oversight.

Experts emphasize that diving in deep underwater caves presents significant risks, requiring strict adherence to safety protocols and sufficient training. The recovered video footage is expected to provide critical insights into the divers’ actions and challenges encountered during the fatal excursion.

Efforts continue on multiple fronts, combining forensic analysis of the footage with inquiries into permitting and operational procedures, to prevent similar tragedies in the future and to deliver answers regarding the circumstances that led to these losses.