‘Something happened down there’: Families’ horror after Maldives dive tragedy as recovery hampered & ‘survivor’ emerges

DEVASTATED families of the five Italians who died in a high-risk cave dive have spoken of the unspeakable pain of losing their loved ones. The group were travelling on the luxury Duke of York yacht and set off to explore a cave around at a popular diving spot near the Vaavu Atoll. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The group were led by experienced marine biologist Monica Montefalcone Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk Her 24-year-old daughter, Giorgia Sommacal, was also on the dive Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk The body of Monica Montefalcone, an expert marine biologist and university professor, is the only victim to have been located in ongoing search efforts. Monica’s Carlo Sommacal told La Repubblica daily: “She would never have put her daughter’s life or the lives of the other children at risk out of recklessness. “Something happened down there.” Joining Monica on the trip were her 22-year-old daughter Giorgia Sommacal, Muriel Oddenino of Turin, Gianluca Benedetti of Padua, and Federico Gualtieri of Borgomanero. The group were cave diving around Vaavu Atoll Credit: Shutterstock It has been confirmed that Monica and Muriel were conducting the trip for research. Several terrifying theories have been put forward as to what transpired on the daring 160ft dive to the murky cave. One involves the adverse weather conditions confronting the Atoll on the trip. A yellow weather warning was issued yesterday and fierce 30mph gusts of wind battered the holiday hotspot. Most read in The Sun Monica was a highly experience scuba diver Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk She was conducting research with Muriel Oddenino Credit: Facebook Carlo described his late wife as “one of the best divers on earth” and insisted that she would not have taken the risk had she been aware of the warning. He said: “If there really was a yellow alert, they must have dived in earlier. I’m ready to swear anything about Monica’s behaviour.” Two other prevalent theories are that the group were carrying faulty tanks with an incorrect oxygen mixture, or that a member got stuck and the others died trying to rescue them. It is also believed that turbulent waters kicked up sediment that impaired the divers’ visibility. Federico Gualtieri, 30, was on the diveCredit: Refer to Source Professional diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti is also missing Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk Officials are also probing whether the group use an “Ariadne’s thread” – a rope used by divers to keep them close together, which is mandatory in some cases. Heartbreaking tributes have since poured in for the late adventurers. The mother of 44-year-old diving instructor Gianluca told Gazzettino: “I heard the news from the embassy. I can’t say anything, and you can only imagine the pain. Now I’m with his partner.” She shared that Gianluca gave up a successful career in finance to pursue his lifelong passion. Researcher Muriel was described as having a “childlike smile and kindness in her heart”, while diving instructor Federico was remembered as the “boy who spoke to the seabed”. A message posted on Muriel’s Facebook page read: “Goodbye my wonderful little girl—so sweet and sensitive, always with a twinkle in your eye and kindness in your heart. “Your presence will be greatly missed, but the memory of your light, your smile, and your sweetness will remain forever in our hearts.” Friend Riccardo Gambacorta, from an Italian dive school, wrote: “I am truly heartbroken. You left us far too soon. You were a cheerful, smiling young woman who loved life and diving.” One of Giorgia’s teachers honoured the late mum and daughter on Facebook, writing: “I remember how happy you were when your mum took you diving with her, how close you were, and I remember your beautiful smiles. “A life cut short [and] taken away in an instant by the sea you loved so much. My heart goes out to your family: your dad and your brother.” Another 20 Italians who were travelling on the Duke of York are currently receiving support from the Italian Embassy in Colombo. The Italian ambassador, who has flown to the Maldives capital Male, told Sky Italy: “The Maldivian Coast Guard conducted a dive and entered this cave, which I’m told is 62 meters deep. “It’s a particularly complex dive because the cave is divided into three interconnected sections. “On this occasion, the Maldivian divers were only able to enter the first two sections; they then had to ascend to for decompression stops and they have not yet been able to locate the bodies of the other Italian divers.” Comment now