Italian professor who passed away during a dive in Vaavu Atoll dedicated her entire life to exploring and researching wonders of the deep sea

Professor Monica Montefalcone, the Italian academic who passed away while diving in Vaavu Atoll on Thursday, dedicated her entire life to marine research. Upon receiving the prestigious "Atlantide Prize" in 2022 for her contributions to marine biology and conservation, she remarked that she had spent her life exploring and studying the wonders of the underwater world.

She is an award-winning marine biologist renowned for her distinguished work in marine conservation. A prominent media personality, she frequently appears on television programs and has previously been interviewed by Sky TG24.

Following the deaths of several Italian divers in the Maldives, the country’s Foreign Ministry reported that a group of five individuals went missing last Thursday after descending to a depth of approximately 50 meters (165 feet) to explore and survey underwater caves in Vaavu Atoll.

The ministry has not disclosed the identities of the victims or further details regarding the cause of the incident. However, it confirmed that all five deceased were Italian nationals and stated that an investigation into the matter is currently underway.

The University of Genoa has released the names of four victims identified among the deceased. They include Monica Montefalcone, a Professor of Ecology at the university; her daughter, Giorgia Somacal, who was also a student there; research fellow Muriel Odenino; and Federico Gualtieri, a graduate in marine biology.

In a statement published on its website, the university expressed its sincere condolences to the staff and students on behalf of the entire institution.

Italian media outlets have identified the fifth victim of the incident as Gianluca Benedetti, a diving instructor who served as the vessel's operations manager.

In an interview with the Italian newspaper "La Repubblica," Monica Montefalcone's husband, Carlo Somacal, described his wife as a "highly skilled and experienced diver" with more than 5,000 dives to her credit. Carlo further noted that she was well-versed in how to respond to challenging and difficult situations underwater.

Carlo further noted that Benedetti, the diving instructor, was an exceptionally meticulous individual. He described Benedetti as a dedicated professional who consistently conducted thorough inspections of oxygen tanks and weather conditions prior to every dive.

Carlo expressed his hope that the bodies of his wife and daughter would be recovered for the sake of himself and his son, Matteo. He also noted that Monica typically carried a GoPro camera with her whenever she went diving.

"I am not aware if he had a camera with him that day. However, if that camera is found, we may be able to determine exactly what happened," Carlo said.

The crew of the diving vessel reported the divers missing at approximately 1:45 p.m. on Thursday. The report was filed after the group failed to surface upon completing their dive.

The incident occurred during a period of severe weather, while a yellow alert was in effect across the Maldives.

In response to the incident, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and the Coast Guard have launched an extensive joint search and rescue operation. The operation involves the deployment of maritime vessels, aircraft, and specialized diving teams currently active in the area.

In a statement provided to the Italian news agency ANSA, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) confirmed that the body of one individual has been recovered following the disappearance of five people while diving in Vaavu Atoll.

"The body was discovered inside a cave. It is believed that the remaining four divers are also located within that same cave, at a depth of approximately 60 meters," the MNDF stated.

The Italian Foreign Ministry further stated that the Italian Embassy in Sri Lanka is working to contact the families of the deceased and provide necessary consular assistance.