The bodies of two Italian divers killed in a scuba diving accident in the Maldives have been recovered, a Maldives government spokesperson said on Tuesday (May 19), as efforts continue to retrieve the remains of two others.

The bodies were transport by police speedboat to the morgue in the Maldivian capital Male on Tuesday afternoon.

The divers were part of a group of five who entered a deepwater cave last week. The remains of one among them – their instructor – was recovered on Friday (May 15).

The bodies were brought up to 30 metres by a specialist team of Finnish divers – who joined the efforts this week – after which Maldivian divers and the police assisted in bringing them to the surface, spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef told Reuters.

He said their identities have not been confirmed but that a male and female body had been recovered.

The group that entered the cave was led by Monica Montefalcone, 51, a University of Genoa professor and marine ecologist who was a regular diver in Maldivian waters in the Indian Ocean, and also included her daughter.

Maldivian authorities are probing multiple possible factors behind the accident – the deadliest single incident in the country's diving history – including whether the divers descended far deeper than expected.

The two remaining bodies will be recovered on Wednesday (May 20), according to the government's plan.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: MALE, MALDIVES (MAY 19, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. AMBULANCE CARRYING RECOVERED BODY OF AN ITALIAN DIVER REVERSING TO THE MORGUE

2. AMBULANCE PARKED IN THE MORGUE

3. VARIOUS OF STAFF AT MORGUE PREPARING TO RECEIVE THE BODIES

4. VARIOUS OF POLICE OUTSIDE THE MORGUE

5. VARIOUS OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OUTSIDE THE MORGUE

6. AMBULANCE CARRYING THE SECOND RECOVERED BODY OF AN ITALIAN DIVER ARRIVING AT THE MORGUE

7. VARIOUS OF MALDIVIAN RED CRESCENT STAFF GETTING OUT OF THE AMBULANCE

8. TWO AMBULANCES WITH BODIES OF THE TWO ITALIAN DIVERS AT THE MORGUE

9. FIRST AMBULANCE REVERSING TO THE MORGUE PREMISES

10. STAFF IN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

11. GATE CLOSING AFTER THE SECOND AMBULANCE ENTERS THE MORGUE PREMISES