Five Italian tourists died during a scuba diving trip in the Maldives after they failed to return from a deep underwater excursion near Vaavu Atoll. The group disappeared during a dive around 160 feet below the surface, leading to a major search operation by local authorities. Experts now believe oxygen toxicity and panic may have played a role in the deadly accident.
The divers had boarded the Duke of York yacht on Thursday morning before traveling to one of the country’s most popular diving locations. According to local reports, the group entered the water in the morning but did not resurface around noon as expected. The Maldives coast guard later launched an emergency rescue mission after receiving reports that the divers were missing.
Experts Suspect Oxygen Problems
Italian pulmonologist Claudio Micheletto said it was possible that something went wrong with the divers’ oxygen tanks. He explained that breathing oxygen at very high concentrations during deep dives can become dangerous for the human body. According to him, oxygen toxicity, also called hyperoxia, can cause confusion, dizziness, pain, and loss of awareness underwater.
Scuba divers usually breathe compressed air made up of oxygen and nitrogen. However, some divers use nitrox, which contains more oxygen and allows more time underwater. Micheletto warned that high oxygen levels can become toxic during deep dives and may prevent divers from safely returning to the surface.
Panic May Have Increased Danger
Another expert, Alfonso Bolognini from the Italian Society of Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine, said panic may also have contributed to the tragedy. He explained that a panic attack or sudden problem inside a deep underwater cave could quickly create dangerous conditions for divers.
Bolognini said panic can make the water cloudy and reduce visibility, increasing the risk of serious mistakes underwater. However, he added that investigators still cannot confirm exactly what happened at the bottom of the sea.
Investigation Continues
Among the victims were marine biology professor Monica Montefalcone and her 20-year-old daughter, Giorgia Sommacal. Three other Italian divers also disappeared during the trip. One body was later recovered from an underwater cave, while investigators believe the others may still be in the same area.
Authorities in the Maldives described the incident as the country’s worst single diving tragedy. Officials are continuing investigations to determine the exact cause of the accident.
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