3 specialized Finnish divers brought to Maldives to recover missing, presumed dead 4 Italian scuba divers. 2 done. 2 to go.

The bodies of the four Italian scuba divers missing in the Maldives for the past four days have been located deep inside the Dhekunu Kandu cave system near Alimathaa island. The deep cave penetration, carried out by a team of Finnish rebreather divers, began at around 8.30am and lasted some three hours.

The three Finnish cave-divers had arrived in the Maldives’ Vaavu Atoll the day before yesterday (17 May) and devoted the day to detailed preparations for this morning’s dive.

UPDATE 19 MAY: Bodies of man and woman recovered, 2 female bodies also located for recovery tomorrow

Two of the four Italian divers’ bodies found yesterday (18 May) have been recovered today (19 May) as planned by the Finnish recovery dive-team. They were reportedly lying 60m deep inside the third and innermost chamber of the cave system, which is also the largest and deepest segment.

The four victims were found “pretty much together” in this chamber, according to the Maldives government, and the recovered divers were said to be “a male and a female.”

The Finnish divers brought the two bodies to 30m, from where Maldivian divers took them to the surface. They were transferred onto stretchers and brought aboard Coast Guard vessels.

Patrik Gronqvist, Patrik Gronqvist, and Jenni Westerlund are the 3 Finnish rescue divers.

The rescue divers plan to complete the recovery of the remaining two deceased females with another three-hour dive tomorrow (20 May), conditions permitting.

DAN Europe says that a comprehensive logistical and medical support system has been set up at the surface, including an ambulance-boat and a constantly present hyperbaric doctor.

https://divernet.com/scuba-news/health-safety/death/ccr-recovery-divers-locate-all-4-bodies-in-maldives-cave/