The five scuba divers who died while exploring underwater caves in the Maldives have been named. The group, from Italy, had set off on a diving expedition on Thursday morning.

It has been confirmed they died while exploring the underwater caves, at a depth of around 50 metres, in the Vaavu Atoll. One of the victims has been named by Italian media as Monica Montefalcone, 51, a marine biologist, TV personality and professor of Tropical Marine Ecology and Underwater Science at the University of Genoa. Her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, 20, also died. The other three victims have been named as Muriel Oddenino of Turin, Gianluca Benedetti of Padua and Federico Gualtieri of Borgomanero.

Italy's foreign ministry confirmed the deaths but gave no further details on the cause of the incident. They added that an investigation is under way while the victims' families have been contacted.

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As well as Monica Montefalcone and her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, the other victims include Muriel Oddenino, also a University of Genoa professor, Federico Gualtieri and diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti. In a statement posted on X, the University of Genoa expressed its "deepest condolences" following the deaths.

The divers were reported missing by the crew of a diving vessel they were travelling on after failing to resurface at around 1.45pm. A search operation was launched by the Maldivian Coast Guard and the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) before a body was discovered.

The MNDF said in a statement: "A body has been found among the five divers who dived in Vaavu Atoll. The body was found inside a cave. The other four divers are believed to be inside the same cave, which extends to a depth of approximately 60m."

Local media reports suggest poor weather may have impacted the visibility of the divers. They added that one of the divers may have become stuck which caused the others to try and rescue them.

The Maldives is considered one of the top scuba diving destinations in the world. It is known for its clear waters and abundant marine life, offering opportunities to see a range of sharks and manta rays throughout the year.

The Vaavu Atoll, dubbed a "hidden paradise" for diving, is popular for its abundant sharks and high-speed drig dives. It is also famous for its night dives and is home to the largest unbroken barrier reef in the Maldives.

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