A travel expert has warned that there is “no room for errors” in cave diving after five Italian tourists died during an underwater excursion in the Maldives.
Reports emerged last week that a group of Italian nationals had been killed in a scuba diving incident, including the youngest victim, 20-year-old Giorgia Sommacal.
The other victims were Muriel Oddenino, Federico Gualtieri, Gianluca Benedetti, and Giorgia’s mother, Monica Montefalcone.
All five bodies have since been recovered following the incident in Vaavu Atoll, where the group had reportedly been attempting to explore caves around 50m (164ft) below the surface.
A sixth death was also reported during the recovery operation. The diver, a member of the Maldivian national defence force, has been named as Mohamed Hussain Shareef.
Exactly how events unfolded has not been confirmed, though there is hope that a missing GoPro belonging to one of the tourists could help clarify what happened.
In the wake of last week’s incident, Alex Andreichuk, CEO of Altezza Travel, said cave diving is widely regarded as one of the riskiest activities travellers can take on.
He told Mail Online: “The most dangerous activities are those where nature leaves no room for errors.
“Cave diving, in particular, is among the most dangerous activities, as even the smallest panic movement can lead to very low visibility, quickly leaving the diver disoriented and making panic decisions.”
Andreichuk also suggested that social media may be contributing to a rise in interest in extreme experiences such as cave diving, even among people without the right preparation.
“Unfortunately, we’re seeing more people getting inspired by the content they see on social media and believing they can do the same with little to no preparation,” he said.
He added: “Examples like travellers accessing difficult sea caves in flip flops, climbing unstable coastal cliffs, or waterfalls for selfies are just a few of the ‘trying your luck’ activities that have enormous potential to go wrong. While most people come back with a good story, some never make it back at all.
“The main issue is that the people who do return often post their reckless adventures on social media, encouraging others to do the same.
“That ‘if they did it, so can I’ attitude may be one of the most dangerous holiday activity mindsets.”
Although cave diving can be especially hazardous for beginners, the Italians who died in the Maldives were reportedly experienced divers, which has prompted further questions about what led to the fatal outcome.