A senior Maldivian diver has ignited fresh controversy in the investigation into the Maldives’ worst scuba tragedy, claiming the local instructor “intentionally swam away” from the Italian group inside Thinwana Kandu — popularly known as Shark Cave. Shafraz Naeem, a highly respected veteran with decades of experience and over 50 dives in the same cave system, made the explosive allegation while criticizing multiple safety violations that he says everyone involved knew about.

The fatal dive occurred on May 14, 2026, in Vaavu Atoll. The group of five Italians — University of Genoa associate professor Monica Montefalcone (52), her 20-year-old daughter Giorgia Sommacal, researchers Muriel Oddenino (31) and Federico Gualtieri (31), and local instructor Gianluca Benedetti (44) — entered the complex cave system for what was described as scientific coral research. Using standard recreational scuba equipment instead of technical cave-diving gear, they descended to 50-60 meters, well beyond the Maldives’ recommended recreational limit of 30 meters. None resurfaced.

Bodies were later discovered clustered together in the third and deepest chamber of the cave. Benedetti’s body was found first, closer to the entrance with an empty tank, while the others were much deeper. A Maldivian military diver tragically died from decompression sickness during the difficult recovery operation, raising the total death toll to six.

In candid interviews, Shafraz Naeem did not mince words. He stated that Benedetti, who was both the guide and boat captain and familiar with the site, appeared to have deliberately distanced himself from the tourists. “Perhaps he swam away on purpose before running out of air,” Naeem suggested. He described the cave’s notorious hazards: powerful internal currents capable of creating a Venturi effect, sudden silt-outs that reduce visibility to zero, narrow passages, and an overhead environment with almost no easy escape once you go deep.

Naeem, who has advised the Maldivian National Defence Force and always used specialized technical equipment, multiple gas sources, and strict protocols on his own dives in Thinwana Kandu, accused the group of serious rule-breaking. He claimed they lacked proper government permits for cave penetration, used unsuitable gas mixes for the depth, and ignored basic safety standards required for such an environment. “Everyone knows the rules were broken,” he asserted bluntly.

His comments have added significant pressure to the ongoing joint investigation by Italian prosecutors and Maldivian authorities. Key questions now include:

Why did the group enter the overhead cave sections when their research permit reportedly focused on open-water coral study?
Was the instructor’s decision-making compromised by panic or self-preservation?
Could better equipment, planning, or adherence to depth limits have prevented the disaster?

Monica Montefalcone’s husband Carlo has repeatedly said “something must have happened down there,” citing his wife’s more than 5,000 lifetime dives and meticulous nature. Giorgia’s fiancé Federico Colombo delivered an emotional love letter at her memorial, urging people to “hurry to love… we always love too little, too late.”

The tragedy has exposed vulnerabilities in the Maldives’ booming diving tourism industry. While the country markets itself as a diver’s paradise with thousands of safe dives each year, high-risk sites like Shark Cave demand far stricter oversight, especially for scientific or technical penetration dives. Recreational divers, no matter how experienced, face extreme danger in overhead environments without proper training, redundant gas systems, continuous guidelines, and emergency procedures.

Maldivian officials have confirmed they are investigating whether depth limits were exceeded and whether all required permits and safety protocols were followed. They describe the incident as rare but acknowledge that any breach of rules could have contributed to the outcome. International diving experts echo Naeem’s concerns, stressing that one misjudgment at depth — whether from currents, narcosis, or separation — can turn an adventure into tragedy within minutes.

As the bodies are repatriated to Italy and the full forensic analysis continues (including potential GoPro footage from Monica and dive computer data), Shafraz Naeem’s insider testimony has shifted public focus from simple accident to possible negligence or abandonment. Whether Benedetti panicked and fled, made a fatal error in group management, or the entire dive was poorly planned may become clearer with time — but the veteran diver’s claims have already forced authorities to examine every angle.

For the grieving families, answers may never ease the pain of losing two generations in a single afternoon. Yet they hope the investigation will deliver justice and force meaningful safety reforms. The silent chambers of Shark Cave, where powerful currents still flow through narrow tunnels, now stand as a grim warning: even in paradise, the ocean punishes those who underestimate it.

The diving community worldwide is watching closely. Calls for stricter regulations on adventure and scientific diving in popular destinations like the Maldives are growing louder. Shafraz Naeem’s blunt warning may ultimately save lives — if those in charge choose to listen.