Malé, Maldives, May 17, 2026 — DAN Europe confirms that the international search & recovery team mobilised over the past 48 hours has safely arrived in the Maldives and is currently completing equipment preparation, operational briefings, and final mission planning ahead of the first planned dive tomorrow morning.

DAN has worked intensively to identify, engage, and deploy a highly specialised team composed of Finnish rescue divers Sami Paakkarinen, Jenni Westerlund, and Patrik Grönqvist.

The coming hours will be dedicated entirely to equipment checks, gas logistics, environmental assessment, and dive planning for what remains an extremely complex and high-risk operation in a deep overhead environment. At this stage, DAN Europe respectfully asks the community, media partners, and the public to allow the operational team the time, focus, and concentration required to carry out this mission under the safest possible conditions. No further operational details will be shared until the team has completed its initial intervention.

“Over the past two days, one of our highest priorities at DAN Europe has been to support these operations with the best people, the right equipment, and the strongest possible coordination. Our team is now on site and preparing for tomorrow’s dive. From this moment, their focus must be entirely on the mission ahead” — Laura Marroni, CEO, DAN Europe.

This intervention is being conducted by the DAN Europe Foundation as part of its mission in diver safety, emergency response, research, and international operational support. The task force keeps operating in close coordination with the Maldives National Defence Force and in constant contact with the Italian authorities in Malé.

Our thoughts remain with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives.

An international task force of specialists has been activated to support local authorities in the recovery of divers in Dhekunu Kandu.

Malé, May 16, 2026 — Following the tragic incident involving five divers in the waters of Dhekunu Kandu, Vaavu Atoll (Maldives), DAN Europe has activated an international task force composed of highly specialised professionals in technical diving, cave diving, and special operations in overhead environments, with the objective of supporting the delicate search and rescue activities currently underway.

DAN has always stood alongside the international diving community, including the Maldives, providing medical assistance, emergency coordination, and operational support in the event of diving accidents. It is within this context that the organisation has decided to make resources, expertise, and specialised personnel available to support the ongoing operations.

The team mobilised by DAN includes operators with international experience in highly complex recovery missions, including interventions in deep cave systems, confined environments, and high-risk scenarios, gained through participation in some of the most challenging underwater rescue operations of recent years.

The DAN task force will operate in full coordination with the Maldives National Defence Force, which is leading operations locally, and in constant contact with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the competent Italian Embassy, and the Italian Consulate in Malé, since all victims were Italian nationals.

The accident site presents highly complex operational characteristics: access to the cave is located at a depth of between 55 and 60 meters, while the underwater system extends for hundreds of meters through multiple chambers and internal passages. The victims may be located in areas that are difficult to access, requiring extremely careful planning of every phase of the intervention. Maldivian authorities have described the operation as “high risk.”

“In moments like these, every consideration gives way first to our sense of humanity and community. Before being doctors, researchers, or emergency specialists, we are divers helping other divers. This tragedy deeply affects the entire international diving community of which we are part, and we will do everything within our power to support the ongoing operations. I am deeply grateful to the international search and recovery specialists we have engaged, who were ready to depart immediately upon our request. In the meantime, we are working to make the specialised equipment required for this highly complex operation available on site. We also wish to thank the representatives of the Italian Consulate and Embassy for their valuable assistance in coordinating the logistics of this intervention.”

— Laura Marroni, CEO, DAN Europe

Operations have become even more dramatic following the death of a member of the Maldivian Navy involved in the rescue efforts. DAN extends its deepest condolences to his family, colleagues, and local authorities. This tragic development further confirms the extreme complexity of the intervention and the importance of highly specialised support.

“We are in touch with the Maldivian medical team to support management of any emergencies related to the ongoing recovery operations. In complex diving scenarios, particularly in remote islands, clinical management can become delicate, especially when advanced critical care support and urgent hyperbaric treatment are required. This is why highly specialised planning is essential, both from an operational and medical perspective.”

— Dr. Chiara Ferri, Medical Director, DAN Europe

About DAN Europe

DAN Europe (Divers Alert Network Europe) is an international non-profit medical and research organisation devoted to the health and safety of divers. Since 1983, it has provided medical assistance, scientific research, education and innovative safety initiatives to the global diving community. DAN Europe is also an advocate for environmental responsibility and the responsible practice of diving. DAN Europe

Emergency Response, and Prevention

• Mission: improving diver safety worldwide through research, medicine, and assistance

• Structure: a 24/7 global emergency operations center managed by emergency medicine specialists and recognized in Italy as a second-level emergency alert center; assistance is provided in over 30 languages

• Membership: over 400,000 members worldwide

• Network: an international network of more than 180 medical specialists

• Activity: thousands of emergencies handled each year

The organization is one of the regional foundations within IDAN (International Divers Alert Network) and reinvests all generated resources into research and the development of tools and services benefiting the wider community.