The divers disappeared while «attempting to explore caves at a depth of 50 metres,» according to statements from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Five Italians who lost their lives during a scuba diving excursion in the Maldives may have become disoriented while investigating an underwater cave, according to the CEO of the firm that recovered their remains on Thursday.

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The other four bodies were reportedly located earlier this week by a group of Finnish divers employed by Dan Europe.

Earlier reports from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the divers went missing while «attempting to explore caves at a depth of 50 metres.»

Preliminary investigations revealed that the cave the divers entered comprised «three large chambers linked by narrow corridors,» according to the ministry.

Initial rescue attempts to search two of the chambers were hindered by the depth of the site, as extended dives were not feasible «due to insufficient oxygen for decompression,» it was noted.

«There was no escape route from that location,» stated Dan Europe executive Laura Marroni, as reported by the Italian newspaper la Repubblica.

Marroni explained to the publication that the divers had encountered a cave near the small island of Alimatha that began with a spacious, well-lit cavern.

A corridor stretching nearly 30 metres extended from that chamber, where «visibility with artificial lighting was excellent,» she continued. Beyond that, a sandbank separates the corridor from a second large chamber completely devoid of natural light.

The report highlighted that crossing the sandbank into the second chamber was relatively easy, yet the bank seemed to obscure the corridor upon returning.

The divers’ bodies were discovered in a separate, shorter corridor located to the left of the sandbank, according to the report.

«Returning would have been extremely challenging, particularly with limited air supply,» Marroni noted, adding that the divers likely had «about 10 minutes, or possibly less.»

Sergeant Major Mohammed Mahdi, a rescuer from the Maldives National Defence Force, also lost his life during efforts to locate the bodies.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed his condolences to his Maldivian counterpart upon learning the news.

“Italy’s period of mourning deepens with the tragic news that one of your courageous military personnel, Sergeant Major Mohammed Mahdi, died while attempting to recover the bodies of our fellow Italians,» Tajani stated.

«This incident brings Italy and the Maldives together in grief and respect for those lost,» he concluded.