Divers Alert Network (DAN) Europe has handed over evidence to authorities investigating the diving incident that killed five Italian divers off the coast of Alimatha in the Maldives.

In a statement, DAN Europe said the divers’ equipment had been recovered from the sea and given to police. The organization also confirmed that rescue teams completed their final underwater operation yesterday, spending about three hours inside the cave.

During the dive, teams removed temporary guidelines, operational markers and recovery equipment, while also searching for additional evidence linked to the deaths.

DAN Europe CEO Laura Marroni said the divers may have become trapped after entering deeper sections of the cave where visibility was poor and finding an exit became difficult.

The bodies of Monica Montefalcon, 52, her daughter Georgia Somacal, 20, Muriel Odenino, 31, and Federico Gualtieri, 31, were recovered from about 50 meters below the cave entrance. The body of instructor Gianluca Benedetti was found earlier on May 14.

According to the government, the divers had permission to research soft coral in the Maldives. However, officials said two members of the group were not authorized for cave diving.

Maroni also noted that the divers were using standard 12-liter oxygen tanks, which may not have provided enough air for such a deep dive, especially in a panic situation.

The search and recovery operation involved the Maldives National Defence Force, police and Finnish divers. An MNDF diver also died during the operation.

Authorities say footage recovered from the divers’ cameras is expected to provide more details about how the tragedy occurred.