FIVE tourists have died during a 160ft underwater diving trip in the Maldives – as the victims including a mum and daughter are pictured.

The Italian holidaymakers were exploring Vaavu atoll deep below the water on Thursday morning – with police launching a probe into the tragedy.

A woman with freckles and wet hair, wearing a blue bikini top and a heart necklace, rests her chin on her hand while smiling at the camera, with an ocean and blue sky in the background.
Giorgia Sommacal, 20, died alongside her mum, reports sayCredit: Instagram
A smiling woman in a blue wetsuit on a boat with another boat in the distance.
Her mum Monica Montefalcone is also understood to have died
University professor Monica Montefalcone and her 20-year-old daughter Giorgia Sommacal have been named as two of the five victims by Italian media.

The other three Italian holidaymakers have been named as Muriel Oddenino of Turin, Gianluca Benedetti of Padua, and Federico Gualtieri of Borgomanero, reports say.

Local authorities rushed to the scene after being alerted of the group’s disappearance at around 1.45pm local time on Thursday.

An urgent search operation was launched before the five bodies were discovered.

A woman in a black bikini sits on a beach chair, looking to her right, with other beachgoers in the background.
Muriel Oddenino died in the tragedy, local media reportedCredit: Facebook
Headshot of a man with dark hair, wearing a black t-shirt with two boat logos.
Gianluca Benedetti also died in the tragedy
The divers are understood to have boarded the Duke of York yacht, a foreign-operated live-aboard diving vessel, reports say.

The group then reportedly disappeared near Alimatha, one of the atoll’s most popular diving spots.

Local police have launched an investigation into the horror – but their causes of death are yet to be revealed.

The weather on Thursday was reportedly severe – with strong winds battering the idyllic islands at up to 30mph.

Maldives paradise island. Tropical aerial landscape, seascape with jetty pier, water bungalows villas with amazing sea lagoon beach. Exotic tourism destination, summer vacation background. Aerial travel
They were diving in the Maldives (stock)Credit: Getty
A diver underwater writing notes on a slate.
Monica was a respected marine biologist
A yellow warning had been issued earlier in the day – which still remains in place.

Italy‘s foreign ministry said: “Following an accident during a scuba dive, five Italians died in the Vaavu atoll, in the Maldives.”

It also said the five died “while attempting to explore caves at a depth of 50 meters”.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Italian Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka, said they have been contacting the victims’ families.

Local Italian media has reported that the sudden deaths were potentially caused by oxygen toxicity, citing diving experts.

This is caused by breathing oxygen at high pressure for a long period, which can cause tissue damage and affect the central nervous system.

The company operating the Duke of York yacht provides nitrox, according to its website, a breathing mixture for scuba divers made from nitrogen and oxygen.

The luxury vessel, built in 2010, is designed to transport tourists to select destinations in the Maldives for scuba diving.