The husband of a marine biologist who died during a diving incident in the Maldives this week has said that “something must have happened down there” in the caves where the victims were swimming.

Five Italian divers died during an underwater cave expedition on Thursday, authorities said.

The group were exploring the caves at about 50-60m depth in Vaavu Atoll, which is about 64km (40 miles) from the capital Malé.

They were reported missing after failing to resurface.

Among the victims is 51-year-old Monica Montefalcone, a TV personality, marine biologist and professor of tropical marine ecology underwater science at the University of Genoa.…