Five Italians have died in a scuba diving accident in the Maldives, Italy's foreign ministry said on Thursday, with security forces in the Indian Ocean archipelago recovering one body. The string of coral islands is a luxury holiday destination popular with divers, who often stay at remote resorts or on liveaboard dive boats. 

"Following an accident that occurred during a scuba diving trip, five Italian nationals have died in Vaavu Atoll, in the Maldives," Rome's foreign ministry said in a brief statement.