The international diving community is mourning the death of Italian cave diver Luca Pedrali, who died during an exploration dive at Su Gologone, a karst spring and popular cave-diving site in Sardinia.
According to a report in Unione Sarda, the 60-year-old diver surfaced after a deep technical dive but became unwell shortly after removing his equipment. Despite immediate rescue efforts from his dive team and emergency responders, he could not be revived.
Pedrali was an experienced technical and cave diver with several record-breaking achievements to his name, including dives exceeding 260 metres in Lake Garda and some of the deepest cave penetrations in Italy. His work helped chart underwater cave systems and contributed to a better understanding of the region’s submerged geological networks.
Gianni Careddu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Authorities are continuing to review the incident, which occurred during an ongoing cave exploration project at Su Gologone, a system long regarded as one of Sardinia’s most challenging and alluring dive sites. While official findings have yet to be released, early reports indicate that no equipment malfunction was immediately suspected.
Tributes have poured in from across the diving world, remembering Pedrali not only for his technical skill but also for his dedication to exploration and mentorship within the global diving community.
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