A funeral with full military honours was held for Maldivian diver Staff Sergeant Mohamed Mahudhy on Saturday night, Shareef said.
“We are very sad about the tragic loss of the Italians. We are also very saddened by the loss of our own diver,” he said.
“We are two nations united in grief.”
The University of Genoa said the victims included a marine biology professor, her daughter, and two young researchers.
The five deaths were confirmed by Italy’s foreign ministry.
The Maldives also suspended the operating licence on Saturday of the luxury vessel from which the Italians had been diving.
Tourism is a key source of revenue for the low-lying Maldives, a nation of 1,192 tiny coral islands and atolls scattered some 800 kilometres across the equator in the Indian Ocean.
Its pristine beaches, clear turquoise waters and exotic coral reefs attract divers and snorkellers from around the world who often stay at secluded resorts or on live-aboard dive boats.
Several fatalities have been reported in recent years but diving and water sports-related accidents are still relatively rare.
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