A diving expert has been found dead crammed into an underwater crevice just a few inches beneath the sea off the Italian coast.

Victim Gianluca De Luca, 54, was jammed so tightly in the rocks that he was only identifiable by his distinctive flippers, reported local media,

De Luca had disappeared off the coast of the Tremiti Islands Marine Reserve in the Italian Adriatic Sea on 23rd August and was reported missing by other divers.

Coastguard rescuers eventually found his body the next day, wedged so tightly in among rocks that they could only identify him by his fins.

His body was discovered off the coast of San Nicola just a few centimetres below the surface of the water, local media report.

A statement from marine reserve managers said De Luca “was identified by the fins, the rest of the body was wedged between the rocks”.

Police and prosecutors are now examining the circumstances of his death.

De Luca was the professional dive manager at the Lido Anna pools in Termoli together with his brother Francesco.

The Tremiti Islands are popular with divers because of the rich marine life.