3 South Korean divers rescued off Isla Verde
CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — Three South Korean divers were rescued after drifting for nearly four nautical miles from their dive site off Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro, and were found in waters off Isla Verde in Batangas, on Tuesday (August 11).
The foreigners were diving at Canyon Reef in Barangay Sinandigan at Puerto Galera, and were expected to surface after about an hour.
When they failed to return within the expected time, the operator of their speedboat searched for the Koreans but could not locate the divers as sea conditions worsened.
Article continues after this advertisement
READ: Crew saves woman who fell overboard in Batangas waters
The operator alerted the Puerto Galera municipal administrator, prompting the Coast Guard Sub-Station Puerto Galera to deploy search-and-rescue teams as soon as they received the alert.
The divers were eventually spotted about 3.12 nautical miles northwest of Barangay San Agustin in Isla Verde.
According to the Coast Guard, the crew of M/V FastCat M19, which was sailing from Batangas to Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, noticed a rapidly flashing light on the water and proceeded to investigate.
One female diver was rescued by the FastCat crew, while two male divers were recovered by Paradise Diving Boat 4.
Article continues after this advertisement
The three divers were transported safely to Barangay Sabang in Puerto Galera.
Upon arrival, personnel from the Puerto Galera MDRRMO assessed the divers and confirmed that they were in safe condition.
Article continues after this advertisement
The Coast Guard Station Oriental Mindoro, in coordination with CGSS Puerto Galera, is conducting further investigation into the incident, including the divers’ compliance with applicable maritime safety requirements.
The Coast Guard had coordinated with the Philippine National Police Maritime Group, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Puerto Galera, local dive operators and other maritime stakeholders to expand the search. /das