2 Russian tourists died while scuba diving in Verde Island in Batangas City

[chaad]

Saw this post on Facebook. Sounds awful.

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/2/27/2-turistang-ruso-patay-sa-pag-atake-ng-pating-sa-batangas-city-2139

Run through Google translate:

2 Russian tourists died while scuba diving in Verde Island in Batangas City

Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News Published Feb 27, 2025 09:38 PM PHT Updated Feb 27, 2025 10:43 PM PHT +X (UPDATED)

Two Russian tourists died while scuba diving in the ocean near Verde Island, Batangas City, this Thursday afternoon.According to Batangas Coast Guard Station Commander Capt. Airland Lapitan, the incident happened at around one o'clock in the afternoon while four Russian nationals were scuba diving in a part of Pulong Bato in Verde Island.Even ran in St. Patrick Hospital in Batangas

Even ran in St. Patrick Hospital in Batangas City was the first Russian but it was dead on arrival.It was around half past five in the afternoon when the PCG-Batangas search and rescue team spotted the body of the second Russian diver with his right hand severed.

During the initial investigation, the current of the sea water suddenly changed while the tourists were diving.It is said that two Russian divers and a master diver were still able to get out while the two victims were separated."

"There was a strong current, sir, they got separated, the two with the master diver got out, sir, but when they got out, sir, the two didn't make it back," said Cpt. Approach

It was difficult for the PCG to recover the body of the victim because of the many sharks that were said to be circling around.It is suspected that the shark attacked a victim because his right hand was cut off."There is a theory, sir, that it was a shark attack because he was surrounded by sharks," said Lapitan.The remains of the second victim have been brought home to Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro and the survivors. While the first casualty was taken to a hospital in Batangas City.

 

[chaad]

Mods, feel free to move this to Accidents, Incidents, & Near Misses if you'd prefer.

 

[divedrewsf]

The shark stuff sounds dubious to me. I dive there heaps and, other than the (very) occasional thresher (who have teeny-tiny heads and generally avoid divers), you don't see sharks. They're just not there.

But either way, it's a tragedy. Verde is a beautiful site, but currents can be insane sometimes. Always make a plan; dive the plan.

 

[Tippytoes12]

There is a video clip of one of the deceased diver face down on the surface on FB. There is no sign of any sharks or any other fish on the surface. I was in the Visayas in January, uw the conditions were lovely but there were ultra strong currents and swells on the surface. RIP to the deceased divers, such a tragedy.

 

[Centrals]

A lot of sharks around The Pinnacle in Verde Island?
I had dived The Pinnacle many times and never seen one.
Strong current? That is normal and with down current as well. We literally had to claw up on our fours to get away with it while tec dive there once.

 

[DandyDon]

2 Russian tourists die while scuba diving at Verde Island in Batangas City​

Google translation...

Two Russian tourists died while scuba diving in the ocean near Verde Island, Batangas City, on Thursday afternoon.​

According to Batangas Coast Guard Station Commander Capt. Airland Lapitan, the incident occurred around 1:00 p.m. while the four Russian nationals were scuba diving near the Pulong Bato area of Verde Island.​

The first Russian was rushed to St. Patrick Hospital in Batangas City but was dead on arrival.​

At around 5:30 in the afternoon, the PCG-Batangas search and rescue team spotted the body of the second Russian diver with his right hand severed.​

Initial investigation revealed that the current in the sea suddenly changed while the tourists were diving.​

The two Russian divers and the master diver were reportedly able to get out, while the two victims were separated.​

"There was a strong current, sir, they got separated, the two of them along with the master diver managed to get out, sir, but when they got out, the two of them did not return," said Cpt. Lapitan.​

The PCG had difficulty recovering the victim's body because there were reportedly many sharks around.​

It is suspected that a shark attacked a victim because its right hand was severed.​

"There is a theory that it was a shark attack because sharks were surrounding him," said Lapitan.​

The remains of the second victim in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro and the survivors have been brought home. While the first victim was taken to a hospital in Batangas City.​

 

[iho]

Info from local DC - no shark attack were involved, sharks arrives then all was finished. One of them did emergency ascend trying to escape downflow current and lungs were heavily damaged. Cause for other - not clear.

 

[touny71]

This is an area famous for it's currents, but nothing crazy though.

 

[Friedolays]

This is an area famous for it's currents, but nothing crazy though.

I would beg to differ, current at Verde Island is absolutely ripping at times

 

[Centrals]

The Pinnacle provides shelter from the current. Zig-zag up the wall is the usual way to dive when current is strong.
But down current is different matter.