Subic Bay - 17th Jul - 2 divers missing on USS New York

[DevonDiver]

Confirmed report that 2 divers are missing in Subic Bay for the last 24 hours. Were diving on the USS New York. Searches ongoing as we speak.

 

[DandyDon]

2 divers went missing in Subic shipwreck | Home » Other Sections » Breaking News

SUBIC BAY, Freeport – Two foreign nationals went missing while having a scuba diving session in Subic Bay Freeport Sunday afternoon.

Divers from Olongapo City and Subic, along with operatives of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and the Philippine Coast Guard, are now conducting search and rescue operations for the missing foreigners.

The missing divers were identified as Stephen Brittian, a retired US Navy; and a certain “Tin”, a Hong Kong national.

According to a witness, the two were diving at USS New York shipwreck site around 6 p.m.

“They might have been holed up at the engine room of the ship, which the dangerous part of the shipwreck,” the witness who requested anonymity said.

He added that he waited for the two to surface but he decided to report to the authorities when the duo failed to appear after 30 minutes.

Search and retrieval operation are still ongoing.

 

[DevonDiver]

I go into that engine room regularly. Without doubt it is a technical penetration, that requires a high standard of training, proper procedures and equipment. If you silt out and lose the line, you won't find your way out....and there is a lot of silt. (see below)



No confirmation on where they were actually lost though...it's a big wreck. I guess we won't know more until the searches conclude.

 

[Tortuga68]

Word came down to Puerto Galera this afternoon asking for qualified volunteers to assist in the search - no other details, except that they're obviously still missing

 

[Ed Palma]

Andy, you know that wreck like the back of your hand... Aside from the engine room, is there some other place that they might have wanted to penetrate?

 

[DevonDiver]

There's dozens of access points.

 

[rickthediver]

One diver has been found by a Subic Bay team. Recovery will be this evening or early morning.

The PCSSD contacted the 505th Coast Guard Auxiliary S&R Squadron in PG to ask Subic if help was needed - apparently not as they had the search well in hand, but did have a group of 5 experienced technical wreck divers on standby.

All our thoughts witht he friends and relatives of the divers....

 

[kelvkwok]

Any idea which diver was found?

 

[blacktulip]

Hongkong diver found. They will go to recover the DM tmr morning.

 

[kelvkwok]

Thank you very much indeed.