By Mark ‘Crowley’ Russell
Two Russian divers have died after being swept away by strong currents while diving near Verde Island out of Batangas, in the Philippines. Local media reports one of the divers had an arm severed after being mauled by a shark.
The two men, who have been identified as Ilia Peregudin, 29, and Maksim Melekhov, 39, were diving with two other Russian men and a Filipino dive guide near Verde Island, located in the passage between Batangas, Luzon Island, and Puerta Galera, Mindoro Island, when they were swept away by strong currents, according to a statement by Philippine Coast Guard district chief Captain Airland Lapitan.
Two of the divers and the guide were able to surface but Pereguin and Melekhov disappeared.
Mr Melekhov was found an hour later after a search was mounted by the dive guide, other divers in the vicinity, and the Filipino Coast Guard. Local media reports he was unconscious in the water but was taken to hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.
‘[Mr Peregudin] was found at about 4 pm – 5:30 pm and retrieved around 5 – 6 pm,’ said Capt Latpitan. ‘When the rescuers found him, he was being pulled by a shark. He was eventually retrieved but his arm was missing.’
There is no evidence that the diver was killed by the shark, nor what species of shark was involved.
Shark attacks in the Philippines are exceedingly rare, and according to the Global Shark Attack File there have only been a handful of incidents in the Philippines recorded so far this century – the last fatal incident was logged in 2008 when a fisherman was attacked off Paoay, Ilocos Norte Province.
Verde Island is described as one of the most biodiverse regions of the Coral Triangle, but is known for its strong currents and is advertised as being for advanced divers only. It is not especially known for shark sightings, although thresher sharks and nurse sharks are occasionally encountered.
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