MANILA — A Russian diver initially reported to have been killed in a shark attack near Verde Island in Batangas died from lack of oxygen, the Philippine Coast Guard  in Southern Luzon said, adding however that responding personnel did see sharks in the area.

Speaking to Teleradyo Serbisyo on Saturday morning, LTJG Dawn Baterbonia, spokesperson of PCG District Southern Tagalog, said the incident was the first recorded case of a potential shark attack.

The diver was one of two Russians who died while diving in the Pulong Bato dive spot in the Verde Island Passage.

“According to the records, ‘yung cause of death ng ating biktima is asphyxia secondary to drowning with massive traumatic injuries probably secondary to large predatory attack,” Baterbonia said.

(According to the records, the cause of death was asphyxia secondary to drowning, with massive traumatic injuries, probably secondary to large predatory attack)

Verde Island restrictions eyed after death of 2 Russian divers

The deaths were attributed to a strong underwater current in the area, an Philippine Coast Guard Station Batangas said Friday.

She said she could not comment on whether the diver died in the supposed shark attack or if that happened after the diver had drowned, but said responding personnel saw the attack.

“Nadatnan nila na unresponsive yung Russian diver as well as merong umaaligid na mga shark sa area,” Baterbonia also said.

(They found the Russian unresponsive and also saw sharks loitering in the area)

She said the coast guard had not monitored an increase in the number of sharks in the Verde Island Passage, which is known for its biodiversity, but divers have said sharks are not common there.

“Sa pagkaka-report so amin sir…. first time na nangyari sa AOR,” she added.

(As reported to us, this is the first time this has happened in that Area of Responsibility)

In a statement, Deluna Dive Center, where the two divers were guests, stressed in a separate release that “the cause of the divers' deaths was not related to the shark attack.”

DIVE CENTER: SUDDEN CURRENT CARRIED DIVERS AWAY

In its statement to the diving community of Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro where it is based, Deluna Dive Center said it had two scheduled dives in the Verde Island area last Thursday.

There were no issues during the first dive, but, during the second one, the group of four divers and a guide “encountered a sudden and powerful downward current.”

While the guide and two of the divers managed to hold on to a reef 19 meters underwater, the two Russian divers were swept away “beyond visibility to a significant depth.”

One of the divers, Maksim Melekhov, was found shortly after, floating on the surface with an empty tank and a fully inflated buoyancy control device.

Despite efforts to save him, including CPR and a transfer to a speedboat for transport to a hospital in Lopez Jaena, Batangas, he passed away.

Deluna Dive Center said the second diver, Ilya Peregudin, was spotted around 6 p.m. by the Philippine Coast Guard.

 “He was already deceased, and his body had suffered severe post-mortem injuries due to a shark attack. His dive gear was missing, seemingly torn off, with the harness straps likely bitten through by sharks,” the dive center said.

Deluna Dive Center apologized for the delay in the statement, saying it had been communicating with the divers’ families, coordinating with authorities, and working with the insurance company during “the most difficult time in our dive center’s 12 years of operation.”

It added: “We are fully cooperating with the authorities in their investigation and are actively working with the divers’ insurance company regarding the repatriation of the bodies to Moscow, as both divers were insured.”

It said it is also committed to full cooperation with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors  organization “and providing all possible support and assistance in the ongoing investigation.” — Jonathan de Santos, ABS-CBN News