Posted by Ken Kurtis on May 09, 2001 at 13:33:49:
Since I mentioned it earlier, I thought I should post the story on the Japanese double fatality. This comes from the Manila Times (newspaper) via Michael Blitch on rec.scuba.
- Ken
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2 Japanese divers die off Siquijor
By Xavier A. Pagarido, Visayas News Bureau
CEBU CITY—Two Japanese professional divers who were declared missing
over the weekend were found dead Sunday off Siquijor Island, about 140
kilometers south of here.
The two, who were retrieved by fellow divers from a depth of 80
meters, were identified as Migume Kono, 28, a dive instructress and
Yoshimasa Shiotani, 48, a diving course director of the Professional
Association of Diving Instructors (PADI).
Members of the Joyous Marine Club, a local divers group led by
Ryoshiro Igima, recovered the body of the victims Sunday noon, exactly
a day after they plunged into an 80-meter deep dive in the seawaters
off Siquijor Island.
The victims were part of a group of local divers from Sta. Monica
beach resort based in Dumaguete City, in nearby Negros Occidental.
Sources said they failed to reach the surface after their oxygen tanks
lost air. The gauge of their oxygen tanks showed that these were
empty.
Ramon Moreno, 48, a member of Igima’s recovery team said that they
retrieved the two bodies lying on their side. Their dive computer
equipment indicated an 80.1-meter deep for Kuno and 80.8-meter-deep
for Shiotani.
Moreno said he noticed that Kuno was already uncomfortable upon
reaching the 50-meter-deep, prompting him to signal Shiotani to abort
the dive and go back to the surface.
But the victims apparently did not heed the call as they reportedly
continued to reach the 70-meter deep limit, until they disappeared.
Rescuers did not immediately retrieve the bodies as the seawater was
too dark and murky on Saturday.
The remains of the victims now lie in state at the Eternal Funeral
Homes in Dumaguete City. Funeral homes officials, in a long distance
interview yesterday said Shiotani’s wife and Kuno’s father arrived
yesterday to claim their remains.
There was a full moon during the weekend, which divers say, indicates
exceptionally strong currents.
In Puerto Gallera, boatmen had to rescue two divers who were brought
by strong currents to open waters. Diving guides in the area said the
lack of a wind saved the divers, as seas off Mindoro island are
usually rough.