Motor banca capsizes near Capitancillo Islet; PCG rescues divers, banca’s crew members

Local and foreign divers were unharmed after the motor banca which they boarded while island hopping capsized near Capitancillo Islet in Bogo City. /PCG-7 Photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Philippine Coastguard in Central Visayas (PCG-7) rescued 20 local and foreign divers and three crew members after the motor banca which they boarded capsized near Capitancillo Islet in Bogo City in northern Cebu earlier today, July 8.

A spot report released by PCG-7 said that the divers consisted of Americans – 5, Filipinos -4, Germans – 3, Spanish -2, Australian -1, Swiss -1, Hong Kong National -1, Israeli -1, Italian – 1 and Canadian – 1.

PCG-7 also rescued the motor banca’s skipper who was identified as Benargin Pepito and his crew members Jareb Conia and Darell Ansali.

Read More: Boat capsizes while on Bogo City waters; PCG rescues 13 divers, 3 crew members

Initial report reaching PCG-7 says that the divers were on board motor banca “Thresher Shark” when their vessel capsized while on the waters of Bogo City near Capitancillo Islet, a small coral island that was earlier declared a protected marine sanctuary.

The PCG-7 report said that they received information from the Coast Guard Station in San Remegio town on the sinking at around 11:50 a.m. today.

It says that the divers left Malapascua Island to go island hopping.  The group included three foreign and one local dive instructors.

Coast Guard personnel in San Remegio town immediately sent a rescue team to look for the divers and the banca’s skipper and crew members.

Rescue operation was completed before noon time with no reported injuries but PCG is yet to determine the cause of the sinking.