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Five men charged with shipwreck looting in the Philippines

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Five men from Bataan province  in the Philippines have been charged with looting an underwater shipwreck which the Subic diving community considers a historical treasure.

The unlicensed salvage operations took place about 200 meters from the shoreline of Grande Island, prompting the police to charge Danilo Casapao, Junel Rivera, Armando Salazar, Manuel Casapao and Michael Eduarte, all from Barangay (village) Mabayo in Morong town.

Police caught the suspects picking through a wrecked ship near Grande Island on the 20th March; however, police released them for lack of evidence.

Scott Sharpe, president of the Subic Bay Divers Association, said the suspects may have been looting a “sister ship” of the vessel, San Quinten, which is considered the oldest sunken shipwreck on Subic Bay.

“That wreck might be a turn of the century sister ship to the San Quinten that sank along with another Spanish gunboat,” Sharpe said. He said the looted wreck needs to be examined by the National Museum.

Police said they found compressors, barrels, several hoses that are estimated to reach 100 feet in depth, and a diesel engine, which they said the suspects used to loot the wreck.

In a report, Lt. Jan Terazona, station commander of the Philippine Coast Guard in Subic, Zambales, said his office had not issued the suspects a salvage permit, so they were not authorized to secure artifacts from the sunken shipwrecks.

Sharpe said divers from the Arizona Dive Shop and from his organization discovered the looting on the 19th March when they found lifting ropes, blue barrels, an anchor chain and large timber planks in the water.

Edmund Cardozo, a diver of  Ocean Adventure Marine Theme Park, also saw the looting. Cardozo said he took photographs of the items that the suspects allegedly used to lift an anchor from the wreck.

The seabed of Subic Bay is home to a number of historical shipwrecks, which also serve as recreational dive sites.

Source: www.newsinfo.inquirer.net

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GEAR REVIEW: JOBY SeaPal Underwater Housing for iPhone and Samsung Galaxy (Watch Video)

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In a video shot exclusively for Scubaverse.com, Jeff Goodman reviews the JOBY SeaPal underwater housing for iPhone and Samsung Galaxy phones.

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Four opportunities to go pro in 2024 with Dive Friends Bonaire

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Dive Friends teaches the Instructor Development Course (IDC) several times a year to students who are eager to share their passion for diving with the world.

Dive Friends is known for the personal approach throughout the course. Their in-house course director will lead the students through every essential step, mentoring them to achieve their fullest potential as a dive instructor.

Applications for the following IDC start dates are now open:

  • 12 April
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Partnership with Casita Palma

If the student opts for the IDC-Deluxe or IDC-Supreme package, their accommodation will be arranged for them at Casita Palma. This small and quiet resort is within walking distance from Dive Friends Bonaire’s main dive shop location and has everything you need to relax after an intense day of IDC training. Breakfast is included, so the student will always be fuelled and ready for their day.

Contact Dive Friends Bonaire’s Course Director Eddy for more information: coursedirector@divefriendsbonaire.com.

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