Cebu Daily News / Metro

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/metro/view_article.php?article_id=213302

Diver’s death linked to lack of markers Cebu Daily News Posted date: July 01, 2009 DIVE shops and jetski operators were warned yesterday to strictly implement precautionary measures to avoid sea accidents or they would lose their business permits. The warning came from Lapu-Lapu City Administrator Teodulo Ybanez after the June 25 accident where a female Japanese diver was hit and killed by a speedboat owned by a Korean off the seas of Punta Engaño. Police yesterday said a complaint of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide would be filed against Antonio Cahilig, who was driving the speedboat. SPO2 Rolito Jumao-as, investigator, said there was no dive floater or warning marker in the area where the victim, Etsuko Kosaka, 52, and other Japanese divers were diving. Jumao-as said the dive shop owner, Reji Toda of Blue World Collection and Dive Shop, would file the criminal complaint because Kosaka’s relatives could not attend the trial of the case. Kosaka was surfacing from a dive with other Japanese divers when her head was hit by the propeller of a passing speedboat. Several sea accidents involving foreign tourists could be traced to the lack of safety measures adopted by dive shop operators, according to administrator Ybañez. Last March 8, two Chinese tourists drowned while diving near Olango Island. Ybanez said it is a standard operating procedure that dive shop operators should provide floating warning signs or buoys in the area where their clients would dive. Ybanez said the Lapu-Lapu city government could cancel business permits of dive shops if operators still don’t adopt measures to prevent diving accidents involving tourists. /Correspondent Chris A. Ligan