Two divers, Navy officer, die in Maitum drowning

MAITUM, SARANGANI PROVINCE — A routine diving activity turned fatal after two divers, one of them an active member of the Philippine Navy, were found dead in the waters off Barangay Mindupok, Maitum, on Monday, 4 August.

The victims were identified as Faith B. Aranaydo, 50, a Navy officer stationed at Sangley Point in Cavite, and Vigor Z. Anot, 48, a married civilian diver. Both were part of a team conducting a recreational site diving survey about 1.2 nautical miles from the shore.

According to the Maitum Municipal Police Station, the incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. Their diving companions, George L. Villazurda, a retired Philippine Navy officer from Bukidnon, and Rolando C. Bacani, a diver from Cavite City, reported the incident.

The police report stated that Anot and Aranaydo went missing during the dive. After an hour of unsuccessful attempts to locate them, Villazurda and Bacani mounted a search and retrieval operation using a motorized boat. The victims were eventually found floating and unresponsive at the dive site, with bloated bodies, suggesting possible drowning.

They were immediately brought to the Sarangani Provincial Hospital – Maitum but were declared dead on arrival by attending physician Dr. Ian Minion.

Initial findings point to shortness of breath underwater as a likely cause of the incident, but authorities are still conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances.

The Maitum Police Station urged all diving groups to prioritize safety protocols, especially when venturing into deep waters.