Three South Korean Divers Rescued After Drifting Toward Isla Verde in the Philippines

Three South Korean divers have been rescued after drifting away from their planned dive area near Puerto Galera in the Philippines and eventually being located off Isla Verde, Batangas.

The incident occurred on August 11, 2026, after the three divers entered the water to dive at Canyon Reef, near Barangay Sinandigan in Puerto Galera.

According to the Philippine Information Agency, the divers failed to surface within the expected timeframe following the dive. Their boat operator subsequently raised the alarm, prompting a search and rescue operation involving the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), local authorities and dive operators.

The PCG Sub-Station Puerto Galera coordinated the search, with assistance from the Philippine National Police Maritime Group, Puerto Galera Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and other local responders.

The search eventually moved toward Isla Verde, where the divers were located approximately 3.12 nautical miles northwest of Barangay San Agustin.

The rescue was assisted by two vessels. The M/V FastCat M19 spotted a flashing light and located one of the divers, a woman, while two male divers were subsequently located and rescued by Paradise Diving Boat 4.

All three divers were brought safely to Barangay Sabang, Puerto Galera, where they were assessed by personnel from the local disaster response office.

The divers were reported to be safe following the rescue.

The circumstances that caused the divers to become separated from their original dive area have not been established. The Philippine Coast Guard said an investigation was continuing, including examination of the circumstances surrounding the incident and maritime safety compliance.

The incident highlights the potential for divers to become separated from their support vessels, particularly when conditions change or divers are carried away from their intended location.

For dive operators and divers, the rescue also underlines the importance of appropriate surface support, diver accountability and reliable procedures for responding when a diver fails to return as expected.

The three South Korean divers survived the incident and were safely recovered thanks to the coordinated response of the Philippine Coast Guard, local authorities and nearby dive and maritime operators.