Photog enthusiasts survive dynamite blast

PARTICIPANTS in the 1st Asian Underwater Federation Photography Championships had a harrowing encounter with dynamite fishers near the coast of barangay Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City last Saturday.

A group of Chinese participants reported to the organizers that dynamite fishers passed by their area while some of their fellow photography enthusiasts were underwater.

Benedict Reyes, the federation’s secretary general, said one of the Chinese participants shouted to one of the dynamite fishers, a man with an amputated arm, to stay away since there were divers underwater.

Instead the man threw a homemade explosive, causing the divers to surface immediately amid the explosion.  No one was hurt as the dynamite fishers sped away from the area.

Reyes said they already coordinated with the Lapu-Lapu City police on the case.

Senior Insp. Junnel Caadlawon of the tourist police said the Chinese group never coordinated with them concerning their activities last Saturday,

“If only they coordinated with police, then we could have provided them an escort either from the maritime police, the coast guard or from us,” he said.

Yesterday a Chinese national was rescued by sea marshals after being dragged by a strong underwater current during a familiarization tour of Lapu-Lapu City dive sites as part of the federation event.

The two-day event will start today in the various dive sites in Cebu. Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza