MV Thomas Aquinas, an inter-island ferry was in a collision late Friday- Aug. 16th with the MV Sulpicio Express Siete. Footage shows one of the ferry's starboard side entrance that leads to the passenger accommodations. The wreck is laying on its left side (portside), and its right side (starboard) deck is accessible from a depth of 23 meters. The bottom is around 45 meters.
The filipinocavedivers team (FCD) headed by Jake Miranda (and the team composed of Lyndon Cubillan, Carmichael Esperitu and Bernil Gastardo) dived the area at 6:30am on Aug.19th to take videos of the wreck's point of impact and of the bunker oil leaking out. The videos taken were used to assist the succeeding divers expand their awareness of hazard points, oil leak sites and of areas where victims can be recovered from.
The inside of the wreck is a dark maze and the jumble of debris can easily entangle divers. Overhead environment training and experience is required if one is to proceed inside the wreck.
On this day, the objectives of the dive was achieved safely. Additionally, the team recovered 1 victim from the wreck, thereby helping a family put a closure in their search for a loved one.
Search and recovery work on the wreck will not be finished soon. At present, there are still around 70 missing people. And the oil spill needs to be controlled, contained and removed. It's a big mess out there... a tragic, terrible and an avoidable mess.