Missing for 2 Days in the Arafura Sea, 4 Divers and 1 Longboat Captain Found Safe

A longboat piloted by Alindo Pantolosan, carrying four divers, lost contact with the crew due to bad weather in the Aru Islands on Saturday (1/11/2025). The divers were found safe and sound. ANTARA/HO-Basarnas Ambon

AMBON - The Ambon Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), Maluku, reported that four divers and a longboat driver, previously reported missing in the waters off Toba Island, Aru Islands Regency, since October 31, 2025, have been found safe.

"This longboat accident began with Aliando Pantolosan (35), the driver of the longboat carrying four divers from Dobo, the capital of Aru Islands Regency, heading to Toba Waters on October 31, 2025, at around 4:00 p.m. Western Indonesian Time," said Muhammad Arafah, Head of the Ambon Basarnas Office, in Ambon, Antara reported on Sunday, November 2.

The four divers were identified as Stevlimangot (44), Yusuf Fordatkosu (39), Kevin Lewir (42), and Teddi Tuatanasi (45). They were scheduled to dive on November 1, 2025, at around 7:00 a.m. Western Indonesian Time.

According to Arafah, the dive proceeded as scheduled, with the four divers descending into the sea while Aliando waited on the longboat. However, the boat suddenly encountered bad weather, including strong winds and thick fog. As a result, Aliando lost his bearings and unknowingly drifted away from the dive site.

At around 1:00 PM Western Indonesian Time, the four divers returned to the surface but could not find their longboat. Fortunately, the divers were rescued by local fishermen.

Meanwhile, the whereabouts of Aliando and the longboat were unknown, prompting Basarnas to receive a report to launch a search operation.

"On November 1, 2025, at 4:40 PM Western Indonesian Time, the Aru Islands SAR Alert Unit Rescue Team moved using a RIB to the incident location at coordinates 5°22'55.51"S - 134°27'41.42"E, approximately 29.82 nautical miles northeast of the Dobo SAR Alert Unit," said Arafah.

Approximately one hour later, at 5:57 PM Western Indonesian Time, Basarnas received a report that the victim had been found safe by a joint SAR team and fishermen from Gulilit Village at coordinates 5°42'40.33"S - 134°12'32.49"E, 26.35 nautical miles southwest of the initial location of the incident.

"The victim's longboat was still functional and could be reused to continue the journey to Dobo with the divers," Arafah added.