Hunt for missing diver in shark-infested waters as gear found with 'bite marks'

Hunt for missing diver in shark-infested waters as gear found with 'bite marks' Carlos Aquea Álvare disappeared after heading for a routine dive at Caleta Chañaral, Chile, last Saturday - search crews have now made a disturbing discovery Teams looking for a missing diver have made a grim discovery after some of his equipment was found with “bite marks”. Carlos Aquea Álvarez headed out for a routine dive off Caleta Chañaral, Chile, last Saturday before disappearing. His wife reported him missing to police in Coquimbo several hours later after the 46-year-old failed to contact her. A search operation was mounted and crews on land, sea and air set out to hunt for traces of Carlos on Sunday. Since then, teams have found several items believed to belong to Carlos. A white Nissan Terrano pickup truck was found on land, while fins and a harpoon were retrieved from the sea. Disturbing new details have now emerged suggesting possible bite marks were found on some of the items. Dr Cristián Araya-Jaime of the University of La Serena told local media: “There is some evidence in the equipment found that may be linked to the fisherman, particularly the fins, which have some very unusual marks. Unfortunately, they could suggest that he was involved in an incident with sharks.” There are more than 100 species of sharks, rays and chimaeras in Chilean waters. Dr Neiti Morales, a researcher at the Centre for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands and the Fisheries Development Institute, is more cautious. She said: “Sharks have teeth packed closely together, almost side by side, so I’d expect to see a more continuous line of marks. And, of course, sharks don’t have arms, so they bite with their heads. Usually, they tear a chunk out.” Capt. Cristián González of the Maritime Authority said: “As for the cause, we’re not ruling out any possibility.” Carlos, a civil construction engineer from the Coquimbo region, also works as a commercial diver and has nearly 30 years’ diving experience. He began diving as a child and was given his first mask and snorkel by his parents aged seven. A keen spearfisher, he became Chilean national champion in 2024 before going on to win the Pan-American title. He and his wife have young children.