Equipment belonging to a missing diver has been found with “bite marks” days after his disappearance.
Carlos Aquea Álvarez headed out for a routine dive off Caleta Chañaral, Chile, last Saturday (26 September).
His wife reported him missing to police in Coquimbo several hours later after the 46-year-old failed to contact her.
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A large-scale search operation by land, sea and air was launched the following day, as reported by Need To Know.
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 found at sea.
New details have now emerged suggesting that 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.”
Dr Neiti Morales, a researcher at the Centre for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands and the Fisheries Development Institute, however, 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, from the Coquimbo region, is a civil construction engineer and commercial diver with 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.
There are more than 100 species of sharks, rays and chimaeras in Chilean waters.
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