Search area expanded to 45 nautical miles for missing divemaster after Komodo boat sinking
Joint rescue teams have expanded their search operation to 45.29 nautical miles as they continue efforts to locate Veronica Beatrix Jessica, a 23-year-old diving instructor missing since a tourist vessel capsized near Komodo National Park on October 13.
The search for the Komodo National Park diving guide has been expanded
Search and rescue teams have expanded their operation to cover 45.29 nautical miles in waters around Komodo National Park as they enter the fourth day of efforts to locate a missing diving instructor following a tourist boat accident earlier this week.
Veronica Beatrix Jessica, a 23-year-old divemaster from Jakarta, remains missing after the wooden pinisi-style vessel KM Feronia capsized and sank on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at approximately 2:30pm near Tatawa Island. The 51-gross-tonne boat had departed Labuan Bajo Marina at 8:00am that morning carrying 30 people on a diving excursion to Manta Point.
Of the 30 people aboard, 29 were rescued, including 21 foreign tourists. Three foreign visitors sustained injuries during the incident. Jessica is the sole missing person from the accident.
Circumstances of the incident
According to witness statements provided to West Manggarai marine police, Jessica was believed to have been inside the vessel's toilet with the door locked when the boat encountered powerful swirling currents near Tatawa Besar. The currents caused the vessel to lose stability and capsize, potentially trapping her inside.
The search operation, which began immediately after the incident on October 13, has mobilized significant resources. By the second day, 63 personnel were involved in the effort, including divers from the Komodo Professional Divers Association (P3KOM), Indonesian maritime authorities, police, rescue personnel, and four of Jessica's friends from the local diving community.
Jessica had been working as a divemaster and dive instructor in Labuan Bajo for approximately five years, according to family members. Her experience and familiarity with the local waters underscore the challenging conditions that led to the accident.
Maritime safety concerns in the region
The incident highlights ongoing maritime safety challenges in the region. Between 2024 and 2025, 15 maritime incidents were recorded in waters close to or around Komodo National Park, mostly attributed to mechanical failure or extreme weather, according to maritime experts.
Labuan Bajo, the departure point for the vessel, has been designated as one of Indonesia's five super-priority tourism destinations since 2018. The coastal town serves as the main gateway to Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site established in 1980 that covers approximately 1,733 square kilometers including three larger islands and 26 smaller islands. The park hosts world-class diving operations that attract thousands of international visitors annually.
Indonesia's national search and rescue agency (Basarnas), which is conducting the expanded search operation, operates as a non-ministerial government institution directly responsible to the President. The agency handles search and rescue operations across Indonesia's vast territorial waters of 3.1 million square kilometers.
As the search continues into its fourth day, teams are focusing their efforts across the expanded search radius from the incident location near Bugis Island in the Komodo National Park waters.