The diver Lucas Belarmino Ribeiro uses the depths of the Rio Grande reservoir, located between Rifaina (SP) and Sacramento (MG), as a source of income, dedicating himself to recovering belongings lost by bathers and visitors in the area.
His weekly routine consists of going to the riverbanks by quad bike to start searching for submerged items, such as jewelry and mobile phones. Lucas reported that many situations are funny because people lose objects and do not always believe in the possibility of recovery, but he does the job to prevent the weekend of the visitors from being spoiled.
The professional gained visibility on social media after voluntarily participating in the recovery of goods from the victims of a chalana shipwreck on the Rio Grande that occurred two weeks ago. During this operation, Lucas dived and managed to rescue more than twenty pairs of sunglasses, six cell phones, and several keys, returning everything to the owners who had managed to escape the accident.
'Nautical hunter' profession
This activity, started a few years ago, requires planning, investment, and specialized technique to deal with the dark waters of the reservoir. To meet the requests of those who lost something in the water, Lucas acquired complete professional equipment. Each dive requires the use of an oxygen cylinder, which offers approximately an hour and a half of autonomy, as well as weights attached to the body to maintain submersion and a specific thermal suit to resist the low temperatures of the depths.
In the search areas, the river depth can exceed twenty meters. To locate objects mixed with mud and aquatic vegetation, the diver uses a metal detector. Among the various glasses and electronic devices found, many are still functional when retrieved; Lucas also registers high-value finds, such as a 60-gram gold chain valued at fifty thousand reais.
He mentioned that he posts valuable items on his social media. On another occasion, he found a drone, which was aired out, and its owner located it through the video, resulting in a negotiation and delivery of the object. To maximize the chances of success in the rescue, the nautical hunter advises people to indicate the exact point where the object fell, providing clear reference points, such as a building or a jet ski, to aid in location.
Chalana shipwreck on the Rio Grande
The incident that motivated the diver's action happened on October 11th, in Rio Grande, a tourist destination known for its ranches and inns, located between Rifaina (SP) and Sacramento (MG). The chalana was transporting 22 people, including family and friends of pilot José Eduardo Goulart de Andrade, when it began to sink progressively.
Upon noticing the tilt and the ingress of water, the driver acted promptly, ensuring that all occupants wore life jackets and directing the vessel closer to the shore before the engine stopped working. All 22 people managed to get out unharmed, either by swimming to the coast or receiving assistance from boat and jet ski drivers who were in the area during the holiday trip.
Samu and Fire Department teams were called to provide assistance, but no passenger required medical care. The pilot stated that the vessel's documentation was in order and suspects that the sinking was caused by water infiltration into one of the flotation tubes. The Tietê-Paraná River Captaincy, belonging to the Brazilian Navy, sent experts to the site and initiated an Administrative Inquiry into Accidents and Navigation Facts (IAFN) to investigate the causes and responsibilities of the event.