One of Three Missing Korean Divers in Cebu Found Dead

CEBU, PHILIPPINES – A 45-year-old Korean diver, who was one of the three divers who went missing last Sunday, was found dead near the shore off Camotes Island, Cebu, Wednesday morning.

The body of Heo Seung Yung, 45, was found near a resort in Camotes Island past 6 a.m. Wednesday, more than 12 hours after his two companies were found alive at sea.

Those who were found alive floating in the waters were identified as Baek Seung Kyoon, 34, a diving instructor, and his student Kim Eun, 31. They were found by local fishermen and policemen separately in Barangay Himensulan, San Francisco, Camotes Island Tuesday afternoon.

Kim was found floating by a local fisherman who was about to fish off Sitio Pantudlan, San Francisco, Barangay Himensulan around 1:45 p.m. Wednesday while Baek was washed ashore along a private resort, not far from where Kim Eun was found. He was discovered by the caretaker and on-duty guard of the resort.

The three dove at past 11 a.m. Sunday but failed to surface an hour later. Divers are considered missing when they fail to surface an hour after diving, said disaster officer Andy Berame.

Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary-7 head Simplicio Gilig Jr. said the divers were carried away by the strong current to the north after diving in Punta Engaño.

The Koreans are reportedly technical divers, who are allowed to dive beyond 50 meters or 130 feet deep into the sea.

More than 20 Korean technical divers, personnel of Naval Forces Central and Coast Guard personnel worked together to search for the three for two consecutive days. – BusinessNewsAsia.com