Korean diver found dead, one still missing

The body of the South Korean diver was found
near Tingloy Island, near Maricaban, Batangas

Batangas City—A Philippine Coast Guard-led searcha team has found the body of one of two technical Korean divers reported missing over the weekend off Barangay Mapating in Maricaban Island, Batangas last Saturday.

According to the reports from  the Philippine Coast Guard on Sunday, the body identified as and Bae Jiun, 34, a South Korean technical diver. Bae Jiun was with his fiance Kim Jun Ho, 45 when they went diving. Kim Jun Ho’s body is yet to be retrieved.

Bae Jiun’s body was located about 180 feet under the sea off Tingloy Island near Maricaban.

The two technical divers had undergone training that would have enabled them to dive to depths of up to 350 feet.

The two Koreans arrived in the country on November 23 and were guests of Dive 7000 Resort located in Barangay Bagalangit in Mabini town.

They went for a dive off Maricaban Island at around 7:57 a.m. Tuesday along with two more Korean nationals and a master diver from the resort.

They reportedly reached a depth of 43 meters but  failed to resurface after several hours. The retrieval operation started at around 1 p.m. Friday.

Bae Jiun's remains were brought to Anilao Fish Port in Mabini and transferred to Fernando Funeral Homes in Lipa City. (Mei Magsino, SLI)