Doctor-diver from Lapu-Lapu dies in Surigao river cave dive

CEBU, Philippines - A licensed medical doctor and known Cebuano diver died Tuesday morning while diving in an underground cave in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.

Doctor Alfonso Amores, 68, who is a resident in Lapu-Lapu City, died after he failed to exit the underground cave in Surigao del Sur's Enchanted River Underground Cave. This was due to the strong currents and him running out of oxygen.

According to Andy Berame, Lapu-Lapu City Task Force Kalikasan coordinator, Amores was with two other members of the Filipino Cave Divers for a documentary shoot inside the underground cave.

After eight hours of searching, the diver's body was recovered 40 meters down the underground cave. Berame said his remains arrived in Lapu-Lapu yesterday morning.

Amores is the older brother of the former Lapu-Lapu City vice mayor Mario Amores and left behind three children and his wife who just arrived from the United States yesterday morning.

Berame said the documentary shoot was supposedly for GMA-7's Born to be Wild.

The TFK coordinator narrated that the divers entered a small opening of the cave that allows one person at a time to go through it and Amores was the one who entered last.

Berame added that the Enchanted River Underground Cave is a challenging place for divers because they have to swim against the current to exit the cave.

Amores is the president and one of the founders of the Filipino Cave Divers who returned to the Philippines in 2001 and got his cave diving certification from the National Association of Cave Divers in Florida, USA.

According to official website of the Filipino Cave Divers, Amores discovered the Pawod Underwater Cave System in Lapu-Lapu in 2002.

The surgeon and environmentalist was the one who explored and promoted the underground cave in Hinatuan.

He also organized medical missions in Cebu and nearby provinces after practicing as a reconstructive surgeon in the United States for more than 30 years.

Berame said that he went diving with Amores last June 10 during the group's night dive in Kontiki off Barangay Maribago in Lapu-Lapu.  (FREEMAN)