Korean diver drowns off Panglao Island

PANGLAO, BOHOL, Philippines — Investigators found no foul play in the death of a 29-year-old Korean diver who was found dead at 27 meters underwater Tuesday morning in a dive spot of this island-town.

Ilho Park, a native of Seoul, Korea, had been known for his ability to hold his breath underwater for as long as 30 minutes and at depths of up to 30 meters.

At around 9:40 a.m. on April 17 (Tuesday), Park, together with a dive master and nine diving students, went to Bohol Divers’ Wreck—a dive spot about a few meters off the beach front of barangay Danao of this town.

According to the Tourist Police team who responded to the incident, Park dived with only a snorkel mask and paddle fins on and without any other breathing apparatus, confident of his ability to hold his breath longer than anybody underwater.

His companions started to worry when he no longer resurfaced, 30 minutes after going down.

One of the divers identified as Peter Cloa, a 27-year-old native of barangay Danao went underwater to check what happened to Park. He found the Korean at least 27 meters underwater, no longer moving.

Authorities believed Park drowned when he could no longer hold his breath. They rushed him to a hospital in Tagbilaran City in the mainland across Panglao Island, but doctors failed to revive him.