Though the Korean divers who went missing were ultimately responsible for their decision to go to sea in bad weather, was there something the owner of the New Grand Bleu Diving Resort or the Lapu-Lapu City government or even barangay officials could have done to prevent them?
Out of concern for their safety, if not prudence to avoid a blackeye for Cebu tourism.
The divers may have been expert practitioners but Baek Seung Kyoon, Heo Seung Yung and Kim Eun took a big risk when they explored the underwater world off Punta Engano with a gale warning up.
READ: Koreans missing hours after dive | Big waves slow down search for 3 Korean divers; dive shop closed
The resort owner Andy Kim said the three were made to sign a waiver which presumably absolved the resort management of any liability should something happen to them, a common practice for any establishment that specializes in outdoor recreation or extreme sports like diving.
When interviewed by the media, Andy Kim said he trusted that the three Koreans knew what they were doing because they are technical divers. They had brought several oxygen tanks with them.
But were they sufficiently alerted by hosts of the dangers of pursuing a pastime in those conditions?
After this episode, Mactan resorts have to be more vigilant.
The cost involved is not just the safety of a guest, but the reputation of Cebu’s tourism industry and the scale of an all-out search and rescue operation that involves the Coast Guard, the Navy, the Lapu-Lapu city government and volunteer divers from various quarters.
All that because a few foreign guests were being foolhardy about diving instead of waiting for better weather conditions.
Andy Berame, a professional diver who happens to head the Lapu-Lapu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, said that while the heavy air tanks may not matter underwater for the Koreans, deep sea diving is not a good idea in extreme weather even if one is fully equipped for the activity.
“You only go deep sea diving under extreme weather (strong waves, water current) when you are doing rescue missions or recovering someone or something,” he said.
The 3 divers weren’t alone according to fisherman Alberto Dano, who spotted them in the company of other divers when they swam in the waters of Punta Engano.
Though Baek Seong Kyoon and Kim Eun survived, they won’t easily forget the ordeal of floating adrift for more than 50 hours in the water, and being swept away to Camotes Islands.
The death of their compatriot Heo Seung Yung makes this a permanent tragic memory.
Lapu-Lapu City has set out to build its reputation as a resort-heritage destination. This goal will be diminished by foolhardy accidents like this.
The city should seriously look into policies that require resorts to be more pro-active about safety and even impose restrictions on guests against diving in Mactan if weather conditions make it dangerous.
It’s time to put a premium on safety for guests who may not know what they are getting into.
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