Sea diving boards finally restored at Songdo Beach

Sea diving boards, which attracted attention in 1927 during the Japanese colonial period as Korea’s first and only such installation, have been restored to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opening of Songdo Beach.  
  

The opening ceremony for the diving boards was held on July 7.  With 500 million won in investment, two turtle-shaped sea diving boards have been installed 80 meters off the beach. Their shape is evocative of nearby Turtle Island. Beachgoers can enjoy diving from a 5-meter high mother turtle board and a 3-meter high baby turtle board.    

A photo taken in the 1920s shows the trapezoidal wooden diving board installed in the sea.  Another photo taken in the 1950s shows dozens of swimmers jam-packed on the board, illustrating its tremendous popularity.  

It was one of four attractions at Songdo Beach, along with a sea cable car, a swinging bridge, and pleasure boats. These made Songdo Beach the most popular summer vacation spot in Korea in the 1960s. The diving board was destroyed by Typhoon Thelma in 1987, and it has finally been replaced after 26 years.