While his wife waited at home preparing for their third child, Khan Taeun Lee left the shore of a South Coast beach, while his sons played nearby.
Almost two weeks later, he hasn't been seen since.
The 39-year-old Canberra man had taken his two sons, 6 and 9, to the coast for their last visit before they welcomed a new sibling. He entered the water to snorkel and didn't return to the shore.
Police were called to the scene after 3.30pm on January 25 and soon began to search the area alongside Marine Rescue and Surf Life Saving NSW.
Bad weather conditions, dangerous surf and murky water have hampered the search, although police continue to comb local beaches - some as far as 30km south of Richmond Beach - for any sign of Mr Lee, divers have been unable to search the depths.
Distraught and waiting for answers, Mr Lee's family are in "emotional turmoil", his close friend Scott Park said.
"When I first heard, I froze," Dr Park said.
The search was called off on the evening of January 26 when a storm rolled in, but Dr Park and a friend drove from Canberra to the coast that night.
They scoured the beach in the middle of the storm and fell asleep in the car before police returned at dawn.
Last week, beach patrols were conducted at Malua Bay, Corrigans Beach and Batehaven. All areas are south of Batemans Bay and up to 30 kilometres from where the man initially went missing.
Police say a water search will resume when conditions improve.
Mr Lee has been described as a "hard-worker" who makes regular family trips to the South Coast with his family, "his only holiday" from his job as the manager of a commercial cleaning company.
"He really wanted to take his sons to the coast before baby number three arrived and then the sad thing is, his wife didn't go, she was about to give birth," Dr Park said.
"That's her biggest regret, that she didn't go with them."
Dr Park has launched a fundraising campaign, with the help of the Korean Association of Canberra, to support the family of the man who was well-known and respected within the community.
His disappearance has also thrown into doubt the family's application for permanent residency.
In less than 48 hours, Dr Park said the response has been extraordinary, with his initial target of $15,000 quickly exceeded. Almost $27,000 has been raised.
The campaign continues to support the distraught family who welcomed their third child on Friday.
