Melbourne man drowns at Nicaragua pool party

The family of a Melbourne man who drowned while on holiday in Nicaragua say they'll never know how the accident happened.

Ben Huntsman, 28, was taking part in the Sunday Funday pool party in San Juan del Sur on August 30 when he drowned in unknown circumstances, his mother Mary Dunkley-Allport told the Herald Sun.

"South America was on his bucket list. It's almost like he worked to save to travel and meet people. He just loved getting there and meeting people, because he was an inclusive person.

"Travel gave him the breadth and the experience that he wouldn't otherwise get in Melbourne," she said.

Her son, a chef, had posted an online message saying he was in love with Nicaragua only hours before his death.

Ms Dunkley-Allport said it was unclear how he died.

She said the family are working on bringing his body back to Australia for a funeral later this month.