The Coast Guard and Hawaii Fire Department are searching for a missing free diver off North Kohala. ADVERTISING The Coast Guard and Hawaii Fire Department are searching for a missing free diver off North Kohala. Watchstanders got a report at
The Coast Guard and Hawaii Fire Department are searching for a missing free diver off North Kohala.
Watchstanders got a report at 2:40 a.m. Thursday that the man had gone missing at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday near the end of Old Coast Guard Road, which is located on the Kona side of Hawi.
“Weather conditions are currently reported as northeast winds at 20-25 mph with seas up to 6 feet and good visibility. The disappearance of the diver does not appear to be connected to Wednesday night’s tsunami advisory as his disappearance took place several hours prior to the forecasted arrival of any earthquake generated waves or currents,” the Coast Guard wrote in a press release.
The watchstanders immediately alerted boaters in the area to keep a lookout and report any sightings. They also dispatched a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter to begin the search.
The Coast Guard cutter Ahi was also dispatched to the area from its base in Honolulu.
The search was joined by fire department dive teams, a rescue boat and helicopter crews. A HC-130 Hercules was also expected to join the search Thursday morning.
The Dolphin Crew arrived and found a submerged dive light, but it is undetermined if the man was in the area at the time. Fire department divers recovered the light and a fishing spear, but the diver remains missing.
Anyone with information that may help locate the diver is asked to contact the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Command Center at 842-2600.
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