HONOLULU — Coast Guard and Hawaii Fire Department are searching for an overdue diver off Pohoehoe Beach, Big Island, Sunday.
An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point launched and is searching the surrounding areas. The crew from Coast Guard Cutter Kiska is also en route to assist in the search.
The Hawaii Fire Department is also searching with helicopter, rescue boat and ground crews. An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast has been issued alerting mariners in the area to keep a sharp lookout and report any sightings to the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu command center.
Anyone with information that may help locate the diver is asked to contact the Sector Honolulu command center at 808-842-2600.
The initial call was made to Hawaii Fire Department by a good samaritan who is an experienced diver. The good samaritan said the man was Caucasian, looked to be in his early 20s, about 150 pounds with red hair. He is reportedly wearing blue board shorts and a white rash guard with blue lettering. The man was last seen at 12:40 p.m. leaving the beach to swim out to the farthest rocks with fins, a mask, diving gear and a back up regulator.
The good samaritan watched since the diver was going out alone, did not have a float or any safety gear and noticed, based on experience, the diver only had enough air for a maximum of 80 minutes. After two hours, the good samaritan reported the diver overdue to Hawaii Fire Department who relayed the report to watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Honolulu command center at 2:11 p.m.
Weather conditions are currently reported as 10 mph winds with waves at 2 feet and approximately 6 miles of visibility.