Australian diver missing in PNG

[DandyDon]

Australian diver missing in PNG - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

43 minutes ago

Grave fears are held for the safety of an Australian man who vanished while on a diving trip in Papua New Guinea.

Melbourne lawyer Paul Duggan failed to return from a scuba dive off New Hanover island in the country's far north-east yesterday.

Police say the 58-year-old became separated from his companions while diving in Mascot Channel, and was noticed missing after a head count in the afternoon.

The dive operator, Lissenung Island Resort, and his fellow divers searched the area yesterday and again this morning without success.

Locals in canoes are helping with the search.

Police say Mr Duggan is a certified and experienced diver.

He is in PNG working as an adviser to the solicitor-general's office as part of AusAID's Strongim Gavman program to strengthen government agencies.