One dead, one missing in separate incidents - Hawaii

[DandyDon]

News media in some locations use the word "diver" for scuba, free diving, and snorkeling, as well as other means. It's often difficult to know which was used.

Maui: Body of Diver Recovered in P??ia Waters | Maui Now

The body of a Maui man was recovered from waters in Pāʻia late Friday night.
Maui police have since identified the man as Linho Pelep, 32, of Kahului.
Firefighters from the Pāʻia Fire Station responded to the report of a missing diver at around 11:02 p.m. on Friday, June 20, 2014.
Police say he was diving with friends, who called authorities when they could not locate him.
The diver was located approximately 25 yards offshore near the Mantokuji Soto Zen Mission in Pāʻia, said Maui Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga.
Officials say fire personnel swam out and retrieved the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Oahu: Two separate cases of missing divers on Oahu | KHON2

The Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) reports two separate instances of missing divers Saturday afternoon.
The first call came in at 2:44 p.m. for a 56-year-old man missing somewhere between Yokohama and Mokuleia.
The diver started with a companion on the Mokuleia side, the both of them coming around Kaena Point.
But the two got separated and a 911 call was made by the companion once on shore.
HFD rescue boats were launched from the Waianae and Haleiwa boat harbors. An air rescue was also instigated.
One of the boats found a floater and spear attached together about a mile-and-a-half northwest of Kaena Point. They were confirmed to be the missing diver’s.
The Coast Guard was requested to join the search, which will continue until sundown.
The second missing diver call came in from Tracks Beach at 3:33 p.m.
The diver was with a partner, both using snorkel and fins. The distress call was made after the two became separated.
In this case, the diver was located at 4:55 p.m., and with no injuries.

 

[DandyDon]

It seems the one off of Ka'ena Point was free diving. They recovered his body.

Body of missing free diver recovered near Turtle Bay | Hawaii Reporter

HONOLULU — The Coast Guard has recovered the body of a missing free diver approximately 10 miles offshore of Turtle Bay. Nicholas Spotkaeff was located by a good Samaritan who was boating offshore.
The good Samaritan contacted local authorities and a Coast Guard 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew was diverted to the scene.
The body was was recovered and transported back to Haleiwa Harbor where local emergency medical personnel were waiting.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family members during this extremely difficult time," said Capt. Shannon Gilreath, Coast Guard Sector Honolulu commanding officer. "Our gratitude goes out to all those involved in the search who helped bring it to closure."
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Honolulu received a report from crewmembers at Ocean Safety regarding the missing 56-year-old male free diver who was last seen swimming with his son in the vicinity of Ka'ena Point, Saturday.
The son lost sight of his father when he was on shore and the father was approximately 100 yards north of Ka'ena Point.
An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, the crew of the 87-foot Coast Guard Cutter Kittiwake, homeported here, a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew from Coast Guard Station Honolulu and crews from Ocean Safety and the Hawaii Fire Department searched for the man.

 

[bshmerlie]

This may be a stupid newbie question but what do you guys think happened to these people? I mean....what are some of the possibilities?

 

[DandyDon]

This may be a stupid newbie question but what do you guys think happened to these people? I mean....what are some of the possibilities?

An all too common risk for free divers is what is often called Shallow Water Blackout, but this discussion calls it Deep water blackout. The description for the later term fits: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shallow_water_blackout#Surface_blackout

Several other possibilities. He might have surfaced and exhaled just as a wave overcame him causing a laryngospasm among other speculations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laryngospasm