Solo diver missing - Makara, New Zealand

[DandyDon]

Police continue to search for diver missing off Makara, Wellington

Rescue teams are continuing to search for an overdue diver missing off the coast of Makara, on Wellington's western coast.

The 24-year-old from New Plymouth was thought to have been spear fishing alone off the rugged Wellington coastline and popular dive spot on Monday afternoon but did not return.

A search began for him late on Monday, then resumed on Tuesday morning.

Official searchers were joined by friends and family of the missing 24-year-old from New Plymouth. He was due to return from spear diving off Makara at 4pm on Monday.

The crew of the Wellington police maritime unit's Lady Elizabeth has recovered a number of items believed to belong to him, including a blue spear gun, a yellow diver's float, and a yellow catch bag.

The diver, who had been expected to return about 4pm on Monday, had been in the water just off Makara Beach, between Wharehou Bay and Pipinui Point.

His car was found at the beach.

Local boaties joined the search for the missing man, as residents set up a barbecue.

On Tuesday official searchers – the Westpac rescue helicopter, Lady Elizabeth, land searchers, and the police dive squad, were joined by locals in boats, as well as private divers.

Residents gathered to offer support, and a barbecue appeared. The local cafe owner came down with buttered scones and handed them around.

Police said they were continuing to liaise with the family on the progress of the search.

Family, friends and locals watched as the search continued throughout Tuesday.

A family member said on Tuesday afternoon that he wanted to thank all the search teams and volunteers who had helped so far.

The missing man was doing what he loved, he said.

The weather is calm, which is providing good search conditions.

 

[jfe]

Free diver? Sad news, would be interresting to know the outcome.

 

[DandyDon]

Body of missing diver found

 

[Bert van den Berg]

This is the sad local news.


Body of missing diver found off Wellington coast

 

[flyboy08]

Sad....to a certain extent, solo diving is an accident waiting to happen imho.....

 

[DevonDiver]

Solo diver.... was his qualification level?

Or he was just diving alone?

 

[Steve_C]

Don't see where they say whether he was a free diver or a scuba diver.

 

[Texasguy]

Sad....to a certain extent, solo diving is an accident waiting to happen imho.....

Tell more.

 

[DandyDon]

Don't see where they say whether he was a free diver or a scuba diver.

The news story was updated to say he was a free diver, spearfishing.

 

[dmaziuk]

Sad....to a certain extent, solo diving is an accident waiting to happen imho.....

Yep. Also, living is death waiting to happen.