Body of Waipahu diver found yesterday morning

By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

A 49-year-old Waipahu diver was found dead early yesterday after overnight searches by Honolulu Fire Department rescuers.

The man had been diving with two friends off Kahala Avenue late Saturday evening, but became separated from his companions, said Fire Capt. Kenison Tejada.

His friends stood on the reef for almost an hour, waiting for him to surface. When he did not, they decided to see whether he had gone ashore.

They looked around on shore for another hour before calling 911.

The call was transferred to HFD at 11:21 Saturday night.

More than a dozen firefighters searched until shortly after 1 a.m., when rescuers decided poor visibility made further efforts fruitless and delayed searching until daybreak.

At shortly after 7 a.m. yesterday, as Rescue One, the HFD helicopter, was making its second pass over the area, rescuer spotted the man's body.

He was floating 10 to 15 feet off shore near 4377 Royal Place.

An autopsy is scheduled today to determine the cause of death.