Update: 2013/01/05In an ongoing dive search operation today, Sunday, 05 January, the body of a missing 56 year old diver has been located and recovered, coordinated by Police divers with the assistance of Navy divers, WC Government Health EMS divers and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services divers.His body was located and recovered from in the wreck of the ROCKEATER at a depth of 34 meters.NSRI Simonstown assisted with on-scene support during the dive operation.The deceased man's body has been handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.Family are receiving support from Police and trauma counselors among others.Police have opened an inquest docket.NSRI and the emergency services express sincere condolences to the family of the deceased man. Enquiries SA Police Services Communications Western Cape. UPDATE:
UPDATE MISSING DIVER CAPE POINT:07h00 (Sunday, 05 January) NSRI Simons Town are continuing to assist Police at Smitswinkel Bay where a diver remains missing.A dive search, coordinated by Police divers and including Police, Fire and Rescue, Navy and WC Government Health EMS divers, is ongoing.This morning, Sunday, 05 January, NSRI Simons Town sea rescue craft joined the dive teams on the scene above the ROCKEATER wreck where the emergency dive teams are continuing the dive search.It has been confirmed that the missing 50 year old Cape Town man was recreational diving (open circuit diving - normal scuba diving, and not using re-breather diving apparatus as previously reported by NSRI) at the time and is suspected to have remained at the wreck after being separated by his dive 'buddies' during a dive on the wreck.Upon surfacing 3 divers from the group, on learning the status of the missing man, returned to the wreck to search.Thoughts are with the family and friends of the missing man.ORIGINAL RELEASE:At 11h47, Saturday, 4th January, NSRI Simons Town responded to Smitswinkel Bay, Cape Point, on the False Bay side, on the border of Cape Point, where a dive group reported one of their divers missing during what was a 34 meter dive, with scuba dive gear, on the
Rock Eater wreck at Smitswinkel Bay.A surface sea search by NSRI Simons Town, the Skymed helicopter, Police and Emergency Services, to rule out any possibility that the 50 year old, Cape Town diver, had drifted away on the sea surface has revealed no sign of the missing diver. The surface sea search continued while Police divers, WC Government Health EMS divers and Navy divers prepared to begin a dive search.The dive search is now under way and is being coordinated by Police divers.According to reports the divers, that the missing man was diving with, had dived on a second dive after they had surfaced and found their dive mate missing, but after not finding the man, during the second dive, they surfaced and raised the alarm.The divers involved were taken to the Simons Town Naval Base medical quarters to be checked for possible decompression illness and they remain under medical observation.Police have opened an investigation and a dive search is continuing.
Image: wikivillage.co.za
Searching for the missing diver.
