Body of Missing Diver Recovered from Ma’alaea

File Photo of Maalaea Harbor by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

The body of a missing 35-year-old diver on Maui was recovered during a search of waters near Ma’alaea on Saturday morning, October 27, 2012, officials said.

Firefighters from Kahului responded to Haycraft Park for reports of a missing diver last seen at around 3 a.m.

Upon arrival at 4:22 a.m., authorities said crews from Engine 10 did a shoreline search fronting the beach park and extending north and south for a mile in either direction.

When nothing was found on the shoreline, rescue jet ski 10 was launched from Ma’alaea Harbor from the point the missing diver was last seen, said Maui Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga.

During the search, authorities received word that the Quicksilver commercial ocean craft spotted the diver floating face-down in the ocean about a half-mile from shore fronting the beach park at around 5:15 a.m., said Mainaga.

According to incident reports, Rescue 10’s jet ski met up with the vessel to retrieve the victim and transport him to the Ma’alaea boat ramp.

There, Medics did an initial observation on the victim and pronounced him dead at scene, said Mainaga.

Other crews responding to the scene included the Maui Fire Deartment’s Engine 10, Rescue 10 and Battalion Chief 2.