UPDATE: Body of Missing Snorkeler Recovered off Kāʻanapali

Coast Guard Station Maui at Māʻalaea. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

(Update: 4:21 p.m. 8/8/13)

Maui police have since identified the body of a missing snorkeler found in waters off of West Maui this morning as Son Vo, 41, of Oakland California.

Police have classified the incident as a miscellaneous fatality, and say there were no signs of criminal activity surrounding Vo’s death. Family members have been notified of the incident.

(Update: 7:41 a.m. 8/8/13)

The body of a missing snorkeler was found and recovered this morning in waters off of West Maui, officials said.

Maui Fire Captain Bram DenHaan said the individual was located by crews aboard the department’s Air-1 helicopter, in waters off of Puʻu Kekaʻa or “Black Rock” in Kāʻanapali.

“The body was spotted about 30 feet below the surface and about 70 feet from the shore line just north of the Black Rock area near the Kāʻanapali Villas,” said Capt. DenHaan.

The 41-year-old California man was last seen departing from the Kāʻanapali Villas to snorkel in the ocean at around 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013, said Petty Officer Melissa McKenzie, public affairs specialist 3rd class. Authorities say he had a snorkel and mask, but no fins.

Family and friends tell authorities that the man failed to return after several hours, and he was reported missing by friends at 6:50 p.m.

Lahaina firefighters and a rescue squad from Kahului searched the immediate ocean and shoreline areas with their rescue boat for the missing swimmer last night.

The Coast Guard was notified at 7 p.m. and assisted with the search with their Cutter and helicopter. The search was suspended at 2 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8, and resumed at first light this morning.

At 6:10 a.m., the body was spotted by Air-1, and rescue divers from the Lahaina rescue boat made the recovery, said Capt. DenHaan. “There were no signs of life,” he said.

Crews assisting in the search included the Maui Fire Department’s shore and rescue boat, a rescue boat from Coast Guard Station Maui at Māʻalaea, a Cutter Cisca from the Coast Guard, and air assets from Air Station Barbers Point.

(7:09 a.m. 8/8/13)

The body of a missing snorkeler was found and recovered this morning in waters off of West Maui, officials said.

Maui Fire Captain Bram DenHaan said the individual was located by crews aboard the department’s Air-1 helicopter, floating in waters off of Puʻu Kekaʻa or Black Rock in Kāʻanapali.

The 41-year-old man was last seen departing from the Kāʻanapali Villas to snorkel in the ocean at around 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013, said Petty Officer Melissa McKenzie, public affairs specialist 3rd class.

Family and friends tell authorities that the man failed to return after several hours.

Crews assisting in the search included the Maui Fire Department’s shore and rescue boat, a rescue boat from Coast Guard Station Maui at Māʻalaea, a Cutter Cisca from the Coast Guard, and air assets from Air Station Barbers Point.

Further details are pending release.

(8/7/13)

Rescue crews from Maui and Oʻahu searched overnight for a California man reported missing in waters off of Kāʻanapali on Wednesday afternoon.

The 41-year-old man was last seen departing from the Kāʻanapali Villas to snorkel in the ocean at around 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013, said Petty Officer Melissa McKenzie, public affairs specialist 3rd class.

Family and friends tell authorities that the man failed to return after several hours. He was last seen wearing black board shorts with red, white, and blue stripes, a dark mask and snorkel.

Crews assisting in the search include the Maui Fire Department’s shore and rescue boat, a rescue boat from Coast Guard Station Maui at Māʻalaea, a Cutter Cisca from the Coast Guard, and air assets from Air Station Barbers Point.