HONOLULU — The Coast Guard rescued three missing divers near Penguin Bank, Molokai, Monday.
HONOLULU — The Coast Guard rescued three missing divers near Penguin Bank, Molokai, Monday.
The divers were located at 4 p.m. six miles from their original location by a Coast Guard 45-foot response boat from Coast Guard Station Honolulu. They brought the divers aboard, confirmed they had no injuries and delivered them to their original vessel, according to the Coast Guard. The crew escorted the recreational vessel safely to Hawaii Kai.
The Sector Honolulu command center received a call at 11:20 a.m. from the operator of a 20-foot cuddy cabin vessel stating he was diving with three friends near Penguin Bank when their vessel began to drift away. The three missing divers waited on the surface of the water while the operator recovered the vessel. After recovering the vessel and returning to their previous location, he could not find his companions.
Weather conditions were reported as northeast winds at 10 mph with seas up to 3 feet and 10 miles of visibility.
“The Coast Guard advises all divers to have a dive buoy, signaling device, and reflective equipment,” said Lt. Kevin Edes, command center chief at Sector Honolulu. “This is an outstanding case where effective planning and diligent search efforts brought three people home safe to their families”