Body of Missing Diver Found near Santa Cruz Island

The following press release is from the United States Coast Guard:

The body of a missing 50-year-old diver was found on the north side of Santa Cruz Island, Calif., at 4:15 p.m. Friday afternoon. The man was reported missing from the 22-foot dive boat Coram Deo at about 12:20 p.m.

The body was discovered by fellow snorkelers from the Coram Deo and retrieved in a joint effort by Los Angeles county divers and two Coast Guard patrol boats.  The missing diver was brought to Coast Guard Station Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard, Calif., on a 47-foot patrol boat.  Upon his arrival, medical personnel pronounced him deceased.

The search was a coordinated effort by the National Parks Service, first responders from Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties, two Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles helicopter crews, Station Channel Islands Harbor, the Coast Guard Cutter Dorado, and Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach.

The name of the diver is being withheld until the Santa Barbara Sherriff’s department can notify the next of kin.

The Coram Deo returned to its home port in Santa Barbara, Calif.