Personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s and fire departments and Baywatch continued searching Wednesday for a woman who went missing while scuba diving off Catalina Island.
The crew of the Sundiver Express reported the diver missing just before noon Tuesday, about three miles off the Isthmus Cove section of the island near Ship Rock, an area popular with divers.
A lifeguard dive team was conducting a search along with Baywatch and sheriff’s department units and U.S. Coast Guard personnel, according to Lifeguard Specialist Lidia Barillas of the Lifeguards Division of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
The Coast Guard sent a 45-foot patrol boat, a helicopter and the cutter Narwhal to assist in the search for the woman, whose name was not released. She was described as being about 45 years old and wearing a black suit and white tank, according to SandraKay Kneen of the Coast Guard.
Divers are reminded to:
— never dive alone;
— know equipment and make sure it’s been serviced;
— dive within one’s abilities; and
— make a plan and tell someone about it so authorities can be alerted if a problem arises.
—Staff and wire reports