Press Notice No: 130-09
Friday, May 01, 2009
Posted 16:50 GMT

Clyde Coastguard are currently co-ordinating a search for an overdue 62 year old male diver after a call from the dive vessel `Equinox in the Sound of Mull. The divers were exploring the wreck of the Thesis and the missing diver was last seen at around 14.00 hrs.

The initial call to the Coastguard came at around 14.25 this afternoon and the call indicated that the diver had become separated from his buddy diver in strong currents after about 30 – 40 minutes.

There are currently 3 vessels searching the area south of the position the diver entered the water covering 500 – 700 metres either side of the wreck.

Oban all weather lifeboat and a rescue helicopter R 177 from the Royal Naval Air Station at Prestwick have been called out to begin to search in the area. The Knock, Tobermory, Craignure and Ross of Mull Coastguard Rescue Teams were all called out to begin a shoreline search around the Scallastle Bay area and around the headland.

Divers are in the water conducting a search around the wreck. The visibility is around 3 – 5 metres on the seabed. Further vessels have now joined the search along the shoreline seaward. A complete search of the Sound has also been made with nothing found.

The missing diver was not wearing a rebreather and sea temperatures locally are between 7 – 8 degrees Celsius.

The weather on scene is calm with a seastate of 2 – 3, and winds from the north west.



Posted By: Mark Clark

For further details contact:
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Press Office
023 8032 9401