Woman who died after jump ID’d as petty officer in Navy

A Navy sailor died Sunday after jumping into the ocean at Spitting Cave, a popular cliff-jumping spot, near the Portlock area of Hawaii Kai.

She was the second Navy sailor to die there in the past two months.

The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Shannon Nunez, a 22-year-old enlisted sailor from Patrol Squadron (VP-4) based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kane­ohe Bay.

Nunez was swimming with friends Sunday at the scenic spot at the end of Luma­hai Street at about 1:30 p.m. She got into trouble after jumping off the ledge some 60 feet and got carried away by the strong currents.

Honolulu firefighters and Ocean Safety personnel located the victim and brought her back to shore at Mau­na­lua Bay, where she was pronounced dead by paramedics. An autopsy will be conducted to determine cause of death

Nunez, a Whittier, Calif., native, was serving as a petty officer and an aircraft mechanic, the Navy said in a statement. She reported to VP-4 in February. Previously she was stationed at VP-30 in Jacksonville, Fla., from 2012 to 2014, and attended training at several commands in Pensacola, Fla., and Great Lakes, Ill.

"This is a tragic loss for our Navy family," said Rear Adm. Rick Williams, commander of Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific. "This tragedy reminds each of us of the need to heighten awareness and practice greater safety on and off duty."

Cmdr. Brett Thompson, commanding officer of VP-4, said: "Petty Officer Nunez’s loss is a devastating impact to the Skinny Dragon ohana.

"We share deeply in her family’s grief and extend our prayers and hearts to them."

Williams said, "Hawaii is a beautiful and special place, but there are inherent dangers in the surf, cliffs and trails." He continued, "I’ve called for service members and their families to refocus and practice ‘safety first’ — especially during the summer but throughout the year. We need to do everything we can to prevent another loss like this."

On April 5, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Greg­ory Spillman of Alexandria, Pa., was swept out to sea after jumping into the ocean at Spitting Cave.

Spillman enlisted in the Navy in 2012. He attended Hospital Corpsman "A" School at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, in January 2013 and the Field Medical Training Battalion at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

He was assigned to the clinic at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam in March 2013.

His wife, an active-duty sailor, is stationed at Great Lakes, Ill.

Spitting Cave is named for the white-water "spit" that occurs after waves roll into the cave, hit the back wall and then shoot back out.

Other reported Spitting Cave drownings have included Daniel Lowe, 27, of Cali­for­nia in October 2012; Glenn Cooke, 45, of Hono­lulu in June 2010; Navy Operations Specialist 3rd Class Zachary Ryan Johnson, 21, of Windsor, Colo., and assigned to USS Lake Erie, in March 2006; Stephen LeBlanc, 29, of West Wego, La., in July 2005; and Daren Kata­oka, 20, of Kapa­hulu in November 2000.