Search fails to find diver missing in sea off Kahala

A search is expected to resume this morning for a New York man who disappeared during a scuba dive Monday morning about a half mile off Waialae-Kahala.

Fire and Coast Guard crews, city lifeguards and dive tour company personnel searched most of Monday for the man, a fire official said. The Coast Guard continued to search past sundown.

The tour company had taken divers from Hawaii Kai Marina to a sunken wreck known as "Baby Barge."

When the group surfaced about 9 to 9:30 a.m., a man in his 20s was missing, Fire Capt. Terry Seelig said.

The dive company, Island Divers, said the man had his scuba certification and the group of nine people was accompanied by two dive masters. Operations manager Michelle Loeffel said staff members do a head count before leaving a dive site.

Seelig said the ocean was "a little rough," with white caps, seas measuring 5 to 6 feet, strong winds and medium visibility underwater.

The Coast Guard searched with a helicopter, a cutter and a smaller boat.

The fire department dispatched a helicopter and watercraft.

The company sent out three boats and staff divers to search.