A 50-year-old Northern California man was found unconscious in waist-deep water at Hanauma Bay Wednesday afternoon, an Ocean Safety Division official said.

The man was snorkeling with family when a family member spotted him unresponsive 15 feet offshore in waist-deep water, and alerted lifebuards, Ocean Safety Operations Chief Jim Howe said.

He was taken by ambulance in critical condition to an area hospital, Emergency Medical Services personnel said.

EMS received the call at about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii is assisting the family. The man was traveling with his son and another relative.