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COURTESY U.S. COAST GUARD
The Coast Guard is seeking the public’s help in identifying the owner of a dive float found today adrift one mile east of Kualoa Beach Park.
A dive float found adrift a mile off Kualoa Beach Park on Oahu this afternoon has prompted a public appeal by the Coast Guard to identify the owner.
The Coast Guard always assumes the worst in such situations — that the diver is missing — but most often the diver is in fact safely on shore.
“The Coast Guard encourages owners who lose their water craft and dive gear to report it to the Coast Guard with a good description so that we can eliminate any unnecessary searches,” said Lt. j.g. Nicholas Spence, a command duty officer at the Coast Guard Honolulu Command Center, in an email.
There are currently no reported signs of distress or missing persons in the area, but the Coast Guard still launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Barbers Point to search the area. Officials also issued an urgent marine alert to mariners to watch out for a diver in the swells.
The float, found by a good Samaritan vessel at 3:18 p.m., is yellow with an torn orange and white dive flag.
Anyone with information that may help identify the owner of the dive float is asked to contact the Honolulu Command Center at 842-2600. The Coast Guard offers free “If Found” decals to be placed on marine gear, kayaks and other small craft.
The Coast Guard and the State should require you to put your name and contact information on the float. It just makes sense if a person need assistance. Sooner is always better than later.
This is another lost ocean item that belongs to Mr. No Na Me. People are too lazy to put some kind of ID on their items. Just a phone number will do. Sell this item at auction and use the money for ocean education.