A 22-year-old man died Wednesday after he jumped into the ocean at Spitting Cave in Portlock and was retrieved by a scuba diver from 60 feet under the water.

It was the sixth time in the last two weeks authorities responded to swimmers in trouble at the popular East Honolulu cliff site and neighboring China Walls, including the rescue of a 21-year-old who was in critical condition at Spitting Cave on Saturday.

In a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Honolulu Ocean Safety officials urged the public to refrain from jumping into the ocean at these isolated spots.

“Do not go in the water,” said J.R. Sloane, captain of Ocean Safety’s east district. “It’s a simple message, and that’s what’s gonna save lives — especially when cliffs are involved.”

Officials said ocean conditions Wednesday morning were windy, choppy and dangerous.

Honolulu firefighters responded to a 6:29 a.m. report of a swimmer in distress, arriving at Spitting Cave nine minutes later to learn that the 22-year-old had jumped into the water, had resurfaced and then went back down again without returning.

Honolulu Fire Spokesman Capt. Scot Seguirant said firefighters tried to free-dive to retrieve the man but were unable to bring him up.

Meanwhile, an HFD rescue boat arrived with a scuba diver who was able to retrieve the man. He was transported in the boat in critical condition to Maunalua Bay Beach Park. On the way, crew members administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillator shock, Seguirant said.

Honolulu Emergency Services continued to treat the man on the way to a hospital but he eventually died.

The Honolulu medical examiner’s office was unable to provide identification Wednesday evening.

“It’s absolutely terrible,” Honolulu Safety Division Operations Chief Kevin Allen said of Wednesday’s incident. “It’s just tragic when something like this happens.”

Allen said there are dangerous ocean cliff areas all over the eastern side of the island, yet posts on social media showing people having a good time are attracting an increasing number of sightseers and swimmers.

“What they don’t understand is that the dangers are out there. It’s life and death anytime people go to these places. Unfortunately sometimes people do die,” Allen said.

Earlier in the day, Palm Springs, Calif., visitor Marrissa Garcia arrived at Spitting Cave for the first time with her husband and four sons — ages 16, 18, 20 and 24 — after learning about the place on the internet while searching for top cliff-jumping spots.

Garcia’s sons appeared eager to take the 60-foot plunge into the ocean until a Star-Advertiser reporter and photographer informed them of the strong currents and the death that occurred just hours earlier. They opted not to enter the water.

“Safety first,” she said.

Jeanette Lee of Kailua said she’s heard numerous stories of people either getting stuck in the currents or swept off the cliff by large waves. As she viewed the aquamarine waters with her 9-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter, Lee told them to stay close to her and steer clear from the edge of the cliff.

At China Walls, another popular jumping spot less than a mile from Spitting Cave, Shane Fogg, 22, of Kailua spoke about the dangers at both places.

Fogg said he has seen people visiting Spitting Cave for the first time who watch local guys jump off the ledge. “They say ‘I can do it too.’ That’s when I notice people getting in trouble out there.”

“I’ve seen pools of blood coming up the rocks right here before,” he said. “I had old videos walking up here and there were just pools of old blood like from the day before where someone had cracked their head or hit their head … This whole area is like that.”

Officials said Ocean Safety is exploring the possibility of extending its hours of operations islandwide. It started with a pilot program at Hanauma Bay in February, they said, and it may be extended to guarded beaches islandwide from sunup to sundown.

Sandy Beach is the closest lifeguard station to Spitting Cave. It takes four to six minutes to get to spots, officials said.

WATER DANGER

Authorities have responded to swimmers in trouble six times in the past two weeks at Spitting Cave and China Walls:

>> May 22: Ocean Safety rescues two men who jumped off cliff at China Walls and brings them safely to shore.

>> May 26: Two men who jumped at Spitting Cave are injured on rocks and brought in by a good Samaritan vessel.

>> May 27: Ocean Safety responds to possible missing swimmer at China Walls.

>> May 28: Ocean Safety rescues two swimmers at China Walls and brings them to the Hawaii Kai boat ramp.

>> June 1: Ocean Safety rescues a man, 21, who jumped in at Spitting Cave. He is taken to the hospital in critical condition.

>> June 5: Authorities respond to 22-year-old man who jumped in at Spitting Cave. He later dies.

Source: Honolulu Emergency Services Department