Early Thursday morning, search efforts intensified for a 28-year-old diver who went missing in the waters off the Port of Long Beach the previous night. According to KTLA, the Long Beach Police Department received calls of the diver's absence after a group of three, out of a party of four, went into the water but only two returned to their private boat. The large-scale search response began shortly after 10:15 p.m. Wednesday.
The man's identity has not yet been disclosed to the public. Teams from the Long Beach Fire Department and the Los Angeles County Fire Department conducted the search in challenging conditions. Visibility in the water was reported to be low, with search efforts focusing on depths of 30 to 40 feet in water temperatures around 58 degrees, as stated by NBC Los Angeles. The Coast Guard was also involved in the rescue effort, providing additional resources.
The missing individual was part of a free diving group, a sport where participants dive without the use of scuba gear or air tanks. Brian Fisk of the Long Beach Police Department told NBC Los Angeles that the divers were near Pier J along Harbor Scenic Drive close to the Queen Mary when the incident occurred. The fourth member of the party, who had been operating the boat, reported the disappearance of the diver shortly before 10 p.m.
Despite the ongoing search operation, there has been no update on the diver's status. Dive teams, including those from the Los Angeles City and County fire departments, have joined the rescue efforts, working through the night in a bid to locate the missing man. "About 20 minutes later, divers with the Long Beach Fire Department began rescue efforts," according to a briefing provided by the Long Beach Fire Department and reported by FOX LA. No further details have been provided on the success or expansion of the operation.
