HONOLULU — The Coast Guard is searching for three missing divers near Penguin Bank, Molokai, Monday.
The missing divers are a 40-year-old man, 30-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy. They were last seen at 10 a.m., wearing full body camouflage wetsuits and are reportedly excellent swimmers.
Coast Guard Sector Honolulu launched a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Honolulu, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Ahi was diverted to assist with the search.
An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast has been issued alerting mariners in the area to keep a sharp lookout and report any sightings to the Sector Honolulu command center.
Watchstanders at the Sector Honolulu command center received a call at 11:20 a.m., from the operator of a 20-foot cuddy cabin vessel stating he was diving with three friends in the vicinity of Penguin Bank when their vessel began to drift away.
The three missing divers waited on the surface while the operator attempted to recover the vessel. After recovering the vessel and returning to their previous location, he could not locate his companions.
Weather conditions are currently reported as northeast winds at 10 mph with seas up to 3 feet and 10 miles of visibility.
Anyone with information that may help locate the divers are asked to contact the Sector Honolulu Command Center at 808-842-2600.