DATE: June 04, 2009 15:48:28 EST
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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News Release

Date: June 4, 2009

Contact: Ricardo Castrodad

Sector San Juan Public Affairs Specialist

(787) 510-7923 
Coast Guard searches for missing diver in waters off Culebra Island, Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Coast Guard and Puerto Rico Police rescue crews are searching for a scuba diver who went missing Thursday while diving in waters off Punta Soldado located at the southern end of Culebra Island, Puerto Rico.

The missing diver is a man who was diving with a dive partner off a recreational vessel when he reportedly went missing at 10 a.m. Thursday, after he failed to resurface.  His dive partner reported the incident to a local fisherman.

Coast Guard controllers in the Sector San Juan Joint Rescue Sub Center received initial notification of the incident at 12:40 p.m. from a Good Samaritan in Vieques, Puerto Rico, who had been contacted via cellular phone by the local fisherman and made aware of the distress situation.

Coast Guard controllers immediately launched an Air Station Borinquen HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Borinquen to search for the missing diver.  The crew of the Coast Guard helicopter is currently on scene searching alongside a Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces United for Rapid Action marine unit and local fishermen on scene.

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