OAHU, HAWAII – The State Department of Land and Natural Resources has launched an investigation following a harrowing incident that left five divers stranded off the east coast of Oahu last week. The U.S. Coast Guard is also conducting its own inquiry into the events that unfolded.
Among those involved was a diver who described the situation as chaotic and overwhelming. According to the Department of Land and Natural Resources, its Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement is leading the investigation into how the divers came to be abandoned at sea.
The diver, who was part of a group of seven, had initially sought out a local dive shop for a refresher course. He was assured a shallow, easy dive would be conducted. However, the dive plan changed unexpectedly, with the group instead embarking on a challenging 70- to 80-foot drift dive—a decision confirmed by the diving company.
Expressing his discomfort with the sudden shift in plans, the diver relayed his concerns to the dive master, emphasizing his lack of preparedness for such a deep dive, especially given the poor weather conditions and low visibility. Despite these concerns, he entered the water around 11:15 a.m. with five others, only to be caught in strong currents that scattered the group.
Unable to adjust to the conditions, the dive instructor advised the diver to return to the boat with the captain, while the rest of the group continued. When the divers disappeared from view, the situation took a turn for the worse.
An hour passed before the diver, growing increasingly anxious, questioned the captain about the whereabouts of the others. The captain, however, seemed to have made no contact with the Coast Guard, contrary to what the diver was led to believe.
The ordeal reached a turning point when a nearby sailboat, hearing cries for help, alerted the Coast Guard. This marked the first official notification they received about the missing divers. Upon receiving the alert, the Coast Guard coordinated a search, eventually guiding the dive boat to where a helicopter had located the stranded divers.
All five divers were recovered, though they were in poor condition, with one in particularly dire straits. The diver expressed his frustration and disbelief over the captain’s failure to call for help, a decision that could have had fatal consequences.
Reflecting on the incident, the diver received a full refund after posting a critical review online. He now hopes to raise awareness about the dangers of inadequate safety measures and communication failures in diving activities.
As the investigation continues, the Coast Guard and the Department of Land and Natural Resources will determine whether to impose fines or charges against the diving company involved.