The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s latest preemptive action against terrorism has agents questioning scuba instructors in Hawa’i about suspicious dive students. “This was general information developed from detainees and other sources that indicated that certain groups were seeking an offensive
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s latest preemptive action against terrorism has agents questioning scuba instructors in Hawa’i about suspicious dive students.
“This was general information developed from detainees and other sources that indicated that certain groups were seeking an offensive scuba diving capability,” said Dan Dzwilewski of the FBI’s Honolulu office when asked why the shops were being questioned.
Following calls to local scuba shops, it doesn’t look like Kaua’i has been targeted by underwater terrorists, though the FBI has checked with local dive shop owners.
John Meyers, owner of The Scuba Shop at the Sheraton Poipu Resort, said he was asked whether any customers talked about underwater demolition, jokingly or seriously … things that seemed funny back then, but would raise questions now.
“What they did was ask me to review my records from the past 18-24 months. They seemed more concerned with people who were certified by our shop, and whether they were suspicious,” Meyers said.
Who do you really identify as suspicious … how do you know they’re suspicious? Elizabeth Lewis, Mana Divers’ guest service manager, said she asked the FBI agent who called her a few weeks ago.
Lewis said that after some blundering, she was told the FBI is not looking for a certain ethnicity or gender. Her question: would a blonde, European female be suspect? “It’s hard to answer that, people are nervous to start off with,” Lewis said.
The FBI’s checklist includes U.S. commercial dive schools that train students in underwater welding and repair work. The Coast Guard is on alert for any suspicious diving activity at all ports.
“Based upon information that has been received across the United States, there’s a credible threat to maritime interest by swimmers and divers,” Coast Guard Lt. Scott Casad said.
“We certainly are surrounded by water and this is one offensive technique,” Dzwilewski said, “Certainly any area surrounded by water we’d have to be concerned with that.”
Last week, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, the world’s leading diving organization, gave the FBI a list of 2 million people the California-based association has certified to dive over the past three years, Vice President Jeff Nadler said.
Agents have already contacted 1,200 dive shops nationwide to check the names of those who took scuba courses over the past three years, including those who dropped out without getting certified.
“They are looking for anybody who dropped out of a certification class for no apparent reason. If they didn’t finish the course, PADI wouldn’t have a record,” said Malie Rosare, manager of Seasport Divers in Poipu.
It’s well known within the diving community that without a certification card, reputable shops don’t allow equipment to be rented or air tanks to be refilled.
For “suspicious people” to plot out terrorist acts at home, a basic portable gas compressor costs about $900, according to Meyers. It takes about 20 minutes to fill up a standard size, which holds enough air for a 30 minute to one hour dive, depending on ocean depth.
“At the beginner level, you know basically everything you need to know to do the suspicious things that suspicious people would be doing,” Meyers said.
Staff Writer Kendyce Manguchei can be reached at kmanguchei@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 252).
