Search for divers turns up nothing

POIPU — A search for a pair of divers reported missing on Friday afternoon turned up nothing and all known divers were accounted for in the area of the search.

Kauai Police Dispatch sent out a call to Kauai Fire Department at 3:23 p.m. regarding two scuba divers that appeared to be in distress about a quarter of a mile off shore from Whaler’s Cove in Poipu. The call came from a bystander on land, who said the two were part of a group but appeared to be the only divers experiencing difficulty.

By the time the search was concluded at 4:49 p.m. there were two fire engines, two rescue vehicles, a helicopter, Jet Ski and a U.S. Coast Guard vessel involved.

County Spokeswoman Sarah Blane said that personnel continued the search until all divers in the surrounding area were accounted for and there was no indication that anyone was in distress.

The male subject who made the call was described as a knowledgeable person and a reliable source by firefighters on the scene. The caller couldn’t confirm there were people in trouble, but called 911.

There were three cars near the beach and a party of returning divers or swimmers said their group was all accounted for and had been there for about an hour.

Two divers were reported to have surfaced by the landing at 3:56 p.m. KFD sent someone to check and they turned out to be a Seasport scuba instructor and friend and said they could not have been in the area where the people were reported to be in distress at the time of the call.

Air 1 directed a Jet Ski to an area where three other divers were sighted. The divers were confirmed with another scuba rental shop and were also not believed to have been in the area where the caller said he saw distressed divers.

KFD called off the search officially at 4:49 p.m. saying it was because there was no confirmed sighting and all known divers were accounted for in the area.

Comment from county spokesman corrected and updated.